“He said, 'I forgive you, Pa."And he said those words because he sensed that it was the only way to save his own heart, to stop it from breaking in two. Despereaux, reader, spoke those words to save himself.”

American author of children’s fiction

Kate DiCamillo is an American author of children’s fiction. She has written more than 25 novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses. Her books have sold about 37 million copies. Four have been made into films, and two have been adapted for the stage as musicals. The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses each won the Newbery Medal, making her one of the few authors to receive that honor twice.