The Beatryce Prophecy

Kate DiCamillo is the New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal–winning author of more than 20 books for middle grade and younger audiences, but her books hold universal appeal for readers of all ages. She holds a degree in English from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and has written full time since the commercial success of her debut novel, Because of Winn-Dixie, in 2000. She won the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal twice for The Tale of Despereaux and Flora and Ulysses, and from 2014 to 2015, she was the American National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The Beatryce Prophecy offers an emotional journey full of whimsy and serious themes, and the book follows in the footsteps of DiCamillo’s earlier novels. Her Newbery–winning novel The Tale of Despereaux (2003) is set in a similarly fantastic world and features a mouse protagonist, making the story and its lessons accessible to readers who identify better with nonhuman characters.

The story incorporates fairy-tale themes, such as rescuing princesses and the role of heroes, to engage readers in a discussion about what it means to follow your heart and find people who matter. In her debut novel, Because of Winn-Dixie (2000), DiCamillo blends community, support, and overcoming the past in a tale about living in the present. Like Beatryce, Because of Winn-Dixie’s protagonist, India Opal Buloni, has emotional strife in her past, and with the help of others in her new town, plus the unconditional love of a stray dog, India finds a new family while putting her existing one back together. Because of Winn-Dixie is set on modern-day Earth, allowing it to bridge the gap between DiCamillo’s fantasy realms and real life, but regardless of the setting, the characters work together to better themselves and those around them, showing that where someone comes from doesn’t matter. All people basically want the same things and are glad to find them.