Back in March, we had an instructor emergency, which led me to take on an extra class mid-semester (and is part of the reason I am SO FAR BEHIND on my Cannonball reviewing). It’s always hard to take on another person’s course, especially when your own classload is fairly full, and doubly especially when their syllabus is frighteningly sparse. We muddled through somehow, and thankfully, the last unit of the course synced up with my other two classes. As a result, I got to hear three sections of Rhetoric and Composition present on book reviews and the movie adaptations students chose to analyze. It was a delight. Students talking about books and movies in thoughtful and scholarly ways is the joy of my heart.
One student from my “new” class chose Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux, which has been on my TBR list for years. When I mentioned wanting to read it, he adorably offered to loan me his copy. And of course, I agreed to read it. I know the trust and hearts of students are won in imperceptibly small ways, and I was not one to turn down even the smallest overture of goodwill. Read my full review to hear my thoughts on the book.