Book Review: The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline

“It is a horrible, terrible thing, the worst thing, to watch somebody you love die right in front of you and not be able to do nothing about it.”

― Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Kate DiCamillo, an American novelist, and Bagram Ibatoulline created the illustrations for the 2006 children's book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  The book received the 2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the Fiction category and told the story of a ceramic rabbit.

Synopsis From Goodreads...

A timeless tale by the incomparable Kate DiCamillo, complete with stunning full-color plates by Bagram Ibatoulline, honors the enduring power of love.

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely.

And then, one day, he was lost.

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes' camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

My reaction to this novel...

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for readers of all ages, and it's especially good at teaching creative concepts.  I like how the writing appeals to both the emotions and the intellect, and it is exquisitely written. The book is a great, frequently painful story that helps with vocabulary development and humility lessons. I also experienced a wide range of emotions as an adult, and at one point I had to leave because I got emotional too much.  This book is one of those that you just can't put down.  Both the characters and the writing are excellent.  The reader is frequently allowed to make their own conclusions despite the fact that each individual has a unique story, which leads to a lot of discussion.

The book's exquisite writing, which follows Edward from a point of self-centered indifference to a profound awareness of love, sorrow, and connection, is what really captured my attention.  His metamorphosis is modest but impactful, and it seems both magical and incredibly human as it develops with each interaction.

Readers, I think, will experience a range of emotions while reading this book.  As Edward learns what really counts, we can expect to chuckle at his conservative actions, cry at the heartbreaking turns, and feel our emotions rise. I may remark that this is a gem that remains long beyond the last page.

This book will touch all the right places and evoke memories from the most distant parts of your being; it is heartbreaking and tragic. It is superbly written and outstanding in every way, from the narrative to the amazing illustrations that are interspersed throughout the plot like unexpected treasures to the intricate binding. I heartily recommend it to children and adults alike, as it will teach readers a valuable lesson about love that will stick with them forever.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)