The Beatryce Prophecy

The Beatryce Prophecy
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick, 2021
247 pages
Grades 3-6
Historical Adventure

Beatryce lands in the goat stall of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing grasping onto the ear of the dreaded goat Answelica with no memory of her past. It is kind Brother Edik, bearer of a funky eye that won't stay in place, who discovers her. Even more bewildering than her discovery is the fact that Beatryce can read, which is against the law for females in this medieval-esque kingdom. To save the young girl's life, Brother Edik shaves her head and disguises her as a boy. When the king's men track down Beatryce as the girl prophesied to unseat the king, she begins a quest, gathering more companions on her way, including the dashing young orphan Jack Dory, and the hermit Cannoc, who harbors secrets of his own. A story within a story develops as Beatryce writes a tale about a mermaid requested by Brother Edik. Eventually the crew of friends land at the castle. Will the prophecy come to pass or will the adventurers be killed by the king in order for him to keep his throne?

Kate Dicamillo has won more Newbery Medals than anyone else. For this reason I want to believe she is overrated and entered this book critically. In my humble opinion, DiCamillo has hit it out of the ballpark again, proving her range, this time offering a medieval yarn. The Beatryce Prophecy is most similar to Deperaux, yet is more of a medieval epic and less of a fairytale. The writing is as tight as always, with every word counting and perfect. The length is not too long for young readers and the fabulous illustrations by Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall are a perfect fit. Beatryce is a brave, smart and creative sole, surrounded by a diverse cast of misfits, simular to the crew from the Wizard of Oz, yet it is the cranky goat who steals the show. Beatryce, and later Jack, can hear the goat's thoughts, putting this book almost in the realm of fantasy, but there really is no other magic seen in this quest. The story-within-a-story adds another dimension and layer of richness, reflecting the arc of the plot. DiCamillo leaves her readers with much to think about including the power of stories and reading, that love and friendship are the most important things in the world and appearances are deceiving. The ending offers a bit of a satisfying twist and all of the characters find the places in which they were meant to be. I finished the book with a contented sigh, knowing that everyone found their best ending.