The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

" And so Edward Tulane became Susanna. Nellie sewed several outfits for him; a pink dress with ruffles for special occasions, a simple shift fashioned out of a flower-covered cloth for everyday use, and a long white gown made of cotton for Edward to sleep in. In addition, she remade his ears, stripping them of the few pieces of fur that remained and designing him a new pair.
"Oh," she told him when she was done, "you look lovely."
He was horrified at first. He was after all, a boy rabbit. He did not want to be dressed as a girl. And the outfits, even the special-occasion dress, were so simple, so plain. They lacked the elegance and artistry of his real clothes. But then Edward remembered lying on the ocean floor, the muck in his face, the stars so far away, and he said to himself, What difference does it make really?Wearing a dress won't hurt me. "

That was a teeny excerpt from the book " The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane". Go ahead, laugh.. Yes, it is a kiddy book.. It's meant for lower primary or upper primary kids.. But the thing is, it's not childish.. The story line is sweet. I remember staring at Galvin when he recommended this book to me. Come on, a grown up, 29 year old guy telling me to give it a shot. He said it was different. And it is. It's a very moving story that revolves around giving and love and warmth..

Edward Tulane was a very selfish, self-centred rabbit made of China. He was a favourite toy of little Abilene who loved him a whole lot. But he never cared about her. All he cared for were his fine clothes and gold pocket watch and the admiration people showed when they saw him. He lead a life of luxury and indulgence as Abilene took him everywhere and sweetly reminded him that she loved him. However , a trip on an ocean liner and a terrible accident of being thrown overboard, changed Edward from remaining as his terribly selfish self. He gets caught in an old fisherman's net a year later and faces his first real emotion, fear.

Edward then lives with the old fisherman and his wife and takes on the identity of Susanna. The humble dwellings and the sweetness of the couple make him softer and warmer. However misfortune befalls him and he ends up in a garbage dump, with his clothes tattered and torn and is soon picked up by Bull and his dog, Lucy. He enters into a life loaded with adventure with his new name of Malone,as he travels with Bull and the other hobos. Listening to their campfire songs and getting familiar with them teaches him the art of listening to those you care about. And his heart opened up more than before.

After quite some travels with them, he is again tossed away in an accident and chances upon other people and ends up as a scarecrow tied to a fence, his worst humiliation yet. There he gets rescued by little Bryce who takes him home to his little sister, Sarah Ruth, who is dying. Sarah Ruth calls him Jangles and holds him cradled in her arms so tightly each day with such sweetness and tenderness that Edward's heart goes out to her and he starts wanting to help her and do anything he can to keep her. But one day she dies, and Edward realises he did indeed have a heart when he felt it break.

Bryce and Edward take to the road and Edward is thrown against a counter by an angry chef, which leaves him with a broken head. Bryce sacrifices the rabbit, the only memory he has of his sister when he leaves Edward with a skilled doll maker who could repair him. There, Edward sits on the shelf and ponders about his life, a changed rabbit, one with love to give and warmth in him, no longer the proud and selfish Edward he used to be. Many years pass and finally, in the shop of the doll maker, Edward is unexpectedly discovered by someone who has always loved him..

Very very touching and sweet when you actually read it.. Kate DiCamillo's 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane'..