Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Newbery Honor Award Winner)

In this charming and delightful tale by Grace Lin, a young girl (we don't know how old), Minli, lives with her parents in a poor village in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain. The family toils all day and barely has enough to eat. But Minli gets perhaps greater sustenance from the stories her father tells, particularly about the Old Man of the Moon. Inspired by a goldfish, Minli sets out for the Neverending Mountain to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask how to change her family's fortune. Along the way she befriends a flightless dragon, speaks to the king of the City of Bright Moonlight, encounters the angry Green Tiger and meets the Happy Family, all of whom share their stories, based on themes from Chinese fairy tales, which help guide Minli on her quest (well, except for the Green Tiger, but we hear plenty of stories about him). The main story weaves in and out of the stories within the story and all are intertwined in a masterful and poetic way that makes the story both simple and yet profound. All the stories wrap up as a nice, tidy package, but not in a way that makes the book stilted, but rather like one of those 3-D wooden puzzles in which each piece, joined in the correct order, creates a perfect whole. The beautiful full-color illustrations blend seamlessly with the story and enhanced the enchanting quality of the book. As other reviewers have said, this is one of the best children's books I've ever read, perhaps in a class with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince". My only regret about the book is that my daughters are just a shade too young to share it with them quite yet* - I can't wait to do so! * The editorial reviews say that the book is for grades 3-6, but I think age 5 to 6 would be a perfect time for a parent to read this book to a child -while children are still young enough to be enchanged by the magic.

I almost didn't buy this book after reading a review titled "colorist trash"- as a brown person buying this to read to my brown child I thought forget it, there are better ways to spend my money. I ended up getting the second book of the trilogy (Starry River of the Sky) not realizing what I had done, that it was the same author or part of a set, and loved the book. When I came looking for the other two books in the trilogy, I remembered the "colorist" critique but decided to buy the book anyway since the first one was so well written, interesting, compassionate and empathic that I figured I needed to read the book to decide for myself what it was or was not. So here's the thing, I've read the book and loved it as much as the first one, my 7 y.o. has loved it as well, but the part of not being "dull and brown" is there and its meaning seems clear cut. There is also another passage in the book where another little girl is being described as beautiful and very white and it almost seems as if she's beautiful because she is so white. This may seem like a minor detail to some, but it’s not when you're a brown person reading this to a brown child. Since it was me reading aloud, I skipped the noxious parts and problem solved. I don't know why this "dull and brown" and "beautiful and white" parts needed to be included. I want to believe the author is neither racist nor colorist and my guess is that she was trying to say something else, like the girl has not accepted the fate of being buried in mud like the rest of the villagers have, or, the beautiful girl resembles the moon in its beauty, since the moon is such a big part of the story, but if that is what she meant it could have been said differently. Maybe the words reflect the "leaking" of some of the colorist/racist attitudes and beliefs that exist among people of color, as a brown person I can attest to that and it is heartbreaking and inexplicable. Some of these beliefs are so deeply and unconsciously held that I can see someone writing these words without stopping to think about their meaning. I don't take colorist remarks lightly, especially when the message is directed at children, as it is here. That said, I still would not pass on this book based on those remarks because they make up .0001% of the book and the rest is so worth it. The heroine is a brave, curious, imaginative, quick witted girl (a big plus if your l.o. is a girl too), it intertwines magic and reality in a seamless, beautiful way, and exposes readers to a different culture. In the midst of #StopAsianHate books like these are even more relevant and necessary because "Asian" may mean nothing to a child who is not, but for my child Rendi is a personal hero, as is Minli and that, I hope, will eventually make a dent on racism, colorism and intolerance. That's my two cents. Skip over the two phrases if you're a parent doing the reading, and if you have an older child, the phrases may be good conversation starters about colorist beliefs and attitudes, how they creep on you where and when you least expect it, their null validity and the amazing damage they cause if unchecked. As an FYI I found a small article online where author Grace Lin addresses this issue titled "No one gets a pass when writing multicultural books."

Young Minli was gifted with a lively spirit that flashed brightly in her drab little village. In planting season she rose before dawn, working beside her parents to place each seedling carefully in the mud. No matter how hard the three worked, they only just managed to get by, living on rice and hoping for better days. Year in and year out, Ma’s unhappy sighs clouded the air. Her daughter resolved to seek better fortune by finding the one soul known for his ability to answer any question: the Old Man of the Moon. Near a river of salty water, greedy monkeys defended a peach orchard they had just discovered. As Minli approached the rolling stream, a muffled voice broke through the warm clear water. To her astonishment, a brilliant red dragon called out for aid, bound tightly in twine. He had been attacked by the monkeys, who feared his inroads into their orchard. Freed from his bonds, the wingless dragon invited her to climb on his back. He would help her find the Never-Ending Mountain. Their journey to the Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon brought them to the City of Bright Moonlight, with its clever King and faithful Guardians. In the Inner City, the leaves of the plum trees shone like emeralds. Bamboo and pine trees sparkled like jewels in the sun. Minli and her dragon received two treasures of infinite worth. Joyfully they headed out from the blessed city, clambering over steep and rocky ground. In the wilderness the two heroes were attacked by the brutal Green Tiger, whose poisonous claws brought death to his victims. Minli’s quick wits had seen her through many perilous adventures. Alone in the wasteland, these gifts alone could not save them. The story that follows is a wonderful tapestry of friendship, generosity and deep courage. Beautifully written, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a graceful and powerful tale. Grace Lin is a Newberry Honor Winner, National Book Award Finalist, and New York Times bestselling author.. --Kate Calina

In the book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin, the main character, a girl named Minli, decides to try to change the fortune of her very materially poor family. Minli, who is "not brown and dull like the rest of the village (2)," embarks upon a quest that takes her to many places. Along the way, she meets many new characters - some human, some not - and she becomes friends with most of them. Minli's quick mind, generosity, caring, and selflessness eventually take her all the way to the one she seeks: the Old Man of the Moon. With this book, Grace Lin has created an entire magical world as well as an enchanting piece of literature, one that definitely deserves to win the Massachusetts Children's Book Award. There are many reasons why this book is so award-worthy. Mountain Meets the Moon is beautifully crafted and written. The language is filled with original similes based on Chinese culture, and the imagery that Ms. Lin creates is vivid and powerful. Long after putting the book down, readers will still remember the story. The book is constructed beautifully as well. What starts off as one story splits into at least two separate narratives that are carefully woven together and then seamlessly rejoined by the end of the book. Additionally, traditional Chinese tales and Chinese-inspired tales written by the author, form part of the narrative. Each one of these stories serves to further the main narrative, either by highlighting part of the main story, by filling in gaps, or by emphasizing the book's themes. It is obvious that this writer paid the utmost attention to detail as she was writing this book. Everything has a meaning, and just as the Old Man of the Moon is tying together various characters in the book, so too does the author tie together every little detail. The characters who inhabit this book are another reason that it should win an award. As the book plays out, we can see most of them grow and change, some more obviously than others. Perhaps the character of Ma undergoes the most dramatic change, from a bitter, complaining, ungrateful kvetch into a loving, generous, and appreciative parent, but Minli also changes. She is a quick thinker at first, almost impulsive, and always moving and thinking. By the end of the book, she is content to sit and admire the moon. But the biggest reason that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon should win the Massachusetts Children's Book Award is because of its themes. We should all appreciate the important things we have in our lives - family, love, a home, enough. These are the things that make one truly wealthy -- not gold or jade. Minli's family has one another, and that is all that really matters. And when someone tries their very best to do something, that is important, too. Minli never gives up on her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon, no matter what the obstacles. Generosity is very important. Many good things come to Minli along the way because she is always helping others and not thinking first of herself. Finally, doing the right and selfless thing is often a reward in and of itself. Minli asks the Dragon's question instead of her own, because she finally realizes she doesn't need anything for herself. In the end, she is materially rewarded, but it is again because her family would not accept money for the Dragon's pearl. Many books are fun to read, and many books are well written, but it is rare that a book has everything going for it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, however, is such a book. It is both fun to read and incredibly well written, and its subject and themes teach us valuable and important lessons that we should take to heart. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is one of the best books I've ever read. Not only is it award-worthy; reading it is like giving yourself a reward for being a reader.

I really enjoy Grace Lin as a writer, her picture books are phenomenal! Which is why I was elated to discover her middle grade novels. My daughter is getting older so we are both looking for new books to enjoy and discuss together. This one started a little slow for me but I am so glad that I stuck with it. The breaks within the initial plot for the mini tales were quite enjoyable and I was left reading as fast as possible to see how it would all tie together! Minli longs to change her family's fortune, the exhausting days in the fields have left her and her parents weary. She decides to leave home to find the Old Man on the Moon to hopefully change their fate. Her journey turns into a grand adventure where Minli meets many new friends along the way. This is a great read!

Where The Mountain Meets The Moon was a wonderful read! I purchased it to read to my grandchildren, ages 6 and 9, each night before bed while they were visiting for a week. The nine year old was capable of reading the book himself, though an average nine year old might struggle a bit. Some of the vocabulary words may have been a bit beyond the six year old, but she was able to understand through the context of the book. We all got drawn into Minli’s adventure and would often read “extra” chapters each night. The writing style flows beautifully and the format of telling stories with in the story is used masterfully, and the grandchildren enjoyed learning about another culture. . The illustrations, though limited, add to the journey. In addition to being a wonderful read, this book gently teaches life lessons we can all appreciate. We all loved this book and were sad to see it end. We look forward to reading the other books written by Grace Lin. I purchased both the hardback and the paperback, which were both well printed. However, I do recommend spending the few extra dollars to purchase the hardback because the quality of the paper seems better.

I want to let everyone know how much in love with this book I am. It is a book that begs to be read aloud to every child in the world. It's a book that is easy to love. And it is a book that is already raking in the accolades. It has won the Parent's Choice Gold award and has a starred review from Booklist! The story is beautifully interwoven with Chinese folktales that add a wonderful element to the narrative. And it is a beautiful book as well. The book has full paged and colored illustrations interspersed throughout the book as well as Grace's beautiful drawings opening each chapter. Grace is an amazing artist as well as writer. I've been a fan of her work since my girls brought home Dim Sum for Everyone from the library one day and moved on to Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat. But Where the MOuntain meets the Moon is by far our absolute favorite book. It crosses the generations and can be enjoyed by all ages - by my 5, 8 and 10 year old and by parents, teens and grandparents. The story is lovely, sweet, magical, beautiful. Without spoiling the book, I have to mention that there is a scene of such beautiful generosity that I actually got choked up and teary from it. In a recent interview, Grace said her favorite line in the book was the last line of the book. She said she "struggled for a long time with the title of the book (rejected titles include "Never-Ending Mountain" and "The City of Bright Moonlight"), none seemed to capture the entirety of the book. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" had always been an option, but as I wrote the last paragraph the line streamed out of me unplanned and in that instant, I knew "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" was the right title. It was kind of a magical moment, kind of a destiny/fate feeling like, "Okay, yes, that IS the title."" And I absolutely agree, it is the a perfect and magical title for a perfect and magical book.

If there is such a thing as High Art in young adult books, than Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great example of it. Rarely, has a book combined several plot lines and colorful artwork into a seamless whole that is definitely greater than the sum of its various parts. The story is deceptively simple and straight-forward. Minli lives with her parents in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain. Their life is extremely hard, working the rice fields all day. Mud gets into their clothes, under their fingernails, and in every part of their house. The main breaks for Minli in this daily grind are the wonderful stories told by her father. One of the stories is about the Old Man of the Moon who takes care of "The Book of Fortune," which holds all of the knowledge of the world, past, present, and future. Her mother, however, thinks that the stories are fantasies that offer only foolishness in light of their hard life. One day a goldfish seller stops at Minli's village and sells her a goldfish who can talk. The fish tells Minli how to find the Old Man of the Moon who might be able to change Minli and her family's fortune. Thus, begins a quest story. Like any quest, Minli faces many obstacles and must find various objects that will help her when she finally finds the Old Man of the Moon. One of the beauties of the book is the way Minli finds help all along the way from a host of characters, including a dragon that cannot fly. Interwoven in the main quest plot line are side stories, which Grace Lin flawlessly brings together. By the end of the book, Minli, her mother, and the dragon are all transformed by their experiences during the quest. Moving. Uplifting. It is a story brimming with optimism about how helping others is the best way to help yourself, without devolving into sentimental mush. Even my hard to please daughter liked it. A must have for anyone at all interested in young adult literature.