Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books
Fiction, MG? Fantasy
Themes: Creative Power, Diversity, Dragons, Fables, Felines, Folklore Stories, Girl Power, Retro Tales
****+
Description
The village shadowed by Fruitless Mountain is a poor and desperate place to be. Like the mountain itself, little grows, and what does grow takes backbreaking work for meager returns. Minli tires of hearing her mother's sad sighs at their poor fortune, finding some solace in her father's folk tales. At last, guided by advice from a goldfish, the girl sets out to find the Old Man in the Moon: in Ba's tales, he is the one who ties the red threads of fate and reads from the book of fortune, so surely, if anyone can change her family's sad state and bleak future, it is him. Her travels will take her far from her tiny shack and village, winding through tales old and new as she seeks to write a new story for her life.
Review
This award-winning book weaves Chinese folk tales into a charming new story that feels like a beloved classic. Though Ma dismisses the old stories as worthless and impractical frivolities, filling her daughter's head with foolish ideas, the tales of Ba give Minli solace and comfort, not to mention a certainty that impossible things are possible if only one tries; ultimately, the true worth of a story is proven many times over, to both Minli and her parents. From magical goldfish to dragons to lion statues and more, Minli finds Ba's stories coming to life around her, and all of them ultimately connect to create a rich backstory for her adventure. Along the way, she learns the true meaning of family and fortune, as do her parents. It's a quick read with a timeless feel and solid ending that earns it an extra half-mark, quite enjoyable even for a grown-up.