Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin
Little, Brown
2009
Newbery Honor (+lots more!)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon marries a fantastic journey, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and other similar tales, with Chinese culture and folklore, and comes up with a unique and wonderful story all its own.* Short chapters, narrative interrupted frequently by stories, beautiful artwork, and charming characters conspire to make this one of the best books I've read this year! I cannot wait to read it to my children. *My children and I are reading Wizard, so that is fresh on my mind!


Minli is the only daughter of two struggling farmers who live at the base of Fruitless Mountain. They are rich in stories, though, as her father tells her stories night after night. One day, Minli decides to seek the Old Man of the Moon and ask how she can change her family's fortune. Many days and adventures later, she finally succeeds in her quest, but she finds the answer to her question in a way she didn't expect. Along the way, she meets countless interesting other characters, learns new stories, and befriends a dragon. In addition, her parents also learn a valuable life lesson. In the end, Minli and her parents have learned thankfulness and contentment. Do their fortunes change as well? You'll have to read it to find out!

Recommended read aloud for elementary students; read independently for upper elementary-middle school. Grace Lin has written a delightful easy reader book, too!

Book from my local library; cover image from goodreads.