Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Bibliography:

Lin, Grace. 2009. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York: Little, Brown, and Company. ISBN: 9780316114271.

Summary:
Minli’s family is very poor, and she knows this is especially hard on her mother. Her father’s stories tell her that the Man in the Moon is the only one who can answer all questions and change her family’s fortune. So when Minli meets a talking goldfish who tells her how to find the Man in the Moon, she decides to set out on a journey and bring good fortune back to her family. Along the way, Minli befriends a dragon who cannot fly, meets a king, tricks a group of monkeys, and has many other adventures. When she finally climbs the Never-Ending Mountain and sees the old Man in the Moon, Minli can only ask one question. But she realizes her journey has already taught her what she needs to know, and so she asks a question on behalf of her dragon friend instead. Now that he can fly, he takes Minli home and in the process he finds his true destiny and blesses Minli’s entire valley with good fortune.

Analysis:

Imagined folk stories with Chinese characters and themes are told by many of the characters, and fit perfectly with the main story. The author describes the overall setting well, and creates a mystical land for Minli’s quest – full of talking animals, a greedy and evil tiger, trees with magical flowers, strings of destiny, and much more. Beautiful and richly colored illustrations accompany some of the chapters and stories, adding further detail for the setting. Minli is a strong heroine, a good friend, and a daughter who just wants to help her parents. Children will be able to identify with her and delight in her adventures. After Minli’s journey, and before riches come her way, she learns that family is the most important good fortune and that contentment is a valuable virtue. The story also highlights the importance of courage, kindness, faith, and gratitude. This book is creatively imagined and well-written.

Reviews/Awards:

Newbery Honor Book
2010 Massachusetts Book Award for Children’s/Young Adult Literature

“Interwoven with Minli's quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. Minli's determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means “quick thinking,” lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* Read Chinese folktales such as Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories and discuss how they are like the stories told in Lin’s book.