“I don’t think that, in the fourteen years I have worked as a children’s bookseller and the 16 years I have been a mother buying books for her children, I have ever seen such a magnificently illustrated, beautiful gem of a book hit the shelves.” Show
“This is a flawless little gem of a book, written in a straightforward, warm tone that always has a
hint of a smile in it…There is a lovely sense of satisfaction as one link after another is connected, until the entire shape of the book is revealed like a Chinese knot – seemingly complicated yet pleasing and harmonious.” Booklist School Library Journal Kirkus Reviews
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⭐️Cordelia⭐️ Just FYI, I’m in high school and I thought this was great. But it is middle grade, which means it’s targeted at middle school and some elementary kid…more Just FYI, I’m in high school and I thought this was great. But it is middle grade, which means it’s targeted at middle school and some elementary kids. (less) Community Reviews· 44,884 ratings · 5,473 reviews Start your review of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Mar 05, 2022 Lisa of Troy rated it it was amazing Exquisite Minli, a young girl,
toils relentlessly every day, working the unforgiving, barren land, and making dinner for her family. Her family just barely has enough rice, and her mother is always sighing with discontent. Her father fills Minli with tales, and one day Minli goes on an epic quest to find The Old Man of the Moon to change her fortune. Along the way, she will meet a variety of characters including a dragon. This is the first fantasy book that I have ever read that has made me cry mu Minli, a young girl, toils relentlessly every day, working the unforgiving, barren land, and making dinner for her family. Her family just barely has enough rice, and her mother is always sighing with discontent. Her father fills Minli with tales, and one day Minli goes on an epic quest to find The Old Man of the Moon to change her fortune. Along the way, she will meet a variety of characters including a dragon. This is the first
fantasy book that I have ever read that has made me cry multiple times. This book was so incredibly moving. It has all of the things that I love: great storytelling, strong female characters doing important things (not talking about boys), incredibly moving, imaginative, and original. It has several stories within the main story teaching a moral lesson, many of them very beautiful. Look at that cover! It is one of the most beautiful covers that I have ever seen. Where the Mountain Meets
to Moon has a lot of short chapters and short paragraphs which keeps the story flowing. Overall, this book is a must-read fantasy book! I’m already looking forward to reading this again. 2022 Reading Schedule Connect
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Jan 23, 2009 Betsy rated it it was amazing When an author wants to write their first fantasy novel for children, they'll sometimes fall back on the books they themselves loved as kids. If they were
Alice in Wonderland fans they might go the route of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. If they were partial to
The Wizard of Oz they could do as Salman Rushdie did when he wrote Haroun and the Sea of Stories. As Grace Lin
explains in her Author's Note to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, some of the books she read at eleven were dozens upon dozens of Ch When an author wants to write their first fantasy novel for children, they'll sometimes fall back on the books they themselves loved as kids. If they were
Alice in Wonderland fans they might go the route of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. If they were partial to
The Wizard of Oz they could do as Salman Rushdie did when he wrote Haroun and the Sea of Stories. As Grace Lin
explains in her Author's Note to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, some of the books she read at eleven were dozens upon dozens of Chinese folktale and fairytale stories. With her customary cleverness Lin has now taken the essence of those tales and woven them into a quest novel that is a mix of contemporary smart girl pizzazz and the feel of a classic that your parents were read as children. If there's any author out there today with the potential of being remembered and beloved 100
years down the line, Grace Lin has my vote. Poor in the valley of Fruitless Mountain, young Minli and her family earn their daily rice by working and scraping in the fields near their home. Her sole joy comes at night when her father tells her wonderful stories of far away places. One day Minli buys a goldfish to improve her fortunes, but when her mother sees her "foolish" purchase, Minli frees the fish and sets it in the river. Little does she suspect that this single act will give her the
impetus to seek her family's fortune by leaving to find the Old Man of the Moon. Along the way Minli makes friends and outwits foes in her attempt to help not just herself but those she loves and cares about. The aforementioned Haroun and the Sea of Stories was the book I kept thinking about when I was reading, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. As in Lin's novel, Rushdie attempts to reawaken that feeling you get when you read a quest novel where disparate characters band
together and become friends along the way. The thing is, Lin has been cleverer than Rushdie here. While his novel was essentially an Oz redux, Lin's world combines old stories and classic myths to come up with something that seems entirely new. The feel of this book has similarities to Oz, in that you feel you are in a safe space when you read this tale. Small children will not be frightened when this is read to them while older kids will relate to Minli and understand what makes her want to run
away. In Lin's previous (and younger) novels for kids (The Year of the Dog, The Year of the Rat) she breaks up the text regularly with stories that are pertinent to the action, as well as wonderful little vignettes. While doing so, she impresses you with her
writing. Phrases stick in a person's brain, like "The forest was full of shapes and shadows and only barely could he see the faint footprints on the ground - it was like searching for a wrinkle in a flower petal." Lin also conjures up visuals. In one village, each villager cuts a bit of cloth from their own clothes to provide Minli with a warm coat. When she leaves, she waves goodbye. "As she watched the sea of ruined sleeves flutter at her, she realized it was the most beautiful thing she had
ever seen." And she has so perfectly incorporated real legends and fables too. Generally Lin's interpretations of the tales sound like her own inventions. Only once in a while do you get a glimpse of the old tale behind her words. When the Old Man of the Moon changes a man's fate by turning the number 19 into 91 with a simple flick of a brush, one can assume he's not doing it to numbers as we see them, but as a reader you simply do not care. One of the other remarkable things about the book is that the story isn't just Minli's journey we're watching but the emotional journey of her mother. From scraping harpy into loving appreciative person, we see this change come about thanks to her grief. How many quest tales can you think about where you cut between the protagonist and their healthy relatives at home? Even if it happens, the relatives are usually in some kind of dire straits. Not here. The biggest problems dealt with in these passages is the loneliness of the parents. And for some kids, this will be a relief. To know that the parents are still safe and sound. To see how much they care for their absent daughter, even while she's off having adventures. There's a kind of tacit understanding at work here. No matter how far you go, your parents will still be back at your home waiting for you. No matter what. Lin has always been an artist, so it's little surprise that she has illustrated this book. What is new is that the pictures aren't the usual pen and ink spot illustrations. Little Brown shelled out some cold hard cash to make sure that each picture in this book is lush and lovely. While still recognizably her style, the art in this book is not as young as her work on, say, Lissy's Friends or Where on Earth is My Bagel. There's a sophistication here that we've never seen before. For example, the initial view of Fruitless Mountain keeps a finger on what is kid-friendly, but also hints at the history of Chinese art and design at the same time. And in the text there are spot illustrations true, but even these are colorful. My sole regret is how small the book is. Someday it would be nice to see this title in a full lap-sized edition for easier reading. The better to appreciate the pictures, I think. Sometimes it's just nice to read something to your kids that's beautiful. Holding Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is like holding a small treasure. A little piece of art. A graceful departure from the younger books she has done before, Lin mixes great writing with even greater kid-appeal and comes up with a story that everyone can enjoy. Boys and girls, kids and parents, everyone will like what they find here. How many books can you say that of off the top of your head? Ages 7-12. ...more
My five stars might be misleading. I don't think I would have enjoyed this half as much reading it to myself as I did reading it aloud slowly over many nights with an utterly enchanted seven-year-old hanging on every word. It's a magical quest story woven of Chinese folk tales and the author's own imagination, with bits of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz thrown in as well. There are a few passages that are near quotations, apparently an homage to Baum's classic which I'm guessing was a favorite of Li My five stars might be misleading. I don't think I would have enjoyed this half as much reading it to myself as I did reading it aloud slowly over many nights with an utterly enchanted seven-year-old hanging on every word. It's a magical quest story woven of Chinese folk tales and the author's own imagination, with bits of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz thrown in as well. There are a few passages that are near quotations, apparently an homage to Baum's classic which I'm guessing was a favorite of Lin's as a child. The illustrations, also by Lin, are exquisite. ...more
This... this is one of the most beautiful middle grade books I have ever read. Minli lives in the Valley of the Fruitless Mountain with her very poor parents. Her father tells her
stories about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon, filling her head with ideas of how they could possibly change their family fortune. One day, Minli discovers the way to the Old Man of the Moon and decides to leave her parents to see if she can find him. On the way, she meets a dragon that can't fly, kings, tig Minli lives in the Valley of the Fruitless
Mountain with her very poor parents. Her father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon, filling her head with ideas of how they could possibly change their family fortune. One day, Minli discovers the way to the Old Man of the Moon and decides to leave her parents to see if she can find him. On the way, she meets a dragon that can't fly, kings, tigers, and so much more. Oh where do I begin with what I loved about this book? This is imbued with gorgeously-told
Chinese folktales that are both original and inspired by actual Chinese folktales the author, Grace Lin, has heard over the years. They're so wonderfully integrated in the story and provides a sort of path for Minli, our protagonist. The characters in this are so full of wonder. Minli is a fantastic character to follow because she's curious and learns so much on her adventure to the Old Man in the Moon. The dragon that can't fly who accompanies her, called Dragon, adds another fantastical
element to this story as we meet monkeys and kings and buffalo boys and lucky twins and green tigers, oh my! I was floored by the emotion and passion behind these stories and characters and all the messages and morals that are learned are so beautiful, when I reached the end, I wanted to begin again on page one so I could learn all those lessons all over again. It took 11 years to discover this book but I'm so glad my red thread finally led me to this wonderful, wonderful book!
Feb 15, 2018 Calista rated it it was amazing I loved this book. I love learning about myths from the Asian culture. I love how the blurb related this to the Wizard of Oz, and I can see that relationship. MeiLi is on a quest, a journey. Like Dorothy, she realizes she doesn't need anything from an outside source. She
has the power within. This is such a lovely tone. The culture is celebrated and the importance of family is here and I love how nature plays into the story so intricately. I enjoy the people she meets along the way and the story This is such a lovely tone. The culture is celebrated and the importance of family is here and I love how nature plays into the story so intricately. I enjoy the people she meets along the way and the story with the monkeys made me laugh. That was a great resolve the book did. They characters were unique and distinct. I thought this was well executed. I will be reading more books by Grace Lin. This was fantastic
for anyone who loves Mythology.
4.5-5 stars This was such a cute story! I really liked how there were multiple folktales told that helped the story along. It really brought some understanding to why some characters were
important or brought history to the present in the story. There wasn’t any unnecessary romance either. It can happen when there is a female main character. The story takes on multiple avenues but are brought together by the journeys of the main character and her parents learning what the definition of fortune is This was such a cute story! I really liked how there were multiple folktales told that helped the story along. It
really brought some understanding to why some characters were important or brought history to the present in the story. There wasn’t any unnecessary romance either. It can happen when there is a female main character. The story takes on multiple avenues but are brought together by the journeys of the main character and her parents learning what the definition of fortune is to them. It’s a wonderful audio and physical book.
Feb 10, 2010 Dianna rated it it was amazing 2010: I am completely floored by this book. It is perfect on so many levels: at the beginning I was reading it with my three-year-old son in mind (he has a crush on the picture of Grace Lin on the back flap), and the text seemed simple enough for him to understand and enjoy
the book. But by the end, I was reading for me, having forgotten all about my son, and I was thinking that every mother should read this book. When I buy it (this was a library copy), my son will have to fight me for it. I lov I loved the way that folktales came to life in this book, and the stories throughout (especially the way they connected) and the pictures. The only thing I didn't like was the font that the little stories were in. Oh, and
the fact that this book didn't win the Newbery Medal. Seriously, I'm kind of mad about that—not that it's up to me, a lowly nobody in the middle of nowhere, but this book was so beautifully done in word, story, and message that When You Reach Me (which I also enjoyed, but in a different way) seems a bit frivolous beside it now.
Apr 06, 2017 Luisa Knight rated it really liked it I highly recommend this one! Delightful
story and great morals, so a nice one to grab for your next family read-aloud! Watch my video where I explain why this one is a good choice! #geography #asia #china #culture Ages: 7 - 12 Cleanliness Children's Bad Words Religious
& Supernatural: See Conversation Topics. Romance Related - 3 Incidents: A boy comes across a girl bathing in the water. He p Watch my video where I explain why this one is a good choice! #geography
#asia #china #culture Ages: 7 - 12 Cleanliness Children's Bad Words Religious & Supernatural: See Conversation Topics. Romance Related - 3 Incidents: A boy comes across a girl bathing in the water. He puts her clothes next to the shore (that his pet had moved) and turned around so she could dress. A boy says that when he's old enough, he wants
to talk his friend (a girl) into staying forever with him. "He reached inside the breast of his shirt." Attitudes/Disobedience - None Conversation Topics - 3 Incidents: This book is a collection of fairy-tale-like stories and legends of how things came to be (such as the rivers and the stars) and includes dragons, fortune tellers, a Book of Fortune that contains all that will ever come to pass, briefly mentions gods, spirits of the ancestors, miracle growing sticks, etc. Mentions wine. Not satisfied with what he has, a man leaves/abandons his wife and family to see what else he might attain (not portrayed positively). Parent Takeaway **Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that! So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all! ...more
This book was beautifully written. I found it as much a delight to read as my little one did to have it read to her. Minli is a young girl that lives in a poor village in rural China. Under
the gloomy shadow of a barren mountain, she and her family toil and drudge to just barely scrape by. She watches as her mother grows more and more discontent with their lot in life, until finally Minli decides to ask the Old Man of the Moon how their fortune can be improved. What follows is a touching, intellig Minli is a
young girl that lives in a poor village in rural China. Under the gloomy shadow of a barren mountain, she and her family toil and drudge to just barely scrape by. She watches as her mother grows more and more discontent with their lot in life, until finally Minli decides to ask the Old Man of the Moon how their fortune can be improved. What follows is a touching, intelligent adventure. I was skeptical of the Wizard of Oz comparison, but it is apt. This book is an instant classic, and I am
so glad I got to share it with my daughter. Filled with fleshed-out characters and numerous "story within a story" interludes, this book walks that fine knife's edge: teaching moral lessons while never seeming preachy or ham-fisted about it. If you want to bring some joy into your and/or your child's life, come join Minli in her quest to Never-Ending Mountain. You may just come back seeing the world with new eyes.
Believathon, Book 9: FINGERPRINTS Ever since I bought a copy of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and looked at it on my shelf, I immediately start singing the title to the tune of ‘All Is Found’ from Frozen 2, specifically the line ‘where the north wind meets the seeeeaaaaa...’ This has nothing to do with my thoughts on the books, but I feel like other people should be gifted with this ear worm,
so you’re welcome. The book itself was like a wonderful little parcel of magic, adventure and family. Ever since I bought a copy of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and looked at it on my shelf, I immediately start singing the title to the tune of ‘All Is Found’ from Frozen 2, specifically the line ‘where the north wind meets the seeeeaaaaa...’ This has nothing to do with my thoughts on the
books, but I feel like other people should be gifted with this ear worm, so you’re welcome. The book itself was like a wonderful little parcel of magic, adventure and family. Throughout Minli’s journey we’re given short stories inspired by Chinese folktales and mythology that in turn inspire the direction of the narrative. It’s all so whimsical and wholesome. Whilst the overall lesson to be learned from the journey itself is a little obvious from the outset, that does not detract away from
the enjoyment of getting there. Minli and Dragon’s friendship was so precious and I loved every moment that I got to spend with them. This is one I’ll be returning to for sure!
Read via Overdrive app from the "Try something different" section. :) Narrator *Janet Song*;: 3.5 stars, pleasant voice and good job narrating the story but her voices for different characters
sometimes didn't sound all that different. A beautiful and heartwarming (with a couple teary moments) tale. Simply but elegantly written, the characters feel like old friends fairly quickly and worm their way into your heart. I don't know what else to say except I enjoyed this one very much. It is written Narrator *Janet Song*;: 3.5 stars, pleasant voice
and good job narrating the story but her voices for different characters sometimes didn't sound all that different. A beautiful and heartwarming (with a couple teary moments) tale. Simply but elegantly written, the characters feel like old friends fairly quickly and worm their way into your heart. I don't know what else to say except I enjoyed this one very much. It is written for a younger audience but can be enjoyed by adults as well. Would recommend :)
Minli lives with her parents at the bottom of the Fruitless Mountain. Every day they spend working the brown, muddy fields and every night her Ma sighs heavily at their lack of fortune while Ba tells stories of adventure. One day, on the advice of a goldfish, Minli sets out to change her family's fortune and meets a band of interesting folk along the way. This reminded me a lot of
The Empress of Salt and Fortune in the tone and way it was written. It's based on traditional Chinese folktales, and This reminded me a lot of
The Empress of Salt and Fortune in the tone and way it was written. It's based on traditional Chinese folktales, and the main story splits off into multiple interwoven tales. The stories are told by various characters in the same way that these traditional
texts would have been told, and this only adds to the charm of the novel. Add in a fast pace and easy writing style, and I found myself having a grand old time. I also really enjoyed all of the characters. Minli is headstrong, but kind and generous with it. The Dragon is good hearted, selfless and brave. We have the enigmatic Old Man that seeps into all the folk stories too, as though he is a red thread that binds everything together. A wonderful introduction into Chinese mythology
with the added flair and creative touch of an author who onviously loves and embraces their Asian culture. I can't wait to pick up the companion novel.
Feb 11, 2012 Diana rated it it was amazing We loved this book! Beyond the strength of the characters (Minli in striking out on her own to change her family's fortune, Ba in waiting and loving and hoping, and Ma in learning to seek forgiveness), there was a beauty to the writing that made reading it aloud a joy. We loved this book! Beyond the strength of the characters (Minli in striking out on her own to change her family's fortune, Ba in waiting and loving and hoping, and Ma in learning to seek forgiveness), there was a beauty to the writing that made reading it aloud a joy. ...more
Sep 28, 2020 Karen Witzler rated it it was amazing What a pleasure, what a joy. Every
character shone, every story led to another, and of course the child found their fortune and the fruitless mountain became green again. Loosely based on Chinese myth and folklore this is a carefully constructed tale wherein the central narrative of Minli seeking her fortune from The Old Man of the Moon constantly digresses into other stories and slowly and inexorably all of the stories come together, all of the threads are tied. It reminded me of that great lost Loosely based on Chinese myth and folklore this is a carefully constructed tale wherein the central narrative of Minli seeking her fortune from The Old Man of the Moon constantly digresses into other stories and slowly and inexorably all of the stories come together, all of the threads
are tied. It reminded me of that great lost film Demon Pond where the collector of tales finds that he himself is part of the mythological cycle and the transcriber of the tale was always meant to be part of the story and had only arrived just in time -- isn't this why we read? This makes a superior read-aloud as Grace Lin has not one word out of place. Read aloud to me, by my grown daughter Anne in these barren and despairing days of 2020, but intended for children ages 6 - 12. Don't let that stop you. I felt a joy, a lightening as the story made its way. This was comparable to the way I felt as a child reading Heidi or A Wrinkle in Time. Highly recommended to all - independent young readers, mothers and fathers, grandparents, classroom teachers, the lonely, the despairing. A villain is encountered and death nearly comes - it is ok to whisper to the anxious child "not yet, not yet", all will be well. ...more
Aug 25, 2019 L.S. Popovich rated it really liked it “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” is
an excellent story with a universal message. Grace Lin never explicitly states this is what she is doing, but once the folktales within folktales is revealed and everything begins to connect, the experience changes. It makes one want to reread past tales within the narrative and sift through each new one looking for the crumbs of story within. The storytelling is further enriched by the writing. Most of the sentences are
straightforward, with simple language for younger readers. However the images that are used are beautiful, and the succinct writing keeps the pace going smoothly. This easy writing style puts the focus on what is happening and being said more than how it is said. Where this story really shines is its theme. I will not spoil it here since the slow reveal of the point of this story lends the narrative a good deal of strength. But the ultimate ending is well worth the journey and the themes
are a good reminder for everyone. Though the characters are often one-note they feed into the theme well. Most of them reflect the ideals of these central themes, showing their good and their evil. From style to characters, this is a masterful lesson in how to make a meaningful story where all the different elements come together to form an emotional and impactful journey. The only real issue with this work is also its greatest strength: its stories. All of them are engaging but there are
quite a few. Though they add rather than subtract from the whole, there is enough of them that pacing can feel bogged down at times. Especially in the middle, rapid fire stories interrupt the main plot. “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” should be on everyone’s reading list. For parents and children, and for authors as a great example on how to tell a story, and for everyone else as a heartfelt and important reminder of life's values.
Jan 31, 2012 Lauren rated it liked it The voice of the narrations were done by Minli, and I think the narrations were executed perfectly for her age in the story. I anticipate that this novel would be to difficult for young readers because of the vocabulary. I suggest "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" for readers
fourth grade and older! It's a wonderful story with a great message that wealth and fortune don't give one prosperity and happiness and that the key to happiness is thankfulness. When reading "Where the Mountain Meets the The voice of the narrations were done by Minli, and I think the narrations were executed perfectly for her age in the story. I anticipate that this novel would be to difficult for young readers because of the vocabulary. I suggest
"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" for readers fourth grade and older! It's a wonderful story with a great message that wealth and fortune don't give one prosperity and happiness and that the key to happiness is thankfulness. When reading "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" I experienced a range of emotions. I reacted with sadness for Minli's parents who missed their daughter desperately. I laughed when the old man in the village turned the peach Minli gave him into a peach tree for all, but
the peaches weren't appearing magically, however every peach taken from the tree one disappeared from the mean vendors stand. Classroom application:
Jul 22, 2016 Margaret rated it really liked it Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a pretty darn adorable
MG novel. Minli lives in a village beside the Fruitless Mountain, and decides to find fortune for her family, for her Ma often complains about how poor they are. To discover that fortune, Minli is told by a goldfish to ask the Old Man of the Moon. So Minli sneaks away, and in her adventures frees a goldfish, rescues a dragon, meets a king, and meets two lucky twins. And on each adventure she's told more folktales as the journey she's on Where the
Mountain Meets the Moon is a pretty darn adorable MG novel. Minli lives in a village beside the Fruitless Mountain, and decides to find fortune for her family, for her Ma often complains about how poor they are. To discover that fortune, Minli is told by a goldfish to ask the Old Man of the Moon. So Minli sneaks away, and in her adventures frees a goldfish, rescues a dragon, meets a king, and meets two lucky twins. And on each adventure she's told more folktales as the journey she's on becomes
one. Based on a mix of Chinese folktales, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is really charming. The author also illustrates the novel, and I loved the images. 4.5/5
When the Mountain Meets the Moon: My Kindle Review Blooming with plenty of fantasy and Chinese folklore as we follow a little girl who wants to turn her struggling
parents’ troubles around with the help of her father’s tales, it has plenty of whimsical storytelling with short folktales added to make it more of a heartwarming fantasy read. A (100%/Outstanding)
It might be unfair that I rank all children's books to The Tale of Despereaux. I loved the adventures of the tailless mouse with his needle/sword braving the dark rat infested underground. Similar to it's YA older
brother Redwall, Despereaux will forever be the 'high bar' I compare other children's books to. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, I believe, reached my high standards. The fact this book won the Newberry Award means no difference to me. I've read many award winning books Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, I believe, reached my high standards. The fact this book won the Newberry Award means no difference to me. I've read many award winning books and some, in my opinion, didn't deserve them while others did. This book deserved it. There were many good lessons in it for children to be hard working,
passionate, forgiving, loving, selfless and thankful. Some of these attributes are not taught in families today, especially forgiveness, selflessness and thankfulness. Minli is a little girl from the Village of Fruitless Mountain who goes in search for fortune. Her family struggles to survive in the desolate land in which they live, and Minli pulls a Mulan in order to honor her family. She meets many interesting people on the way to the Old Man of the Moon, and each person/animal changes
her a little for the better. I loved the character growth in this book. I suggest it to every family. There are many aspects of Asian societies I wish were adopted in every culture, especially honor. This story was more enjoyable because I read it to my daughter. She would sit and read along with me and look at the pictures for a very long time. I plan on reading it again when she's older. Beautiful story!
Actual Rating: 3.5* I did enjoy this one but I thought the writing was a little juvenile and the stories were a little awkwardly placed at some times. Everything
was really interesting to learn and know, but I felt like something was missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I liked the hero's journey in this one and the way the story came to a conclusion, but I feel like there were other stories in between I would have liked to hear and some that I wanted a more satisfying conclusion to. I rea I did enjoy this one but I thought the writing was a little juvenile and the
stories were a little awkwardly placed at some times. Everything was really interesting to learn and know, but I felt like something was missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I liked the hero's journey in this one and the way the story came to a conclusion, but I feel like there were other stories in between I would have liked to hear and some that I wanted a more satisfying conclusion to. I really liked Minli and thought she was a great heroine. She was curious and awestruck by
everything and didn't let the impossible stop her from chasing her dream. I liked how she grew throughout the story because of what she learned and the people she met. I think her story is the most important and the most interesting. I would recommend this one if you're looking for a quick read that is enjoyable and teaches you about other cultures. I liked getting a view behind the veil sort of deal out of this one and am definitely glad I checked it out. This is my last
#12DaysOfDiversity and 2016 read (since I doubt I can do 300+ pages in 20 minutes) and I feel like I ended on a really good note.
Feb 12, 2018 Kyungnan Gam rated it really liked it This book made me interesting at first by the cover. It looked mysterious and fantasy. I really like mystery books and fantasy books so this is why I was more attracted to the book. While reading, it was also very interesting about who the King of the Fruit Mountain. I really liked how the author made the format of the book for the readers. You can guess whoever the King of the Fruit Mountain is. I am looking forward to this author's other books too. This book made me interesting at first by the cover. It looked mysterious and fantasy. I really like mystery books and fantasy books so this is why I was more attracted to the book. While reading, it was also very interesting about who the King of the Fruit Mountain. I really liked how the author made the format of the book for the readers. You can guess whoever the King of the Fruit Mountain is. I am looking forward to this author's other books too. ...more
Absolutely fantastic. Magic in it’s purest form! Woven with folklore and some very important messages. I can’t wait to the read the companion novels 🖤
I seem to be in the vast minority when it comes to this book -- everyone seems to love it, and the Newbury stamp on the cover just adds to its prestige. I, too, was expecting to love it, as I
love mythology from all over the world and found the idea of an adventurous young girl embarking on a journey with a dragon to better her family fortune captivating. Sadly, while the book contains strong messages and weaves together several traditional stories of Chinese folklore, the writing itself is sadl I seem to be in the vast minority when it comes to this book -- everyone seems to love it, and the Newbury stamp on the cover just adds to its
prestige. I, too, was expecting to love it, as I love mythology from all over the world and found the idea of an adventurous young girl embarking on a journey with a dragon to better her family fortune captivating. Sadly, while the book contains strong messages and weaves together several traditional stories of Chinese folklore, the writing itself is sadly bland, and the story lags terribly in the middle. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" follows a young girl named Minli, who lives with her
family in an extremely poor village in the valley of Fruitless Mountain. Minli and her parents work hard all day just to have enough to eat, but Minli is happy, for she has her father's stories about dragons and the Man in the Moon to comfort her. But all the same, she sees that her family's poverty is making her parents miserable, and so she sets off on a journey to find the Man in the Moon and ask him to change the family's fortunes. With a flightless dragon for company, she travels toward the
Endless Mountain on a journey that will have her befriending kings and orphans, talking to fish and rabbits, confronting fearsome tigers and monkeys, and ultimately making a decision that will change her life forever... My favorite aspect of this book was seeing real Chinese mythology woven into Minli's story, mostly in the form of her father's tales or stories related by people she meets along the way. I don't claim to be an expert on Chinese myth, but I've read some of the stories and
was able to recognize several. I'm curious as to which of the stories in this book are actual folktales and which are inventions of the author, and it makes me want to learn more about the folklore and mythology of China. Which, I suppose, means this book has done its job. And the book has a good message at its heart -- that kindness will go a much longer way toward changing one's fortune than power or greed or scheming. Also, the book is peppered with beautiful color illustrations, all of
which are done in traditional Chinese styles. These livened up the book considerably, and made for an enchanting reading experience. Sadly, the story itself lags, especially toward the middle. Grace Lin's writing can be lovely at times but is oddly inconsistent -- sometimes it was enchanting and other times it was quite clunky and bland. The story itself seems to wander, and lingers at odd points for longer than necessary. And at times it felt that the various folktales woven into the
story didn't mesh well, and could have been incorporated into the story better. It doesn't help that the characters themselves are fairly flat. Minli, despite being the main character, doesn't have much personality beyond being the usual "adorable precocious child" so ubiquitous in literature. Dragon is relegated to a personality-free sidekick, and the villain of the story is simply evil for evil's sake. Only Minli's mother sees any character development, and even then it's simply
transforming from a nagging harpy to an agreeable wife... which has its own unfortunate implications. I understand that folktales weren't always renowned for their exemplary character development, but a novel adaptation of said folktales should do better, in my mind... This certainly wasn't a terrible book, and can serve as a nice introduction to the unique and colorful world of Chinese mythology for young readers. I simply found it lacking in certain areas, and think it could have been
improved on. Still, it's a fine read for younger readers, and the illustrations are a beautiful touch.
3.5 stars. This is one of my mom's favorite series, and I'm glad she introduced it to me, it's super enjoyable :D :D I wanted more emotional depth / angst (which is usually my personal reaction to MG?? so
not that unusual), but I still had lots of fun reading this. The descriptions were A++. ESPECIALLY THE FOOD MAH GASH *craves Chinese food* *can't have any right now* *cries* I will say, the constant "stop the action so we can tell a fairytale explaining how X or Y came to be a Thing" got kinda I wanted more emotional
depth / angst (which is usually my personal reaction to MG?? so not that unusual), but I still had lots of fun reading this. The descriptions were A++. ESPECIALLY THE FOOD MAH GASH *craves Chinese food* *can't have any right now* *cries* I will say, the constant "stop the action so we can tell a fairytale explaining how X or Y came to be a Thing" got kinda annoying by the end. It's not a bad device, but I felt like the author overused it?
I'm really happy I finally got to this one, it was wonderful. I'm really happy I finally got to this one, it was wonderful. ...more
Feb 02, 2012 Elisabeth rated it really liked it I really liked the way this book was set up. The story within a story type style made everything more interesting for me. Also, I like how in the end they all tied together making a moral for the story. I loved the character Minli, which is strange because I usually don't like female children characters in books. But Minli showed strong courage and wasn't some stupid little girl that always got herself into trouble. I found myself excited to finish this book to find out what happens. It wasn't a I really liked the way this book was set up. The story within a story type style made everything more interesting for me. Also, I like how in the end they all tied together making a moral for the story. I loved the character Minli, which is strange because I usually don't like female children characters in books. But Minli showed strong courage and wasn't some stupid little girl that always got herself into trouble. I found myself excited to finish this book to find out what happens. It wasn't as predictable as most other children's books where we didn't know exactly how new fortune would come to Minli and her family. I would definitely read this book to a future classroom. For the younger kids it seems like a good book to read a couple of chapters out of per day. There are a lot of life lessons that can be taught and I think it is important to learn these at a young age. Overall, I really enjoyed this heartwarming journey between friends and family and would absolutely recommend it. ...more
May 24, 2009 Abby Johnson rated it it was amazing Inspired by folktales of China, this is the story
of a young Chinese girl named Minli. She lives in a poor village underneath a stark mountain and every day her mother expresses her discontent. So Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how to change their fortune. What follows is the story of her journey. Along the way she meets many different characters and hears many different stories. The book reads like a fable, which is fitting because it contains so many stories. The end
Inspired by folktales of China, this is the story of a young Chinese girl named Minli. She lives in a poor village underneath a stark mountain and every day her mother expresses her discontent. So Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how to change their fortune. What follows is the story of her journey. Along the way she meets many different characters and hears many different stories. The book reads like a fable, which is fitting
because it contains so many stories. The ending is just perfect. This will be a delight to any child who enjoys fairy tales and folk tales. Highly recommended. Full review on my blog:
Lovely little story about a girl and the adventures she has in an effort to change her family's fortune. Min Li is a caring, resourceful, smart, determined and, above all, kind person. She heads out on her own to improve/change her family's fortune. She encounters a dragon and several people, who she helps and who help her get closer to her goal.
News & InterviewsThe glint of fangs in the dark, the sound of tap-tap-tapping at your window, the howling of wind (or is it just wind?) in the trees...that's... “If you make happy those that are near, those that are far will come.” — 60 likes “Whenever I see her, we laugh enough to last for the month. She's my best friend, and someday when we're old enough I'm going to talk her into staying here forever.” — 39 likes More quotes…Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. What age is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon?As a bonus, there are many good short stories told within the larger whole and all are enjoyable and provide "food for thought." We liked this story very much and, although there is some mild peril, we found nothing objectionable for ages 7 and up. Good for young readers or to read aloud.
What is the setting of the story Where the Mountain Meets the Moon?In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions.
What is the borrowed line in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon?Minli is able to meet him and he gives her a borrowed line which is written on a piece of apage that Magistrate Tiger had torn out of the Old Man of the Moon's Book of Fortune. Outside of the City, Dragon is given a string of destiny which is another borrowed line by the Guardians of the City, living stone tigers.
Who is the hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon?Minli. Minli is the protagonist and hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. She's dutiful, empathetic, curious, and resourceful. She looks up to her father, the optimist, and clashes with her mother, the cynic.
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How old is min in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon?
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