1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lin, Grace. 2009. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316114271
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Minli, her mother, Ma and her father, Ba live in a poor town at the bottom of fruitless mountain. They had to work hard in the rice fields just to make a meager living. After hearing about the Old Man of the Moon, she begins a quest to find out how her family can change their fortune. There are many magical characters along the journey including talking fish, talking monkeys, and a dragon that cannot fly. The dragon joins her trek to see the Old Man of the Moon so that he can ask him how he can learn to fly. Once Minli reaches the Old Man of the Moon, the Old Man of the Moon states that “every ninety-nine years, someone comes here with their questions. But I will answer only one. So choose your question carefully.” Minli selflessly gives up asking her question to the Old Man of the Moon so that the dragon can learn how he can fly. This selfless act begins a series of events that change not only the fortune of her family but the fortune of her entire community.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON is original fantasy set in the style of a Chinese folk tale. With her extensive reading and cultural knowledge of Asian Cultures, Grace Lin’s story seems to be realistically set in China. The characters have Chinese-sounding names like Minli, Da-Fu, A-Fu, Ba and A-Gong. The numerous illustrations and pictures are reminiscent of traditional Chinese art. These pictures depict Asian-style architecture and landscapes. The book has short chapters with wide line spacing which may help readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. Sadly, there are quite a few typos in the book.
Grace Lin does not include many details about the personalities of the characters but readers can become captivated by the magical adventures of the main character, Minli. Throughout the book, there are original stories that use characters, myths and legends from Chinese folklore. The titles of some of these folklore-inspired stories are “The Story of the Green Tiger and the Tea,” “A String of Destiny,” and “The Story of the Dragon’s Gate.” In the Author’s note, Lin lists some of the books that inspired her to write WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. While the focus of the book is on the story, there are many times in the story where one character will show a negative character trait while another character shows the opposite character trait. The characters end up getting what they deserve.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Book, 2010
Children's Notable Book , 2010
“Lovely full-page illustrations in blues, reds, greens, and luminous golds as well as delicate
Horn Book Magazine:
chapter-openers, all influenced by traditional Chinese art, contribute to
this original, folklore-inspired fantasy’s sense of timelessness.”
5. CONNECTIONS.
* Grace Lin uses her knowledge of Chinese folktales, myths and legends to expand on the characters and make up new stories with the characters from the folktales. Teachers can read some folktales to students and then have students write the history of a specific character or continue the story from where it originally ends.
*Other books by Grace Lin:
Lin, Grace. DUMPLING DAYS. ISBN 9780316125901.
Lin, Grace. LING & TING: NOT EXACTLY THE SAME!. ISBN 9780316024525
Lin, Grace. STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY. ISBN 9780316125956
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