The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal)
With more than a million copies sold, acclaimed fantasy author Kelly Barnhill's Newbery Medal winner is a must-read for fans of classic children's literature or timeless fantasy fables, described as "impossible to put down... As exciting and layered as classics like Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz" (The New York Times Book Review).
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna's thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge--with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth's surface. And the woman with the Tiger's heart is on the prowl . . .
DON'T MISS THESE OTHER ACCLAIMED BOOKS BY KELLY BARNHILL:
The Mostly True Story of Jack
Iron Hearted Violet
The Witch's Boy
The Ogress and the Orphans
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Community Reviews
I had no trouble getting into this book, the middle was a little slow, and then I positively zoomed though the end. The book starts and ends with magic, and is filled near to bursting with it. The kid in me was euphoric about that. Magic is as much a part of the world as oxygen is in this book. And magic comes from stars, and the moon, and many other places.
I loved the characters; ugly and poetic Glerk, sweet and energetic Fyrian, wise and caring Xan, enmagicked and curious Luna. There were also a host of wonderful secondary characters: Antain, Ethyne, Sister Ignatia, and Grand Elder Gherland. They brought so much color to the story, and I just love the way it was written. I would love reading this to middle school age kids, watching them take it all in.
I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I think I will read more books like this in the future. They're light and fluffy, and good for a quick read in between the heavier ones.
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