Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Reviewed by Amber

You live in a poor village by a barren mountain, where the only things that get you through the grueling day are the stories your father serves at dinnertime. Fueled by the hope of good fortune for your family, you set out to look for a magical man who knows everything. But what if the man lives in the heavens, nearly unreachable? How are you supposed to find him then?

In Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Minli’s father tells her a story every night at dinner. One particular evening, he tells of the Old Man of the Moon, who answers one question every 99 years. This tale urges Minli to find him and find a way to solve her family’s poor fortune. Along the way to the Old Man of the Moon’s residence, Minli meets Dragon, a flightless dragon whose greatest wish is to soar through the sky. Together, the two encounter a nearly surreal girl, a mighty king, and a deadly tiger. Will Minli ever find the Old Man of the Moon? And after all she has been through, have her priorities changed?

One reason I enjoyed reading this book is because of its unique, interesting characters. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon features immortal beings based on Chinese gods. There are also many intriguing creatures, such as dragons, talking animals, and even mischievous statues. For instance, Minli is stunned by an orange-and-black goldfish with piercing eyes, who has emotions just like a human’s.

Another reason I liked this book very much is because Grace Lin puts in so much emotion into her writing. When Minli suddenly leaves to find the Old Man of the Moon, you can feel Ma and Ba’s worry, sadness, and fear for Minli. Another example of the feelings Lin puts into her writing is shown by Minli’s fear when the Green Tiger, whose attacks are often fatal, ambushes her and Dragon, raking his claws against Dragon’s skin. I was able to tell what the characters were feeling in the moment, as if I was standing in their shoes.

This is an exceptional novel, and I rate it 10/10 for its adventure, emotion, and the plot twist at the climax. This story is not part of a series, but Grace Lin has written a few other books featuring some of the same characters: Starry River of the Sky and When the Sea Turned to Silver. I highly recommend this book to girls and boys who enjoy reading heartwarming fantasy stories. If you fall into that category, or just want a new book to read, why not check out Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin?

Little, Brown and Company, 279 pages