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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by
In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli's mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraord
...more
Hardcover, First Edition, 278 pages
Published
June 2009
by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
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
...more
May 01, 2020
Gavin
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020-reads,
middle-grade
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 ...more
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 ...more
May 26, 2011
Emily
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-aloud,
second-childhood
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
...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
Sep 01, 2020
Rachel Aranda
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
library-rentals
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 ...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
I lov ...more
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
Name Calling - 5 Incidents: dogs, fool, puffed-up frogs, stupid
Religious Profanities - 1 Incident: thank goodness
Religious & Supernatural: See Conversation Topics.
Romance Related - 3 Incidents: A boy comes across a girl bathing in the water. He p ...more
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
Name Calling - 5 Incidents: dogs, fool, puffed-up frogs, stupid
Religious Profanities - 1 Incident: thank goodness
Religious & Supernatural: See Conversation Topics.
Romance Related - 3 Incidents: A boy comes across a girl bathing in the water. He p ...more
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.
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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 ...more
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 ...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 ...more
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 ...more
Nov 13, 2020
Vee
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
animal-companions,
found-family,
friendship,
dragony,
middle-grade,
adventure,
wholesome
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. ...more
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. ...more
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
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
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 ...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
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
...more
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
...more
This was really good 👍
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 can’t wait to the read the companion novels 🖤
“Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” is an excellent story with a universal message.
A collection of Chinese folktales woven into an overarching story. If you have any interest in folklore this a must. What elevated this story to a true work of art is the author’s mastery of storytelling. The narrative often pauses to tell a Chinese folktale. At first this seems like only a texture for the characters and world but as the story unfolds it becomes apparent that each tale is woven into the tapestry o ...more
A collection of Chinese folktales woven into an overarching story. If you have any interest in folklore this a must. What elevated this story to a true work of art is the author’s mastery of storytelling. The narrative often pauses to tell a Chinese folktale. At first this seems like only a texture for the characters and world but as the story unfolds it becomes apparent that each tale is woven into the tapestry o ...more
Dec 31, 2016
Jamie (Books and Ladders)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
middle-grade,
12-days-of-diversity
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 ...more
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 ...more
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)
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)
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
...more
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
...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
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.
I loved how all the stories recounted by Min Li's father and others along her travels all connected in some way, either through Magistrate Tiger, or an ...more
I loved how all the stories recounted by Min Li's father and others along her travels all connected in some way, either through Magistrate Tiger, or an ...more
I'm really happy I finally got to this one, it was wonderful.
...more
AHAHAAHA!! I FINALLY FINISH AHEAD
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
...more
I just finished rereading this delightful story, and I loved it even more the second time around. When my youngest sister was 9 she received this book for Christmas. Upon finishing the book she loved it so much that she promptly flipped the book back over and read it again a second time. Only after her second read did she let me borrow it.
Young Minli leaves the Valley of the Fruitless Mountain to seek her fortune for her family, and to save them from the drudgery of laboring endlessly everyday ...more
Young Minli leaves the Valley of the Fruitless Mountain to seek her fortune for her family, and to save them from the drudgery of laboring endlessly everyday ...more
Such a beautiful story! So much wisdom. I want to read all the books by this author! 🐲
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Readers: Where The Mountain Meets The Moon - Grace Lin | 1 | 12 | Aug 11, 2020 11:50PM | |
| EDST 3333: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | 1 | 3 | Dec 04, 2019 10:16PM | |
| Jessica Huang Book Review | 1 | 3 | Feb 03, 2019 01:07PM | |
| Great Middle Grad...: * BOTM for March is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | 18 | 42 | May 13, 2018 11:20AM |
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