The Girl Who Drank The Moon
Bibliography
Barnhill, Kelly The Girl who Drank the Moon
Picadilly Press, 2017. ISBN: 9781848126473
Watch the Book Trailer below to get a sense of the story.
Watch the Book Trailer below to get a sense of the story.
Plot Summary
This is a magical and haunting novel and it will stay with me and with you long after you have finished reading. It is an enchanting modern fairy tale that will draw you into its mysterious world of witches, monsters, and a magical young girl named Luna.
The people of the protectorate live with the horrible knowledge that each year a baby must be sacrificed for the witch. The baby must be left in the forest and if they don't, according to the townspeople, the witch will surely destroy them. However, Xan is a good witch and each year she comes to rescue a baby that the townspeople abandoned. The witch does not know why this happens but she knows that she wants to save the babies by delivering them to the other side of the forest, raised by grateful families. The children never suspect they are abandoned in the woods. However, one day the witch rescues a baby that is special. She knows that baby Luna is very special and keeps her to raise on her own. She feeds Luna starlight, as she does all the babies, to keep them alive until she can find them a new family. But she also feeds Luna moonlight accidentally. With the moonlight comes magic and Xan knows she must keep the baby and teach her how to use the magic. This is how the mysterious story begins and shows both sorrow and uplifting hope.
Critical Analysis
The author, Barnhill, has created a fantasy world that ignites the readers' imagination. Each page simulates the senses as the reader weaves him/herself within the story. Barhill introduces the Bog monster as a poet that has been around for a long time and who Xan considers her family. The writing uncovers a sinister evil that has returned to the world making its presence known at night. Luna's slumbering magic will awaken your hope and light within as you read...she comes to life and discovers who she really is.
The novel is written in the past tense and narrated in the third person. The narrator sees all and knows everything about the characters. The narrator's focus shifts between each chapter. There are some chapters that are written in first-person, such as the point of view of the mother who tells stories about the witch that lives in the forest. In another chapter, Luna is the first-person speaker and her subject is Fyrian, the dragon. Barnhill writes a very dark novel, but ultimately it leaves the reader feeling positive and hopeful.
The themes of this story include death, sorrow, hope, and conquering evil. Overall the human spirit shines through the darkness and allows the reader to search for belonging, find your inner courage, and understand power. This is a remarkable middle-grade novel that will be appreciated equally by teens and adults.
Awards & Review Excerpts
2017 Winner of the Newbery Award
2016 An Entertainment Weekly Best Middle-Grade Book
2016 A New York Public Library Best Book
2016 A Chicago Public Library Best Book
2016 A School Library Journal Best Book
2016 Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books
2017 Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice
“Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick . . . Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Rich with multiple plotlines that culminate in a suspenseful climax, characters of inspiring integrity, a world with elements of both whimsy and treachery, and prose that melds into poetry. A sure bet for anyone who enjoys a truly fantastic story.”
—Booklist, starred review
“An expertly woven and enchanting offering.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
“Barnhill crafts another captivating fantasy, this time in the vein of Into the Woods . . . Barnhill delivers an escalating plot filled with foreshadowing, well-developed characters, and a fully-realized setting, all highlighting her lyrical storytelling.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Connections
Discuss with students that this novel highlights many themes including: good vs. evil, love, friendship, and rebellion against tradition. In what ways do the characters and plot express
these themes?
Fairy tale study about Good vs. Evil
Art project: create a map and label the various settings in the novel to include: The
Protectorate, the Free Cities, the Swamp, the Forest
The author, Barnhill, has created a fantasy world that ignites the readers' imagination. Each page simulates the senses as the reader weaves him/herself within the story. Barhill introduces the Bog monster as a poet that has been around for a long time and who Xan considers her family. The writing uncovers a sinister evil that has returned to the world making its presence known at night. Luna's slumbering magic will awaken your hope and light within as you read...she comes to life and discovers who she really is.
The novel is written in the past tense and narrated in the third person. The narrator sees all and knows everything about the characters. The narrator's focus shifts between each chapter. There are some chapters that are written in first-person, such as the point of view of the mother who tells stories about the witch that lives in the forest. In another chapter, Luna is the first-person speaker and her subject is Fyrian, the dragon. Barnhill writes a very dark novel, but ultimately it leaves the reader feeling positive and hopeful.
The themes of this story include death, sorrow, hope, and conquering evil. Overall the human spirit shines through the darkness and allows the reader to search for belonging, find your inner courage, and understand power. This is a remarkable middle-grade novel that will be appreciated equally by teens and adults.
Awards & Review Excerpts
2017 Winner of the Newbery Award
2016 An Entertainment Weekly Best Middle-Grade Book
2016 A New York Public Library Best Book
2016 A Chicago Public Library Best Book
2016 A School Library Journal Best Book
2016 Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books
2017 Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice
“Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick . . . Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Rich with multiple plotlines that culminate in a suspenseful climax, characters of inspiring integrity, a world with elements of both whimsy and treachery, and prose that melds into poetry. A sure bet for anyone who enjoys a truly fantastic story.”
—Booklist, starred review
“An expertly woven and enchanting offering.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
“Barnhill crafts another captivating fantasy, this time in the vein of Into the Woods . . . Barnhill delivers an escalating plot filled with foreshadowing, well-developed characters, and a fully-realized setting, all highlighting her lyrical storytelling.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Connections
Discuss with students that this novel highlights many themes including: good vs. evil, love, friendship, and rebellion against tradition. In what ways do the characters and plot express
these themes?
Fairy tale study about Good vs. Evil
Art project: create a map and label the various settings in the novel to include: The
Protectorate, the Free Cities, the Swamp, the Forest
Comments
Post a Comment