The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

                                                            

1.      Bibliography

Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers, 2016. ISBN 1616205679.

2.      Plot Summary

The people of the Protectorate sacrifice a baby to the witch in the woods once a year.  What they don’t know is that the witch takes their babies and gives them to nice families in the free cities on the other side of the woods.  That is, until one year, when the witch accidently feeds the baby moonlight and the baby takes on special characteristics.  Since the folks in the free cities wouldn’t know how to handle such a child, the witch decides to keep her.  She raises the child as her own with the help of her friends, a swamp monster and a tiny dragon.  As the child grows, so does her magic so the witch hides her magic until the child is old enough to handle it.

3.   Critical Analysis

The young protagonist of the story is Luna, a young girl rescued by the witch and accidently fed moonlight.  She is relatable because, like most young children, she loves the family that lovingly raised her even though, in her case, it is her grandmother (the witch), a swamp monster and a tiny dragon.  The plot put forward in the story, while not plausible in our realm, is logical to the characters world.  We understand the actions of the characters because they are driven by the same emotions that drive all of us such as love, jealousy, and power.  The story is fun, interesting and exciting.  There is a villain to vanquish, just not the one the characters have been led to believe is the villain.

The setting of the story takes place mostly in the woods, which to those outside is described as dark and foreboding but for the characters who live there it is described as homey and comfortable.  The other setting is the Protectorate, the sad and foreboding town from which the children are sacrificed.  It is described in all of its gloom and the reader can feel the suppression under which the townsfolks live.  Themes to be discovered and discussed include hope versus sorrow, family and parenting, the complexities and injustices of our modern society, effects of power and tyranny and how love can conquer fear and despair.

4.      Review Excerpts

Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal
The New York Times Bestseller

From Booklist: 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.”

From Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review. “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.”

From School Library Journal: “The swiftly paced, highly imaginative plot draws a myriad of threads together to form a web of characters, magic, and integrated lives. Spiritual overtones encompass much of the storytelling with love as the glue that holds it all together. VERDICT An expertly woven and enchanting offering for readers who love classic fairy tales.”

5.      Connections

Gather and read other Newberry winning fantasy books such as:

      Lowry, Lois.  The Giver. ISBN B008224A68
      DiCamillo, Kate.  The Tale of Despereaux.  ISBN 0763680893
      Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. ISBN 0060530944

Gather and read other books by Kelly Barnhill:

      The Witches Boy. ISBN 1616205482
      Iron Hearted Violet. ISBN 0316056758
      The Mostly True Story of Jack. ISBN 0316056723

Gather and read other well know young adult books about magical children such as:

      Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter series. ISBN 0545162076
      Riordan, Rick. Percy Jackson series. ISBN 1484707230

Use in a science unit when discussing starlight and moonlight.