A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lin, Grace. 2009. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. New York: Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-316-11427-1.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Minli was a bright and happy little girl, but her parents and her village struggled. In the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, their lives were full of hard work and lack. So Minli decides to change the fate of her family, and leaves in search of good fortune. Along her way, she will exchange kindnesses with several people, but her new best friend will be a dragon! She will learn where true value lies.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
There are so many stories within this story! The entire book reads like a mythical folk story. It is a timeless setting, but it is definitely before the industrial age. Many of the elements of the story seem archetypal.The family lives in a poor village. They have only one child. They farm for rice. However, their only entertainment, storytelling, brings a sense of exuberance to their lives. It is the father’s storytelling that inspires Minli to leave on her adventure in search of good fortune.
The fantastical elements of talking goldfish, rabbits and dragons are entertaining as well as conductors of wisdom. Wisdom is valued more than treasure. It is often shared through storytelling, but sometimes insight is simply interjected into a conversation.
There is a consistent theme of humility throughout the story. Every great and powerful figure is presented in a humble posture. The king was disguised as a poor man in the market. The dragon walks along the ground instead of flying. Even the Old Man of the Moon simply sat on the side of a mountain road when the Magistrate first encountered him.
The closeness of the villages was also a cultural marker. The good of the family or the community is more important than the individual. There is a strong sense of connectedness, and it is that connection that brings happiness. I loved the idea of the red threads that connected the people together. The Old Man says, “All the people you’ve met in your life have been brought to you by the red cords I tied.”
The evil Magistrate Tiger was the timeless villain. He was the embodiment of selfishness and greed, the antithesis of the cultural theme of communal care. His evil spirit eventually becomes an evil Tiger. Of course, he is bested by a pair, Da-Fu and A-Fu, working together to defeat him.
I have to say that this book brought me to tears. In “The Story that Ma Told” there is great wisdom, and I am so grateful that I had a chance to read it. As they continue to wait and hope for Minli to return, Ma tells Ba her one and only story, and she says of herself, “For all the time that she had been longing for treasures, she had already had the one most precious.” Oh my… it was a powerful reminder.
D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2010
Newbery Honor, 2010
Parents' Choice Gold Award, 2009
Booklist starred, May 2009: “With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude.”
Horn Book Magazine, September 2009
Kirkus Reviews starred, May 2009: “Lin deftly incorporates elements from Chinese folk- and fairy tales to create stories within the main story and provide context for Minli's quest. With her "lively and impulsive spirit," Minli emerges a stalwart female role model who learns the importance of family, friendship and faith during her amazing journey. “
Library Media Connection starred, November 2009
School Library Journal starred, July 2009
E. CONNECTIONS
I would love to include this book with a study or unit on Fairy Tales and Folklore. It could be read alongside other great middle grade books that include folktales and myths such as Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris, The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, and/or The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
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