Barnhill, Kelly The Girl Who Drank the Moon, 388 pgs.
Algonquin Young Readers, 2016. $16.95
At the same time every year the people in the village of the
Protectorate have to leave a newborn baby in the forest as an offering to a
witch that lives in that forest.
Every year, Xan, finds a newborn baby in the same place and
she does not understand why someone would leave a baby like that. She pick up
the baby and takes to a village that will take good care of the baby. For the
trip she feed the baby goats milk and starlight to make the child strong and
healthy. One year Xan accidentally feeds the baby she just picked up moonlight.
Moonlight holds a powerful magic and Xan realizes she cannot give this baby to
someone else to raise. Xan locks the magic deep inside the child, a girl she
calls Luna. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday her magic starts to
appear, right on schedule. Danger approaches and Xan is far away. Luna will
have to decide if she should protect the ones who have protected her even if it
means the end of the world as she has always known it.
This is a delightful, new fairytale, sure to delight readers
and become a classic. Children as young as 5th grade would like this
story.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE
Reviewer: Ellen-Anita Librarian
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1 comment:
There is a witch in the woods, and the people of the Protectorate must give her the town’s youngest baby every year so she will be appeased. What they don’t know is the witch is kind, and she has no idea why a baby is left alone in the forest each year. She takes the baby to the other side of the forest, feeding it goat milk and starlight, and gives it to a kind family who love and cherish it. But when a very special child is left in the ring of trees, the witch is enamored with her, and takes longer than expected, and accidentally feeds her moonlight which enmagics the baby. Now Xan must raise this magical child herself as magic is both wonderful and dangerous. Such a well written story incorporating action, magic, good guys, bad guys, witches, dragons and origami. The length may seem daunting, but the story moves fast and is exciting and funny. The 2017 Newbery winner may easily become a classic. I would give this title an essential.
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