The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill, for MMGM

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a rich, gorgeous story that I’m sure you’ve seen around–especially since it landed a Newbery! I’ve been wanting to read it ever since I first laid eyes on it, so snatched it up in a Bookbub sale a month or two back. Once I got the chance to dig in, it did not disappoint!

Cover for The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Anytime a book gets this much attention, it’s easy to read it with a few preconceived notions. And I confess, I thought the story was going to have a little more action, or more adventuring. However, the first lines of the novel settled me into the style of story, and swept me along without a care for those earlier notions.

This is the story of darling little girl named Luna, who is being raised by a witch. A terrible witch, who steals babies from their teary-eyed parents and whisks them away to parts unknown. Except, she’s not.

Xan is a witch and she does take babies, but only because the poor dears have been abandoned to the beasts of the forest, at the insistence of the town councilmen. And she whisks them away, but feeds them on starshine as they travel, then carefully places them with loving families where they grow up Star Children, and are loved every day of their lives.

And thus begins the first of many reversals which give this story a topsy-turvy twisty path, while at the same time enhancing the feeling that one is reading a true fairy tale, with all the steeped wisdom that implies. Add to this the rich images–such as someone lifting up a hand to catch snag star light, or a baby slurping down moonlight–and the incredibly fun cast of characters, and then tell it all with smooth, glorious prose, and it’s easy to see why this book has taken the literary world by storm. Indeed, I think it’s impossible to read it and not fall in love, not only with the characters–who truly will burrow into your heart–but also with the world itself. Which is funny, since at least the Protectorate is so retchedly miserable that it’s no wonder no one visits.

I highly recommend it! However…in the spirit of fully disclosure, I will admit there were two aspects of the ending which did not leave me wholly satisfied. One is the handling of the antagonist. It didn’t go quite far enough in any direction for my taste, instead taking a middle road that felt a bit flavorless. And at the same time, I couldn’t help feeling that the wrap up of the story for some of our favorite characters lacked a certain something. Not a bad ending, mind. Just lacking the oomph I would have enjoyed.

Which is perhaps not at all helpful, and unfortunately rather muddy since I don’t want to give away spoilers! In any case, it is the story itself that will stay with you, and everyone knows that the best fairy tales don’t end. They live happily ever after!

Now, let’s see what Apricot-kitty has to say:

“I rather liked Xan. She was a proper witch, with a canny way of living. I liked the swamp monster, Glerk, too. And young Luna. In fact, I would give this book my whole-hearted approval if only it had more cats!”

 

 

 

 

Well, there’s no pleasing everyone, and since Apricot believes every book not written from a cat’s pov could use more cats, that’s still pretty high approval!

Tell me in the comments which books you’re reading, and be sure to hop around the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday round up to see more spotlights, interviews, reviews and giveaways. And many thanks to Greg Pattridge, for hosting us!

 

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18 Comments

  1. Reply

    This was a really good book, though as an author I had to laugh a bit at how it broke so many of the “rules” we are told to follow in order to write a good children’s book. The characters were terrific, though I know what you mean about the ending. I thought it was good, but not quite up to the level of the rest of the book.

    As for other books I’ve been reading, I really enjoyed THE SERPENT’S SECRET which I reviewed today for MMGM, and also THE MAD WOLF’S DAUGHTER by Diane Magras, which is excellent. I’d recommend both of them.

    • Reply

      It is true that she broke a lot of the rules, didn’t she? She did it well enough I didn’t think twice about it, but once you mention it a dozen examples popped into my head. It just goes to show that rules are made to be broken…with style. 😉

      I’ve been seeing the Mad Wolf’s Daughter pop up, so will check it out, and am definitely interested in reading your thoughts on The Serpent’s Secret, too!

  2. Reply

    Suzanne, I read this back when the hype was only initial promo and still began with cautionary doubts. I agree that event the first pages wrapped me in a world so well-built that it shaped the story as if one of the characters. I had no doubt that it would garner the awards that it eventually graced its cover.
    As for what you might want tread sooner rather than later, try THE NIGHT DIARY by Veera Hiranandani. Just finished it, and will now start Children of Blood and Bone, which finally reached me from a long hold list at a the library.

    • Reply

      How exciting to have seen this book before the crowds put it on their shoulders and marched away with it! That’s always a thrilling experience.

      Thank you so much for the recommendation–I’m intrigued by the title alone of The Night Diary!

  3. Reply

    I hope to get to this one soon. It’s been on my list of books to read for much too long. The cover and your review put it at the top of my TBR pile.

    • Reply

      It’s definitely worth digging down to, or bumping up! Once you begin, the characters will live on in your head as if you always knew them. 🙂

  4. Reply

    It sounds like the author has a unique writing style. I’m not sure if I would like it or not! I will have to pick up this book and check it out next time I am at the bookstore.

  5. Reply

    I keep hearing about this book, but really didn’t know what it was about. It sounds like a book to experience, with beautiful imagery and prose. Thanks for reminding me to read this book!

  6. Reply

    Sounds like an interesting read. I saw it reviewed somewhere else today and I think that person had issues with the ending too. Still, it really does sound like an intriguing story.

    • Reply

      That it is! And while I didn’t absolutely love the ending, for me it was just a question of whether it lived up to the very high standard the rest the book set. The book as a whole holds up!

  7. Reply

    We are MMGM twins. I meant to say something about the reversals, so I am glad you mentioned it. It is always interesting to see how people respond differently. I liked the ending. I thought it wrapped everything up nicely. I understand what you mean about the characters. The author works to make the main ones multifaceted, but with so many I think it is a tall order to get it perfect

    • Reply

      I agree that it’s nearly impossible to get everything perfect and satisfy everyone–in fact, I’d say it’s totally impossible! I think she did a marvelous job, on the whole.

      Thanks for weighing, and being my MMGM twin!

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