The Girl Who Drank the Moon facts for kids
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| Author | Kelly Barnhill |
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| Audio read by | Christina Moore |
| Publisher | Algonquin Young Readers |
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Publication date
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9 August 2016 |
| Pages | 386 |
| Awards | Newbery Medal |
| ISBN | 978-1-84812-647-3 |
| OCLC | 1001316782 |
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a wonderful children's book written by Kelly Barnhill in 2016. This exciting fantasy story introduces readers to a young girl named Luna. She was accidentally given powerful magic and raised by a kind witch named Xan. Luna must learn to control her growing abilities before they become too strong. The book won the prestigious 2017 Newbery Medal, an important award for the best children's literature in America. Before the book was officially released, a short prequel story was shared online by Entertainment Weekly.
Contents
Story Overview
A Town's Secret Tradition
Every year, the people of a sad town believe they must offer their youngest baby to a feared witch named Xan. They think this witch is the source of all bad things. However, Xan is actually a kind witch. She rescues these babies and takes them to another town where they can be adopted and raised with love.
One year, while rescuing a baby girl, Xan accidentally feeds her moonlight instead of starlight. This mistake gives the baby incredible magical powers. Xan names the baby Luna and decides to raise her as her own child. Luna grows up with Xan, a wise dragon named Fyrian, and a gentle swamp monster called Glerk. Xan herself was not born a witch. She was an orphaned child who learned magic from a kind magician who became like a father to her.
Luna's Magical Journey
As Luna grows, her magic becomes very strong and sometimes hard to control. To protect everyone, Xan finds a way to seal Luna's magic away. This comes with a big cost: Luna cannot hear the word "magic" without fainting. Also, her sealed magic will be released on her thirteenth birthday, and this will sadly drain Xan's own magic, causing her to become very weak.
Meanwhile, a young man named Antain from the sad town is deeply troubled by the tradition of offering babies. He remembers the deep sadness of Luna's mother, who became very withdrawn after her baby was taken. Antain loses his position on the town's council because he refuses to take part in the offering ceremony again. He later meets and marries a kind girl named Ethyne, who doesn't mind the scars he received from a magical encounter.
As Luna's thirteenth birthday gets closer, Xan becomes weaker. Luna, who can talk to a crow, sometimes travels with Xan to nearby cities. One day, Xan rescues another baby, and Antain sees her. However, the town council doesn't believe him when he tells them about the witch. Ignatia, a powerful leader of a group called the Sisters, secretly watches Luna's mother. Ignatia seems to draw strength from the town's sadness.
Antain and Ethyne have a child, and they cannot bear to lose him. Antain bravely decides to go into the forest to confront Xan. Ignatia, after talking with Antain's uncle, follows Antain. She wants to stop him from telling the townspeople what he saw. Luna's mother, who has gained some magical abilities, overhears their conversation by transforming into a small creature.
Unraveling the Truth
While on her way to rescue the abandoned baby, Xan meets Antain. He accidentally wounds her, and they end up traveling together. Luna discovers a letter revealing that Xan sealed her magic to protect her. Luna, her crow, Glerk, and Fyrian (who starts to grow unexpectedly large) follow Xan into the forest. Luna gets lost, but her painted map, which repeats "she is here, she is here, she is here," seems to guide her. This is the same phrase her mother always whispers.
As Antain, Xan, Ignatia, Luna's group, and Luna's mother (who escaped her cell) gather in the forest, a strange cloud of sadness that has hung over the town for centuries begins to disappear. This magical cloud had made the people forget their children and feel constantly sad. As it lifts, the townspeople start to remember their lost children and ask questions.
Ethyne, who was once part of the Sisters and dislikes Ignatia, starts a rebellion with her friends. The council members try to stop her, but Ethyne stands firm. Luna soon meets Ignatia and narrowly escapes with the help of her mother's magical paper birds. Xan learns the full truth about why the townspeople offered their babies. She feels deep regret for not questioning the situation sooner.
Luna's mother, carried by her paper birds, finds magical shoes that make the wearer incredibly fast. Ignatia tries to get these shoes back, as they once belonged to her. However, Luna's mother escapes. Luna then meets Antain and Xan. Antain tries to attack Xan, but Luna stops him, discovering her true magical abilities in the process. Xan transforms back to her real self, and Luna's mother and Ignatia join them.
It is revealed that Ignatia needs the sadness of others to maintain her power. This is why she didn't help others during a past volcanic eruption and why she fed on Xan's own sadness long ago. Ignatia became the secret leader of the town centuries ago, spreading false rumors about Xan and feeding on the deep sadness of parents who lost their children.
A New Beginning
Glerk explains to Fyrian why he remained small for so long, suggesting it was because he was too close to his mother when she died in the ancient volcano eruption. Fyrian also learns about Ignatia's actions centuries ago. Antain is shocked to learn that Ignatia is the real cause of the town's suffering. Luna's mother, whose name is revealed to be Adara, supports Xan's accusations against Ignatia.
Suddenly, the volcano erupts again! Many years ago, witches, magicians, and dragons had sealed it. This time, instead of sealing it, they work together to let it erupt safely. They create magical bubbles to protect the towns and their people from harm.
After these events, Gherland, a council member, is imprisoned. Ignatia and Xan are both very weak and taken to a hospital. Luna asks the townspeople for her mother's name, and they finally remember it: Adara. Xan dies peacefully, and Glerk travels with her to the swamp, a place of peace.
Luna and Fyrian grieve for Xan. Antain and Ethyne welcome Luna and Adara into their home, supporting the townspeople as they heal. Luna and Fyrian travel to other cities, sharing the truth about Xan and helping people understand. The story ends with Luna finding a beautiful poem from Glerk, written for her as he left for the swamp. The paper with the poem magically turns into a bird and flies into the sky, a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
