Where the Mountain Meets the Moon facts for kids
First edition, with Newbery seal
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| Author | Grace Lin |
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| Illustrator | Grace Lin |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fantasy |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
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Publication date
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2009 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 278 |
| Awards |
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| ISBN | 9780316114271 |
| OCLC | 672213061 |
| Followed by | Starry River of the Sky |
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is an exciting fantasy and adventure novel for kids. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and first published in 2009. This book is inspired by old Chinese folk tales.
The novel won a 2010 Newbery Honor award. It also received the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon has been translated into many languages, including Chinese, French, and Korean.
Contents
Story Summary
Minli's Village and Her Wish
The story begins in a very poor village called Fruitless Mountain. This village is near a bare mountain and the Jade River. A young girl named Minli, who is ten years old, lives there. She is full of energy and loves adventures.
Minli especially enjoys listening to her father, Ba, tell stories. He often shares them at dinner. However, Minli's mother, Ma, doesn't like these stories. She thinks they are "nonsense" and is often sad about their family's poverty.
Life is hard for everyone in Fruitless Mountain. Farming is difficult because the land is dry. People believe this is because Fruitless Mountain is the broken heart of the Jade Dragon. This dragon once brought rain to the Earth. There is barely enough food, which makes Minli wish for good luck for her family.
The Talking Goldfish and a New Journey
One day, Minli uses her precious money to buy a goldfish. Her mother is not happy about this. It turns out the goldfish can talk, but only when someone truly wants to hear it. Minli decides to let the goldfish go because it makes her mother so upset.
When she frees it, the goldfish tells her how to find the Old Man of the Moon. This wise immortal lives on Never-Ending Mountain. The goldfish says he can answer Minli's question about how to bring good fortune to her family and village.
The next day, Minli secretly leaves her village. She frees the goldfish so it won't be a burden to her parents. Her parents soon discover she is gone and try to find her. But the goldfish seller stops them. He tells them to trust Minli.
Minli Meets Dragon
Minli sleeps in the forest on her first night away. When she wakes up, she finds a dragon trapped. She helps to free him, and they become friends. Dragon offers to travel with her, even though he cannot fly like other dragons.
Dragon explains that he was born from a painting. He came to life when his eyes were painted.
Adventures and Important Items
As they travel, Minli and Dragon meet some selfish monkeys. Minli cleverly tricks them so they can pass. They then arrive at the City of Bright Moonlight. Minli leaves Dragon in a cave and finds shelter in a boy's home.
The boy is poor, owning only a buffalo. But he helps Minli find the king. The king has a special "borrowed line of text." This line is very important for finding the Old Man of the Moon. Minli meets the king, and he willingly gives her the line. It is a page from the Book of Fortune, a magical book that only immortals can read.
Outside the city, Dragon also finds a red string of destiny. This string is used to connect people who are meant to meet and marry. Dragon believes this string is the "borrowed line." Minli and Dragon meet up again. They share their adventures and are puzzled about which item is the real "borrowed line."
Family and Sacrifice
Meanwhile, back in Fruitless Mountain, Minli's parents return home. They decide to wait for Minli. During this time, Ma feels sorry for being so unhappy. She realizes her daughter is her most precious treasure.
On their journey, Dragon tries to protect Minli from a dangerous Green Tiger. Dragon gets hurt badly. Minli quickly finds help from a nearby village called Moon Rain. The village grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that also works as tea.
Twin children from the village trick the Green Tiger into an old well. The next day, they take Minli and Dragon to Never-Ending Mountain. It is only a day's journey from their village. The twins explain that their village is named Moon Rain because seeds fall from the moon every night. These seeds grow into beautiful flowering trees. The flowers from these trees are the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon.
Meeting the Old Man of the Moon
Minli and Dragon use the "borrowed line of text" and the "line of destiny" to make a kite. The kite stretches into a bridge. Minli crosses it alone to meet the Old Man of the Moon.
The Old Man tells her she can only ask one question. Minli thinks carefully. She chooses to ask Dragon's question: Why can't he fly? The Old Man tells her to remove a rock from Dragon's head. Minli does this, and immediately, Dragon can fly!
Together, they fly back to Minli's village. The "rock" turns out to be the valuable Dragon's Pearl. This pearl brings great wealth to her village. The Jade Dragon, who was once broken, reunites with Dragon, who is one of her children. Fruitless Mountain changes into Fruitful Mountain. Because Minli chose to help her friend, she and her family receive all the good fortune they could ever wish for.
More Stories
Grace Lin has written more books that are connected to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
- A companion book, Starry River of the Sky, was published on February 11, 2014.
- A sequel, When the Sea Turns to Silver, was released on October 4, 2016.
Stage Show
A play based on Grace Lin's book was performed at the Wheelock Family Theater in Boston. This show took place in April 2014. Caroline Workman played Minli, and Michael Tow played the Storyteller and Minli's father, Ba. Jane Staab directed the performance.
