The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
MG Fantasy. 388 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her–even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
My Review:
Okay, so, this book has been recommended to me by several friends. I love Newbery books. It’s about the moon. And I’m a sucker for a good MG. So why did it take me this long to read this?? I have no idea.
I listened to the audio book for this one, and the narrator was really excellent. She was the perfect match for this rich, but quirky tale. And I do own the paperback and I have to say that the cover is really very cleverly constructed now that I know the story. I love all the pieces and the little bit of shine on the moon.
But the best parts about this book are the writing and the story itself. Holy. Cow. From the first page I was drawn in and held captive. It was gripping, intriguing, heartfelt, and absolutely stunning from start to finish. The story kept me very engaged. I loved trying to puzzle all the pieces out and it was so satisfying to see them all finally come together in the climax. I was completely invested.
The prose is simply stunning. The imagery and style and voice are enchanting. The descriptions were so uniquely qualified to stir such a rich tone. The writing really brought this book to life for me. The culture of the Protectorate and the world view of each of the characters were just so vivid. I loved stepping into this one. And each character was so dynamic and distinct. (The narrator did a fabulous job voicing these, but also just the prose!! Guys! I’m in love with this book!) It was such an adventure to see how each character’s story threaded into the stories of those around them, but it was also a pure joy to see the hurts, motivations, and desires behind each compelling character.
Thematically, the story held such beauty and depth. The author explores the depth of raw sorrow and pain, of injustice and courage. She tackles adoption and abandonment, abuse and oppression, mistakes, grief, and the deepest of loves. The book made me tear up. And somehow each of these she wove in so naturally to the story. I never felt like she was preaching a point outright, but my heart ached with the mothers of the Protectorate and I yelled at Xan for her folly. I was endeared to Luna, but also frustrated with her situation. And celebrated with the other cities and saw the wonder of the Children of the Stars. And Anton. He was certainly one of my favorites. The swamp monster and Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Agh! I just loved them all and how they fit together and the spunk and heart behind it all.
A simply stunning story. Absolutely enchanting. I cannot more highly recommend it. It is sweet and deep and full of heart. It’s MG and I’d probably recommend it for 13+ or so. Thematically, it explores some deep places that I’d probably want a parent to be aware of, but honestly, the book holds such light and beauty that makes the journey well worth it. And Barnhill does it with such a delicate, practiced hand. I’m definitely a fan and looking forward to checking out more of her work!