Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Grace Lin - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR: Grace Lin
GENRE: Middle-Grade Fantasy
PUBLICATION DATE: June 1, 2009
RATING: 4.25 stars.

A little girl, Minly, who stays in a poor dusty village without allowing her poverty to dampen her inner exuberance;
A mother who has allowed her expectations to ruin her contentment;
A father who looks beyond his lowly existence with his magical stories;
A lonely dragon who has a deep-seated discontent because he can't fly;
A family who seems to have the secret of perennial happiness even in times of trouble;
A tiger who can't let go of his anger even if it destroys him;
A wise Old Man who knows how to manoeuvre the fortunes of people with his endless strings, ...

What brings these motley mix of characters together is this beautiful little book, "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon". Authored by Grace Lin, the book is a brilliant reimagination of Chinese folk tales she heard during her childhood.

Little Minly's dreams of bringing happiness to her family, her brave journey into the unknown, her friendly nature, her tendency to be understanding and helpful: all these make her a very effective protagonist and role model for children. At the same time, she does run away from home (albeit with the good intention of helping her family), so let's be a bit careful about speaking against this while handing the book over to your kids. 😊

The essence of China is present throughout the story. In fact, it isn't just one story but there are stories within stories, and this latter fact is a great asset if you are looking for a read-aloud book for your children. A lovely potpourri of human and fantastical elements, it is sure to delight your little ones.

A beautiful line that stayed with me even after ending the book was "You only lose what you cling to." Children's fiction is such a tremendous source of joy and learning, isn't it? This book is recommended for all middle readers (9 and above) and for those of us who are still children at heart.

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