The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Fantasy

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Justification:

I chose this novel as it was the winner of the Newbery Medal in 2017 and I am seeking to add more fantasy books into my repertoire.

Evaluation: Kelly Barnhill crafts a compelling and beautifully realized fantasy world filled with magic and otherworldly creatures. This book made me feel like drawing my feet up under me in a cosy chair sitting fireside. (A cat on the lap and a bouclé blanket wouldn't hurt, either. Okay, let's add a mug of tea). It's such a captivating tale, and the characters are relatable even at the same time they are fantastical.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a beautiful blending of the folktale and fantasy genres. This epic tale is about a young girl, Luna, raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a perfectly tiny dragon. Luna has magic hidden inside her which she must learn to access and control. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the evil 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 actually a good witch because she rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families in the Free Cities on the other side of the forest. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a rescued 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 burgeoning power, Xan locks the magic deep inside her, to be revealed when she turns 13. However, this tale wouldn't be complete without an enshrouded element of evil; characters aren't always who they seem.

The novel vacillates between an omniscient perspective and an italicized first-person account of the lore of the Day of Sacrifice in the Protectorate. A masterful, fantastical fairytale that goes beyond the tropes of good and evil to explore power, and what it means to find your power and love, and what it means to be loved.The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a lovely, enchanting tale that teaches children about the power of the imagination and the importance of love.

Conclusion: A beautifully crafted work of juvenile epic fantasy fiction, best suited for grades 4-6 and is a necessary addition to any children's library.

Reference: Barnhill, K. R. (2016). The girl who drank the moon (First edition.). Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Young Readers.