The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

 

Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Young Readers, 2016. ISBN 9781616205676

Plot

Antain, an almost-thirteen-year-old, lives in a poor town full of sorrow bordered by a bog on one edge and a dangerous forest on the other. The privileged elders control the only safe passage through the forest to the towns on the other side. A witch resides in the forest, and every year the townspeople must sacrifice the youngest baby so that the witch does not destroy their town. The townspeople do not know why the witch wants the babies or what she does with them, but it has always been that way.

Xan, a kind elderly witch, lives in a forest with Glerk, a wise bog monster, and Fyrian, a Simply Enormous Dragon (or possibly a Perfectly Tiny Dragon). The forest is bordered by a town overshadowed by sorrow on one side and towns full of happiness on the other. Every year she finds a baby abandoned in the woods. She does not know why the babies are abandoned, but she brings them to loving homes on the other side of the forest.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, gifting the girl with magic. Xan realizes she must raise the baby girl herself. As the girl approaches thirteen, forgotten memories resurface, worlds collide, and the true evil begins to reveal itself.

Analysis

Barnhill masterfully weaves together multiple interrelated storylines told by various characters. The reader gradually learns more about the world as townspeople share folktales and history with their children and as secrets and memories are revealed. Titles introduce each chapter, giving clues about what is going to happen next. Humor and irony is present throughout, from the tiny dragon who believes he is enormous to the entitled elders who are thwarted in their plans.

Readers will root for the myriad of characters, regardless of age, gender, or species. Luna, the girl who drank the moon, is intelligent and lively, often getting into trouble without meaning to. Fyrian, the dragon of indeterminate size, is still a baby after half a millennium and doesn’t always understand what going on, but is loving and lovable nonetheless. Xan, the good-hearted and talented witch, heals others and brings families together, but is not infallible. Glerk, the wise bog-monster turned poet, reluctantly (but deeply) loves his unique family in the forest. Antain, the young-boy-turned-man, wishes to protect his family and the rest of the town, but he struggles to find his path. Along with a madwoman in a tower who can see the truth, a new mother who can inspire others, and a flock of paper birds, they will discover the true sorrow-causing evil and come together to find the hope and love necessary to defeat it.

This timeless story shows us that growing up can mean facing difficult truths, but facing these troubles head on is possible with the support of others. Sorrow can be stifling, but hope defeats sorrow, and hope exists in the most sorrowful of places. Love does not exist without loss, but love is infinite, and it is infinitely stronger than the power of the selfish.

Awards and Recognition

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal and a New York Times Bestseller. It has been featured on many “best book” lists and received numerous starred reviews.

“Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. […] Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick.”—Kirkus Starred Review

“Rich with multiple plotlines that culminate in a suspenseful climax, characters of inspiring integrity, a world with elements of both whimsy and treachery, and prose that melds into poetry. A sure bet for anyone who enjoys a truly fantastic story.”—Booklist Starred Review

“Barnhill writes with gentle elegance, conveying a deeply emotional and heartrending tale with accessible, fluid prose. Characters are skillfully developed: the heroes are flawed, the villains are humanized, and they are forgiven for sins they may or may have not intended. The swamp monster and dragon provide plenty of moments of humor to leaven the pathos, while the setting is infused with fairy tale elements, both magical and menacing, and given a tragic history.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Starred Review

“Barnhill crafts another captivating fantasy [and] delivers an escalating plot filled with foreshadowing, well-developed characters, and a fully realized setting, all highlighting her lyrical storytelling.”—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Connections

Paper is featured heavily throughout this book—paper birds, paper maps, and homemade paper. Children may have fun making paper of their own using scraps of used paper. The finished paper can then be used to feature a poem, a map, or a letter to a family member. Children may also enjoy learning how to fold paper birds. Resources for making paper and folding origami birds can be easily found online and at your local library!

Readers who enjoyed this title may also enjoy

• The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill
• Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
• Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly
• The Thickety: A Path Begins by J. A. White

*This review was written for a youth literature class through Texas Woman’s University.