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December Read - Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
By Kristen · 11 posts · 81 views
By Kristen · 11 posts · 81 views
last updated Jan 10, 2010 11:24AM
October Read - When You Reach Me
By Kristen · 17 posts · 222 views
By Kristen · 17 posts · 222 views
last updated Jan 09, 2010 08:14AM
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The others- Good and up I guess...
By Kristen · 52 posts · 328 views
By Kristen · 52 posts · 328 views
last updated Dec 29, 2009 05:27PM
What Members Thought
The whole book is a beautiful package - a strong, likeable heroine, an adventurous quest, light fantasy, lovely illustrations, and a story that's entirely appropriate for younger readers who want those fantasy elements but aren't ready for anything too dark or scary. It's a great novel for kids who are drawn to folktales, and it would also make a great gateway book to folktales, especially with Lin's list of further reading at the back of the book. I really couldn't find fault with anything here
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Fantastic. This is exactly what I loved to read as a child and it was a pleasure to go along on Minli's magical journey. Grace Lin weaves traditional Chinese folk tales into an original tale of a brave, young girl who sets off on a journey to try to change the fortunes of her parents and all the other poor villagers who live a harsh life in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain. Though Minli's family is very poor, her father kept her well nourished with stories that feed her with hope for a bette
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This story is actually a collection of stories. It is structured around the classic hero's journey. The hero is Min Li, who goes on a journey to bring back fortune to her parents who work so hard. The story borrows heavily from other books and stories such as HERSHEL AND THE HANNUKAH GOBLINS, THE WIZARD OF OZ, JUST SO STORIES.
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I just finished Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and though I didn't love it, I did like the simple telling of the stories and the illustrations. Most important, I loved the way Lin tied up the threads of all the individual tales in the end. The language just didn't sing to me.
This is one that may be worth going back and re-reading to see if I like it better the second time around. I'll think about it.
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This is one that may be worth going back and re-reading to see if I like it better the second time around. I'll think about it.
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This book is a work of art--in the illustrations, the storytelling, the story--everything. A bit of adventure--a little bit Wizard of Oz quest, Chinese folklore interwoven and finding out about what you have to offer the world.
A wonderfully inventive, beautifully told tale that is both modern in its sensibilities (Minli, our hero, is an adventurous and brave young girl) and ancient in its origins (at the end of the book author Lin gives us a bibliography of the Chinese folktales that inspired her). The writing is spare and graceful, the characters memorable (I loved the Dragon and the happy red-cheeked twins), the illustrations evocative. I think this is a Newbery contender.
Probably the most flawless book that's ever been written. The artwork is the icing on the cake. I would have voted for this over When You Reach Me for the Newbery.
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I loved this book. It can be read on several levels. There's the basic adventure story as Minli goes on a quest to change her family's fortune. There's the folktale adaptations. And then there's how everything ties together. We used this for a book discussion for 3rd-8th graders at our library and there were just so many things to talk about. The artwork and book design are simply gorgeous. I cannot wait for the next one to come out later this year!
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I love how she weaves the Chinese folktales into the story and links them together - totally makes the story!
Newbery Honor, 2010
RL 810
Feb 02, 2010
Dana
added it
Nov 17, 2012
Melinda Caldwell
added it
