Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

 

CITATION: Lin, G. (2009). Where the mountain meets the moon. Little, Brown And Company.

CHARACTERS: The main character of the book is Minli, a young girl with a wild imagination. She is described as a very brave and ambitious girl who goes to seek a better life for her and her family. Her parents, who she calls “Ma” and “Ba”, have very contrasting views to each other. Ma is more pessimistic due to the hardships her family is facing, while Ba is more hopeful and imaginative. 

There are secondary characters throughout the story that each have unique personalities and motivations that fit into various parts of the story. The characters throughout the story reflect traditional Chinese values like family storytelling, fate, and the importance of community. 

The characters are morally complex, but do begin to change and evolve. Ma is initially seen as harsh, but her harshness and pessimism is out of fear and frustration. Through the story she begins to become more understanding of Ba and Minli’s imagination. Minli in the beginning believes that fortune will make her family happy and at the end of the story realizes that true happiness is in gratitude and perspective. 

The story is based on Chinese folklore, meaning most of the characters share the same cultural background. Characters in the story do come from different villages, social classes, and vary between human and mythical creatures.  

SETTING: The story setting of the story is a little vague, the reader knows that the story is set in ancient China, but is not given an exact location of time period. There is no evidence of modern technology and there are various details throughout the story that reflect a pre-industrial society. Minli’s parents are farmers and farm by hand, we see her father bartering and using coins to pay for items and all characters are reliant on natural resources to survive. 

The story includes folklore elements like dragons and the Old Man of the Moon, which is consistent with Chinese mythology. 

Minli’s family is struggling and impoverished and their setting reflects this within the story. Their family’s land is dry, and their crops are not growing. They live in a small and simple home. Ma’s pessimism is influenced by the barren environment that they live in and Ba’s storytelling offers an emotional escape from their surroundings.  

Nature plays a major role in the setting because Minli makes the decision to leave her home in search of something more because of her environment.  

CULTURAL VALUES: The story is deeply rooted in Chinese folklore and mythology. Throughout the book the characters tell stories that are reflective of traditional oral storytelling practices that are passed down from generation to generation. The Chinese language and cultural influence is present during these stories as well. 

The story values respect for parents, humility, perseverance, and date. The folktales that are told within the story help teach lessons about the values within the book. The fantasy elements are rooted in Chinese mythology. 

Minli’s family structure reflects traditional expectations of Chinese culture. There is a strong emphasis on honoring your parents. Minli does challenge the gender expectations of being a heroine in the plot.  

The book highlights diversity within Chinese culture instead of across different cultures. It shows the different social classes within the culture and varied perspectives. The story included both human and mythical beings, which expands the cultural worldview and emphasizes folklore diversity. 

OVERALL QUALITY: The story encourages readers to reflect on the true meaning of “fortune” as Minli discovers it can vary from wealth to happiness, love, and gratitude. We see the character growth throughout the story from Minli and her mother. Minli’s mother grows to understand why her husband and daughter are so interested in the Chinese myths and stories, while Minli learns that wealth can only bring so much happiness.  

The book is a good example of a folklore-inspired fantasy book. The characters are on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon.  

The book is written in short chapters that make the book accessible and engaging for middle-grade readers. The story focuses on the main plot of Minli going to find the Old Man of the Moon but also includes interwoven folktales. This story is suitable for a wide range of readers, but more focused on middle-grade readers. 

Illustrations throughout the book are by Grace Lin and reflect the Chinese art styles and aesthetics. The visual elements like clothing and architecture reflect the historical Chinese setting. The illustrations help to enhance the story telling without stereotyping the characters. 

REVIEWS & AWARDS:

• Booklist Starred Review: “Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude.” 
• School Library Journal, Starred Review: “The author’s writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning.” 
• Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review: “Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme.” 
• 2010 Newbery Honor 
• NYTimes Bestseller 2010 

CONNECTIONS:

• Students can create an alternative ending thinking about what if Minli chose differently with the Old Man of the Moon. 
• Students can create a gratitude journal focusing on what is already “enough” in their life.