Bibliography
Lin, Grace. 2009. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. New York: Little Brown and Co.
ISBN 978-0-316-11427-1.
Plot Summary:
Minli, the heroine of Grace Lin’s WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, is a young girl who wants desperately to change her family’s fortune so her parents will be happier, her village will prosper and Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River will come back to life. Minli ardently believes in the fantastic tales her father tells her every night, especially the tale of the Old Man of the Moon; who, if you can find him, will answer one question that may change your future. After buying a magical goldfish who gives her directions to the Old Man, being joined by a dragon without the ability to fly, and enduring many trials and rewards, Minli reaches the end of her quest. During her journey, and at the meeting with the Old Man, Minli realizes the most important lesson of all; she does not need to change her family’s fortune for they have all they could need in their love for each other.
Critical Analysis
Grace Lin’s novel WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON has all the elements of a good fantasy, starting with the heroine Minli. She is patient, honest, hardworking and determined. She comes from hard circumstances and wants to improve her families life. She embarks on a quest to make life better for her family and her character evolves as the journey continues. She begins her quest by believing good fortune means riches, and ends her journey by realizing that having a loving home and parents who care for you is worth more than any amount of gold. This theme of love being more important than wealth or power is traditional in fantasy.
Lin’s novel is set in an Asian country, most probably China , but it is never specifically mentioned. This is an area of the world known for its tales of fantasy and folklore and Lin uses that to great effect. The fantasy elements employed by Lin are common to Asia, primarily the use of the dragon. One, Jade dragon, creates the need for Minli’s quest, another aspect of fantasy fiction. Another dragon (called Dragon) is her companion on this quest because he too is looking for the answer to a personal dilemma, why he cannot fly. Since they have similar goals they combine forces to find The Old Man of the Mountain. The Old Man is yet another common component of Asian fantasy. There are many figures like him, immortal, wise, beings who know the future and live in a remote, hard to reach locations. The hero and his or her companions must be worthy to reach him and to seek his wisdom.
Lin describes each new place in great detail. For example, Minli and her parents live in a dilapidated village and work long hours in the rice fields. They partake of a meager bowl of rice for dinner with nothing to spare. Lin’s descriptions of the locales and daily life create sharp images of what life is like in a poor rural village. In contrast to Lin’s portrayals of Minli’s village, her descriptions of the City of Bright Moonlight are colorful and filled with varying detail. She creates a sprawling city filled with markets, a royal palace and peasant houses allowing the reader to experiences the activity, the sights and sounds of the city.
The plot line of Lin’s novel follows a traditional quest framework with the heroine embarking on a journey, meeting many strange and interesting characters along the way and eventually proving her worthiness to complete the quest thorough determination and intelligence. However, this novel also adds an extra element. There are fairy tales within fairy tales in this book. At strategic moments throughout the novel, a character will tell a story. These short folktales relate to the larger narrative and serve to highlight plot points for the reader.
There are two distinct types of illustrations in Lin’s book. Single color images such as two coins, a goldfish or a cityscape, appear above every chapter heading and provide the reader with a hint of what will happen in the ensuing chapter. Also, there are full page color drawings that resemble traditional Asian art. They are found sporadically throughout the novel and serve to illustrate key points in the plot.
Review Excerpts and Awards
Newberry Honor Book 2010
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner 2010
Josette Frank Award Winner 2010
BOOKLIST Starred review 2009: “With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot.”
KIRKUS review 2009: “With her "lively and impulsive spirit," Minli emerges a stalwart female role model who learns the importance of family, friendship and faith during her amazing journey. Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme.”
Connections
· A discussion about the one question each reader would ask the Old Man of the Moon.
· An assignment to write a mini fairy tale based on a character in the book.
· Grace Lin’s website offers a book trailer and video interview with the author in the area entitled OVERVIEW. There is also an activity guide for WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, in the area entitled ACTIVITIES that is free to download. The website can be found at this URL http://gracelin.com/content.php?page=wherethemountainmeetsthemoon&display=activities.
· An Educator’s Guide to Grace Lin’s book can be found at this URL http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_assets/guides/EG_9780316114271.pdf.
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