Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Living with her poor parents in the valley of Fruitless Mountain, young Minli loves to listen to her father share old folktales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Determined to change her family’s fate, Minli sets off on an adventure to meet the Old Man on the Moon, who she’s been told has the answers she’s looking for. Along the way, she’s introduced to magical creatures and befriends a dragon who can’t fly. Minli’s exploration is depicted with joy and pockets of sadness, impressively blending, and celebrating, Chinese folklore and fairy tales. Grace Lin, who received the 2010 Newbery Honor for the book, makes a stirring call for compassion in her protagonist’s quest to better her family’s fortune. —Annabel Gutterman

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