The Girl Who Drank the Moon

In the Protectorate, a somber yearly ritual requires leaving the youngest baby as a sacrifice in the forest for a witch. The witch, Xan, rescues these abandoned infants and delivers them to welcoming families in distant cities, nourishing each child with starlight for the journey. One such rescue takes an unexpected turn when Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the infant with extraordinary magic. Xan names the child Luna and raises her in the forest alongside a tiny dragon and an ancient swamp monster, but must take drastic measures to contain Luna's growing powers. As Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her dormant magic threatens to emerge with consequences that will reshape her world. Meanwhile, forces in the Protectorate begin to question the centuries-old tradition of sacrificing children to the forest. The Girl Who Drank the Moon explores themes of sacrifice, family bonds, and the true nature of good and evil. It challenges assumptions about power and fear while examining how stories shape the beliefs that bind communities together.

Readers call this a creative twist on typical witch tales, with complex characters and poetic writing that appeals to both children and adults. Many note it works well as a read-aloud book. Readers liked: - The deep themes about family, love, and grief - The dragon character Fyrian - World-building and magic system details - Multiple engaging storylines that come together - Emotional depth that doesn't talk down to kids Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Too many characters and plotlines to follow - Writing style can be overly flowery - Some found it too dark for younger readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (84,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "The prose reads like a fairytale but carries modern sensibilities," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "The plot complexity might lose some younger readers, but the emotional payoff is worth it."

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin A young girl embarks on a quest through Chinese folklore to change her family's fortune, encountering magical creatures and discovering truths about sacrifice and storytelling.

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson A girl lives in a house that moves on chicken legs with her grandmother who guides the dead to the afterlife, exploring themes of destiny and the power of breaking tradition.

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill Magic binds together the fates of a witch's son and a bandit's daughter as they protect a dangerous magic from those who seek to misuse it.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu An orphan who works for a magician discovers secrets about his world and himself while protecting his city from a mysterious threat that connects to ancient magic.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger A twelve-year-old girl discovers her telepathic powers and enters a hidden magical world, leading to revelations about her true identity and role in an ancient conflict.

🌙 The book won the prestigious 2017 Newbery Medal, one of the highest honors in children's literature. 🐲 Author Kelly Barnhill wrote the first draft of this novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), completing it in just 30 days. 📚 Ancient folklore about babies being left in the woods for fairies (known as "changelings") inspired parts of the story's premise. ✨ The novel tackles complex themes of grief and memory, as the townspeople are magically made to forget the children they've sacrificed. 🌿 Before becoming a full-time writer, Barnhill worked as a teacher, bartender, and janitor - experiences she credits with shaping her storytelling abilities.