Parents' Guide to

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By Debra Bogart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Chinese girl's Oz-like adventure begs to be read aloud.

Book Grace Lin Fantasy 2009
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 7+

Based on 13 parent reviews

annmarie.yacobucci
annmarie.yacobucci Parent of 4 and 6-year-old
October 4, 2014
age 7+

A Must Read!!!

I read this novel aloud to my almost 7 year old daughter. My 4 year old son couldn't help but join in, listening to the adventure unfold. The main character, Minli travels to Never Ending Mountain on a quest to bring fortune to her poor family. Through her journey she learns about friendship, family, thankfulness, and the true fruits of fortune. My daughter is in 1st grade, a time when kids start to organize their peers based on gender, beauty, intelligence, etc... This book allowed us to analyze concepts like friendship and the true meaning of fortune in a way that we wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. I also very much appreciated the Asian cultural lens in which the book was written. We live on the east side of St. Paul, MN which is heavily populated by Asian Americans, specifically Hmong peoples from Laos and Cambodia. I appreciate that my daughter now has heroins and heroes with names and faces that resemble those of her friends. This is a must read for any family with children in elementary school. Thank you, Grace Lin for sharing this story with us!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
leekp
leekp Adult
June 12, 2013
age 7+

Strong female protagonist, good family dynamics & good values

We really enjoyed this book. It features a positive role model in Mingli. Mingli is a young girl who goes on a hero's quest in pursuit of a better life for her family; she has exciting adventures, makes new friends, and grows wiser along the way. Her story is balanced by that of her parents, who also experience positive growth during the course of the book. As a bonus, there are many good short stories told within the larger whole and all are enjoyable and provide "food for thought." We liked this story very much and, although there is some mild peril, we found nothing objectionable for ages 7 and up. Good for young readers or to read aloud.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Minli is a young girl who is an only child in a very poor family in China. She helps her parents work hard in the fields all day long every day. At night her father loves to tell her stories, but her mother is full of sighs and complaints about their hard life. One day, to help find fortune for her beloved parents, Minli sets off to seek out a character from one of her father's tales known as the Old Man in the Moon. To find him, she must travel far away to the Never Ending Mountain. Along the way she meets a dragon who longs to fly, an orphaned shepherd boy, and a prince, and befriends them all. In return, they help her solve some riddles and help her find her way. In the meantime, Minli's parents are desperate for her return, but her father's stories and a talking goldfish help them cope, and Minli finds a different kind of fortune than she expected.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13):
Kids say (19):

This beautiful book is bound to become a classic. Lin's love of Chinese culture is evident in her creation of vivid new folktales that are built into the narrative in such a way that they become a seamless part of the story and their messages are thus relevant and meaningful. Minli is a strong and lovable hero that boys will enjoy as much as girls. This story has been called a Chinese Wizard of Oz, but in fact it has an even more timeless appeal and a universal story in the mother who wants more, the daughter who wants to repay her parents, the wise father, and the engaging characters she meets on her quest. The story also offers an elegant design with color illustrations and Asian graphic style that make the book itself a gem. Many children will read this book more than once, and it could well be one of your favorite Newbery books of all time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what caused Minli to set off on her quest. What made her mother unhappy?

  • Of all the friends Minli made on her journey, who was your favorite? Are there dragons from other books or stories that remind you of this flying dragon?

  • Minli's parents were very different, although they lived in the same conditions. What do you think made Minli's mother unhappy with what she had? What made her change towards the end of the book? Was it Minli's absence, or her father's stories?

  • The folktales that Minli's father tells were created by the author, Grace Lin, although they were based on elements of traditional Chinese folktales. There are many American folktales, such as Paul Bunyan. Do American folktales teach lessons in the same way that these Chinese folktales do?

Book Details

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