LIS 721 Fiction Books Part 2
Barnhill, K. (2016). The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin Young Readers, 2016., ©2016
Through legends that began around 500 years ago, when the great volcano last erupted, stories have been passed down from generation to generation. All of which share the same message... There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch in the woods. Luna, was abandoned as a baby in a circle of sycamore trees. She wasn't the first baby or the last baby to be left in the woods. Once a year, a village called the Protectorate sacrifices the youngest baby to appease the witch who lives in the woods. Unbeknownst to the people, Xan, the witch of the woods, is kind and compassionate. She chooses to rescue the babies and unite them with new families who will love and cherish them. Until one day when she accidently feeds one of the babies moonlight, which enraptures the babe with magical powers. Instantly falling in love with the child, she adopts her to raise as her own child and apprentice with her two friends, a swamp monster named Glerk, and a tiny dragon named Fyrian. The reader must uncover the question, if the evil does not reside in the woods, where does it truly stem from?
Winner of the Newbery Award, this fantasy novel is recommended for grades 4-6 because of it's whimsical setting, fast pace plot, era of mystery, and strong characters. Barnhill does an excellent job balancing the perspectives and story lines of the main cast. The magical elements are blended naturally with realistic imagery. Creating vivid descriptions for the reader to imagine as they traverse diversely rich settings of sticky bogs, encompassing woods, enshrouded towns, and the free cities. Ultimately, this story is about conventional and unconventional families and how the power of love can overcome any darkness.
After her parents divorce, 12-year-old Candice Miller moves with her mom from Atlanta to the small town of Lambert, South Carolina into the old house that belonged to her grandmother. Before her grandmother's passing, she was working to uncover a mystery after receiving a cryptic letter. The letter promises treasure to the city if the letter's puzzle can be solved. After discovering the letter in her grandmother's attic, Candice teams up with her neighbor, Brandon, to decipher the letter which offers clues about the untold history of a young African American woman named Siobhan Washington. Candice and her mom are only staying for the summer until their home gets remodeled to sell. Leaving Candice and Brandon only a few short months to find the fortune and repair Candice's grandmother's legacy.
Johnson's skills as a writer truly shine in his creation of characters, parallel stories that intersect artfully, and presentation of historical situations and their contemporary echoes. The plot excellently shifts between Candice's present-day story and flashbacks that reveal Lambert's history of hatred and racism. This book is recommended for grades 4-6 as it covers difficult topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce. Many readers will be able to reflectively see themselves in the two main characters making this mystery novel relatable, shining a light on the beauty of being yourself.
Well-written reviews. Remember that they should be heavier on evaluation than summary. Look at about a 40% summary to 60% evaluation split.
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