You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an incredibly sweet and kind book. It is told in a way that makes me wish I knew more Chinese Fairy tales, folklore, and stories. This is a book that needs to be shared, and read out loud. I think that there is so much to learn and think about for this book :)
I really do think that this is a book that everyone would enjoy and I can't wait to pick up the next one!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A sweet and wonderful tale about a young girl who sets out to find the answer to her life's questions. Everyone she meets has a story to tell, and in the end all the stories are threaded together in a fun and loving way. This story was written with love and you can tell. The sweetness of the story makes me want to read the next one. A great book for teachers to read to their classroom, and a book all girls will love and boys should read even though it's about a girl this is a book that you will want to read again, read traditional Chinese fairy tales, and then go back and read it again. This is one of those stories where the more you know about the culture the better it gets.
For girls third grade and up this is a book that appeals to all.
I really do think that this is a book that everyone would enjoy and I can't wait to pick up the next one!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A sweet and wonderful tale about a young girl who sets out to find the answer to her life's questions. Everyone she meets has a story to tell, and in the end all the stories are threaded together in a fun and loving way. This story was written with love and you can tell. The sweetness of the story makes me want to read the next one. A great book for teachers to read to their classroom, and a book all girls will love and boys should read even though it's about a girl this is a book that you will want to read again, read traditional Chinese fairy tales, and then go back and read it again. This is one of those stories where the more you know about the culture the better it gets.
For girls third grade and up this is a book that appeals to all.
Oh this one was such fun! We did it as a read aloud for our China unit and we were all on the edge of our seats. I did a little reading on Lin and her process: This novel is a combination of traditional Chinese folktales, Lin's childhood favorite stories, and fantasy. It's very well done and as an American, I can't tell which piece is which, though some Chinese readers say they can point out the elements.
Minli is a young girl who lives in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where she and her parents scratch out a living from the tired dirt. Her mother sighs and grumbles, but her father attempts to fill the atmosphere with stories. After an encounter with a goldfish, Minli sets out on an epic journey to change her family's fortune. There are some deep ideas in this book, especially regarding community and relationship. I'm head over heels. My daughter read Starry River of the Sky by Lin as well but it was due back before I had a chance.
Minli is a young girl who lives in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where she and her parents scratch out a living from the tired dirt. Her mother sighs and grumbles, but her father attempts to fill the atmosphere with stories. After an encounter with a goldfish, Minli sets out on an epic journey to change her family's fortune. There are some deep ideas in this book, especially regarding community and relationship. I'm head over heels. My daughter read Starry River of the Sky by Lin as well but it was due back before I had a chance.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Makes me feel nostalgic.
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I stumbled upon this beautiful book at a children's lit conference. I immediately loved the illustrations, and knew I had to take it home with me. The story is fairly straightforward and predictable, but it's full of creative detail, and there's a pure economy to the storytelling that I appreciate. It read and felt (appropriately) like a folktale. Dragon – who cannot fly, but desperately wants to – was so sad and sweet he nearly broke my heart. And the book has some simple but profound things to say about fortune and gratitude.
Also awesome: Minli's parents going through a journey of their own while she is gone on hers. Quest stories like these never do seem to touch upon what happens to the people you leave behind, but Grace Lin gives Ma and Ba their own humble storyarc, allowing them to learn a few lessons of their own while their daughter is off being awesome.
All in all, this left a wonderful impression. I'll definitely pick up [b:Starry River of the Sky|13521501|Starry River of the Sky|Grace Lin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1347592144s/13521501.jpg|19082177] at some point.
Also awesome: Minli's parents going through a journey of their own while she is gone on hers. Quest stories like these never do seem to touch upon what happens to the people you leave behind, but Grace Lin gives Ma and Ba their own humble storyarc, allowing them to learn a few lessons of their own while their daughter is off being awesome.
All in all, this left a wonderful impression. I'll definitely pick up [b:Starry River of the Sky|13521501|Starry River of the Sky|Grace Lin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1347592144s/13521501.jpg|19082177] at some point.
This novel, or this tale of many tales, reads like folklore. It is so beautiful and so simply and elegantly written. It interweaves many different tales to tell one purely hopeful story. It contains no sense of malevolence nor any unnecessary plot twists. It is as direct and forthright as young Minli's spirit.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I started listening to this as a bedtime book with my 5.5 year old son. It was perfect for that! Gentle, soothing narration, a compelling story with action but generally not too scary. Lots of short sections great for easily stopping and picking back up.
Because of the nature of bedtime stories, I missed large chunks (ie: I fell asleep before he did :P ) so I went back to listen to it again while fully awake. In the meantime, he and I had started When the Sea Turned to Silver. On this listen I was fascinated at how the story circled around and tied into itself, and tied into When the Sea Turned to Silver. Lin has woven a complete universe, full of stories that interleave and layer and build toward a central message. It's beautifully written and has a wonderful rhythm and tone, much like oral stories. Completely lovely.
Because of the nature of bedtime stories, I missed large chunks (ie: I fell asleep before he did :P ) so I went back to listen to it again while fully awake. In the meantime, he and I had started When the Sea Turned to Silver. On this listen I was fascinated at how the story circled around and tied into itself, and tied into When the Sea Turned to Silver. Lin has woven a complete universe, full of stories that interleave and layer and build toward a central message. It's beautifully written and has a wonderful rhythm and tone, much like oral stories. Completely lovely.
Great little story about family. Pretty simple though lots of different stories and characters to follow. A great middle grade book!