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brookebookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Just as magical and interesting as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. A wonderful read-aloud for my 8 & 5 year old kiddos.
lisajh5858's review
5.0
Another great story by Grace Lin. I am still in awe with how she is able to weave stories within stories. I like that this one and the other two that I've read from Lin while they are connected, they are all self contained and you don't have to read the others and you don't even have to read them in order. These books have also inspired me to put a few books of Chinese folklore on hold at the library.
divine529's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is the second book I've read by Grace Lin, and a companion novel to Where The Mountain Meets the Moon and I really enjoyed this one as well.
As I previously mentioned, this is a companion novel; set in the same world, but following different characters, and having similar themes and motifs as the previous book.
This follows our main character Rendi, a boy who ran away from home and ends up in a small village called the Village of Clear Sky, where he ends up working as a chore boy at the village inn. While he's there, he notices that the moon has gone missing, but seems to be the only one who has noticed. He ends up meeting a whole cast of interesting characters and goes on a bit of a self-discovery journey in the process.
I really enjoyed this book overall, but it didn't have quite the same grip on me as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This was still enchanting and tons of fun. I loved the stories that were interwoven throughout the book, and the fact that the characters were telling them. It's probably one of my favorite things about Grace Lin's books. The setting was lovely as well and learning about all kinds of different places and backgrounds through the stories was lovely as well. I loved the self-discovery and mystery of the plot of what happened to the moon and just learning about who all of these characters really were. And the characters were all fantastic. Rendi got on my nerves at times, and I felt like his arc was a bit slow moving, but I loved all of the side characters, particularly Peiyi, Madame Chang and MeiLan. They were all great.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the final companion in the standalone series (I don't know what else to call it) soon and look forward to rereading them all in the future.
As I previously mentioned, this is a companion novel; set in the same world, but following different characters, and having similar themes and motifs as the previous book.
This follows our main character Rendi, a boy who ran away from home and ends up in a small village called the Village of Clear Sky, where he ends up working as a chore boy at the village inn. While he's there, he notices that the moon has gone missing, but seems to be the only one who has noticed. He ends up meeting a whole cast of interesting characters and goes on a bit of a self-discovery journey in the process.
I really enjoyed this book overall, but it didn't have quite the same grip on me as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This was still enchanting and tons of fun. I loved the stories that were interwoven throughout the book, and the fact that the characters were telling them. It's probably one of my favorite things about Grace Lin's books. The setting was lovely as well and learning about all kinds of different places and backgrounds through the stories was lovely as well. I loved the self-discovery and mystery of the plot of what happened to the moon and just learning about who all of these characters really were. And the characters were all fantastic. Rendi got on my nerves at times, and I felt like his arc was a bit slow moving, but I loved all of the side characters, particularly Peiyi, Madame Chang and MeiLan. They were all great.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the final companion in the standalone series (I don't know what else to call it) soon and look forward to rereading them all in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Grief
Additional CW: animal injuryjillcd's review
5.0
I love Grace Lin and she did not disappoint me with this book. I admire her writing style and ability to weave numerous stories into one. The depth of her characters bring them to life and it is easy to envision them while reading. My current 5th graders love her books.
dandelionfluff's review
5.0
I love this book. I really, really do.
If you've read [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344265026s/5983694.jpg|6157354], then you'll absolutely love sorting through this tale, recognizing bits and pieces of what you've read before. If this is your first time reading either book, then this one will give you a great insight into the next!
I think my only questions are: if Jiming and MeiLan are Minli's parents, and they eventually live near Fruitless Mountain, then why does Minli's adventure seem so hopeless to her mother? Don't they remember the events of the past with the Moon Lady and the Spirit of the Mountain? Or have generations gone by, and no one remembers?
That's the only bit of inconsistency I found and would like to know (unless I've missed something).
I adore the characters, especially the three-legged toad. Oh, my heart went out to that creature.
Just. Love love love.
Love.
Love.
Spoiler
If you've read [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344265026s/5983694.jpg|6157354], then you'll absolutely love sorting through this tale, recognizing bits and pieces of what you've read before. If this is your first time reading either book, then this one will give you a great insight into the next!
I think my only questions are: if Jiming and MeiLan are Minli's parents, and they eventually live near Fruitless Mountain, then why does Minli's adventure seem so hopeless to her mother? Don't they remember the events of the past with the Moon Lady and the Spirit of the Mountain? Or have generations gone by, and no one remembers?
That's the only bit of inconsistency I found and would like to know (unless I've missed something).
I adore the characters, especially the three-legged toad. Oh, my heart went out to that creature.
Just. Love love love.
Love.
Love.
heatherdmoore's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure why but I had a really hard time getting into this story. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but this one just felt so long and I never really connected with it. Still though, it is a peaceful story full of Chinese culture.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
Grace Lin takes stories from Chinese Mythology and gives them her spin on the story. Our story is set in a remote village at an Inn, basically at the end of the Kingdom. A child has run away and found employment at an Inn. Then a fascinating women joins them. She is a story teller and she encourages Rendi, the boy, to tell a story for each one she tells. They tell many tales as the story goes on and we realize they somehow weave together.
The is a story of a magistrate and the story of a couple separated by seeking immortality. I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy mythology, then I think you will enjoy this story. I love Grace Lin's ability to spin a story and share her culture with the world. I love these myths and I think Grace has one more and I will find a way to read that one too.
The is a story of a magistrate and the story of a couple separated by seeking immortality. I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy mythology, then I think you will enjoy this story. I love Grace Lin's ability to spin a story and share her culture with the world. I love these myths and I think Grace has one more and I will find a way to read that one too.
bbliophile's review against another edition
4.0
I started my year of by reading this one and I might've loved it more than I did the first time I read it.
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I got a little bit confused when it came to the character's and who's who in this one, but I still liked it a lot. And I loved seeing how all of these stories are interwoven with each other.
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I got a little bit confused when it came to the character's and who's who in this one, but I still liked it a lot. And I loved seeing how all of these stories are interwoven with each other.
read_withlinds's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
i’ve owned this book since 2012 and i can’t believe i waited this long to read it, i’m disappointed in past me