Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon

I received a copy of The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill as an ARC from Workman Publishing with a note that said “This. Book. Is. Sooooo. Good!”  And I’m inclined to agree.  At 400 pages, it’s a rather lengthy middle grade fantasy novel, but it was so fun to read as the story unfolded in ways that I expected and in ways that completely surprised me.
It reminds me of a retelling of a fairy tale, although the book stands on its own, it’s definitely not a retelling.  On Goodreads, the description reads, “The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic.” A statement that I wholeheartedly agree with.
Each year, in a small village called the Protectorate, the townspeople leave a baby at the edge of the woods as an offering to the witch who lives in the trees.  Every year, a (benevolent) witch scoops up the baby left at the edge of the woods, wondering why the villagers leave these babies, taking them to the towns at the other side of the woods to be raised in loving families.  One year, the witch accidentally enmagicks a little girl with moonlight rather than starlight and decides to raise the baby herself.  Little does she know, that this little baby will change the course of history for the witch, the Protectorate and the neighboring towns on the far side of the forest.  The story is filled with a cast of characters from a truly enormous dragon (who fits in the little girl’s pocket), to a monster that lives in the swamp, to witches, to a mad woman locked away with grief, to a unlikely hero unafraid of the sacrifice he may give in the name of true love.
I adored this story – a somewhat science fiction setting where the town’s government believes what it wants and keeps the townspeople from questioning their choices, to the fantastical elements of the magic of the moonlight.  This is definitely one I’ll be putting in the hands of kids who love adventure, fairy tales and stories that are just so beautiful to read.
Twitter Booktalk (14o characters or less): The Girl Who Drank the Moon is the fairy tale adventure of Luna, whose magic knows no bounds and cast of characters that are affected by it.
Title: The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Author: Kelly Barnhill
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: August 9, 2016
Page Number: 400 pgs.