Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“Pretty good book, it's kinda slow but hopefully it'll get more exciting towards the middle. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Minli and her parents live in the valley of Fruitless Mountain where, as the name implies, all the citizens are down on their luck. Minli's family can barely afford to feed themselves, but they survive in spirit off the old folk tales her father shares every evening about the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon (even though her mother is sick to death of them). Everything begins to change when Minli finds herself in possession of a talking goldfish and decides to go find the Old Man in the Moon herself in an effort to improve her family's fortune.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of beautiful illustrations and is chock full of Chinese folklore, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.”

• Rated 4 stars

“This book set my mood to a very peaceful level. It is the type of story one could read before bed. Minli is a girl desperatley wanting more fortune for her family and is determined to find the Old Man of the Moon, after hearing a tale of him, who could help Minli find that fortune that she believes her family needs. With the help of a friendly dragon on her journey, Minli does find the man of the moon, but will she ask him what she desires most?”

• Rated 5 stars

“This is a wonderfully written book about a girl, Minli, who is determined to bravely set out on a quest that will ultimately (and hopefully) change her family's poor fortune. Minli is a strong and clever character who loves her family and thinks beyond herself. I especially love the many tales that are shared throughout this book and the valuable life lessons that Minli learns along the way.

"Young Minli lives in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, where she and her parents spend their days working hard in the fields. At night, Minli listens to her father's tales about the Old Man of the Moon, who knows the answers to everything. Minli sets out on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon- he will know how she can bring good fortune to her family. Along the way, she meets many magical friends, including a talking fish, a powerful king, and a dragon who can't fly!"”

• Rated 4 stars

“I like the book for the way the stories were woven together and for the message it has to offer. I am not sure the pace is fast enough for some kids.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Minli lives with her parents in a tiny house in China where they work in the rice fields trying to eke out a meager living. Minli's father tells her tales every night about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon who is believed to know the answer to any question. Wishing to change the fortune of her poor family and that of their neighbors on Fruitless Mountain Minli decides to try to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask for his help. Along the way Minli meets a flightless dragon who accompanies her on her journey and the two share many adventures including the near-death of dragon when he is bitten by the fearsome green tiger. Everyone she meets, including people and animals, tell Minli many tales and fables about the origins of Fruitless Mountain and Minli's kind spirit lead her to helpful people, not the least of which is a king. Together Minli and dragon find their way to the realm of the Old Man of the Moon.

This was a cute story, a little too much fantasy for me, but Minli and dragon are very likeable characters. She is a brave little girl and her acts of kindness along the way are a great moral to the tale. It is a young adult novel probably most appropriate for 8-12 year olds.
”

• Rated 4 stars

“This children's book has a clever writing style and teaches some good principles. It could do a better job of encouraging obedience to parents, however.”

• Rated 4 stars

“The author visited my school and signed the book. It is about a you girl living on fruitless mountain and is hopeful like her father. Her mother disapproves of it saying it is nonsense but when Min Li buys a gold fish for almost all her money, her mother is furious. They don't have enough food to feed it. Min Li understands but what to do when the fish starts talking. It leads her on a journey to where the mountain meets the moon, to make a wish for great fortune. On the journey there are dangers to be discovered.”

• Rated 4 stars

“This is the story of a Minli and her quest for answers (or as I like to call it knowledge) as she travels to the Old man On the Moon. Minli encounters magical creatures and a dragon who led her safely on her journey to the Old Man on the Moon. The various characters that Minli encounters on her journey led her to the Old Man on the Moon and you will have to read the book to see if he tells Minli how to bring fortune to her home and family near Fruitless Mountain. There are emotional stories of faith, family and friendship woven throughout this story as well as Chinese Folklore.
Connections
It would be interest to have students select a character in the book that they would like to be or feel that is representative of their personality and write about why they feel this way. Similar to the genie in the book who will grant you only one wish ask students to come up with only one question of the Man on the Moon what would it be and why that particular question. Another possibility would be to coordinate with the art teacher and have students develop a map of Minli’s journey. Depending on the students and their level of creativity, I would have them use symbols and create a map legend of the meaning of the symbols.
”

• Rated 5 stars

“i loved this book. my favorite thing about it is that within the story you hear about many other stories that all conect eventually”