Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin (2009)
“A girl climbs a mountain to ask the Old Man of the Moon to change her family's fortune — and discovers that fortune was never what she thought it was.”
Why This Book Matters
Newbery Honor (2010). One of the first Chinese-American fairy tales to achieve mainstream American recognition. Widely adopted in elementary and middle school classrooms for both literature and cultural studies units. Praised for naturalizing Chinese mythology within the American literary landscape.
Firsts & Innovations
Among the first Chinese-American fairy tale novels to receive a Newbery Honor
Pioneered the stories-within-stories structure in American middle-grade fantasy
One of the first major children's fantasy novels to draw exclusively from Chinese rather than European mythological traditions
Cultural Impact
Used in classrooms nationwide for literature, cultural studies, and creative writing units
Opened the door for more Asian-American fantasy in children's publishing
Companion novels (Starry River of the Sky, When the Sea Turned to Silver) expanded the mythological world
Grace Lin became one of the most visible advocates for diversity in children's literature
The novel's stories-within-stories structure influenced a generation of middle-grade fantasy writers
Banned & Challenged
Not banned or challenged. Universally embraced by schools and libraries. Occasionally noted as an exemplary text for cultural diversity in curriculum.