The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Winner 2017 Newbery Medal

The people in these books are funny, brave, strong, resilient, clever, and kind: Just like you.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is sweet yet thrilling. There's a misunderstood witch, a cursed (or is it?) village, wise and friendly monsters, and plenty of magic — the perfect recipe for a modern fairy tale. Recommended By Emily F., Powells.com

What starts as a sweet, beautiful fairy tale turns into a complex, emotional, coming-of-age story of love and loss. Taken from her mother as a baby and left in the forest as a sacrifice, Luna grows up with a different family: the witch who raised her; an ancient swamp monster; and a tiny dragon who thinks he's giant. As she begins to realize her own magical powers, she finds herself drawn into the mystery of a nearby village that is plagued by a deep sorrow. This well-deserved winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal is captivating and nuanced enough to be enjoyed by both children and adult readers.  Recommended By Carrie L., Powells.com

The characters of this story are believable, charming, and written with depth while the magic is an excellent blend of myth and ritual. Children's books have this ability to show morals and complicated life lessons with simplicity and integrity, and this book certainly does that. There's growing up in this book, and death, but it's a gentle send-off, and I enjoy recommending this title to kids or adults who just love books about magic.  Recommended By Junix S., Powells.com

An epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her.

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her–even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic.

"The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a story of love, curiosity and the magic of the everyday world...this is a novel about the journey, not the destination — one filled with wisdom and heart."  The Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Captivating…Barnhill delivers an escalating plot filled with foreshadowing, well-developed characters, and a fully realized setting, all highlighting her lyrical storytelling."  Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"Rich with multiple plot lines that culminate in a suspenseful climax, characters of inspiring integrity (as well as characters without any), a world with elements of both whimsy and treachery, and prose that melds into poetry. A sure bet for anyone who enjoys a truly fantastic story. " Booklist (Starred Review)

"The swiftly paced, highly imaginative plot draws a myriad of threads together to form a web of characters, magic, and integrated lives...expertly woven and enchanting,"  School Library Journal (Starred Review)

Kelly Barnhill writes novels for children and short stories for adults and poetry that she whispers in the dark when no one is listening. The Girl Who Drank the Moon is her most recent novel.

Once upon a time, I worked for the Park Service, minding a little ranger station on Marmot Lake — well above the treeline, about 30 miles into the backcountry from any direction. The station was not much of a station at all. Just a tent on a platform and a steel cache full of tools and gear, and even a sealed bottle of stove gas and a stash of MREs...

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