Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Grace Lin)

Title:  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Author: Grace Lin

Target Ages:  8-12

Genre:  Fantasy, Folklore

Awards:  Newbery Honor

Publisher Summary:  In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon. Minli’s mother tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense.  But Minli believes these enchanting stores and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune.  She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

First Lines: Far away from here, following the Jade River, there was once a black mountain that cut into the sky like a jagged piece of rough metal.  The villagers called it Fruitless Mountain because nothing grew on it and the birds and animals did not rest there.

Notable Quote:  I should have known we could not fight the Green Tiger with more anger.  We just add to his power that way.  His anger is his strength, but it can also be his weakness.  His anger can blind him, and that is when he is vulnerable.  

Evaluation: 

The hardest part of this review is not sharing all my favorite parts!  To do so would ruin the story for potential readers!  Here is just a bit...

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon has short chapters and clearly marked sections. Each chapter begins with a small muted picture. Also, vibrant full-page traditional Chinese illustrations are interspersed. Both add to the charm and atmosphere.  

The narrative has many intertwined layers. First, it is a young heroine’s physical quest and personal journey.  On this quest the girl, Minli, meets a wide array of benevolent characters—a dragon, an orphan, a king, and twins—as well as malevolent ones—monkeys and a green tiger.  Through both charitable and wicked events, she learns the meaning of friendship and the secret of happiness (one of my favorite parts!).

A second layer is the power of stories. Nearly every character has a story to add to the fabric of the narrative. The stories inspire, guide, explain, and heal.  Like the red thread of fate, they are all interrelated to produce a thrilling adventure and to illustrate the power of the theme.   

While Minli’s quest is the main event, occasionally there is a switch to her parents.  An unexpected layer is the character development of her mother, which is not only satisfying but expertly woven into the overall theme.

Minli is a strong heroine. Her courage, sacrifice, and love for others are sure to inspire middle grade readers. I highly recommend Where the Mountain Meets the Moon for it's beautiful interwoven narrative, memorable characterization, and inspiring theme. 

Activities and Extension Ideas:

• Geography: Identify China on a map.  Read a book about the country to learn some foundational information about the terrain and people.
• Comparison: Discuss story parallels.  For instance, the beginning reminded me of "Jack and the Beanstalk" when she “foolishly” bought a goldfish with the only money in the home.  Then, she went on an otherworldly adventure to improve the fortune of her family.  Others have compared the story to The Wizard of Oz.  For older children, parallel Minli’s adventure to the quest motif in literature.
• Figurative Language: There are examples of personification and imagery.  The most common type of figurative language is similes. Nearly every chapter has multiple comparisons. Have a simile scavenger hunt!  See how many the students can find in the chapter. Then, practice writing similes.  Using the surrounding details in the story, rewrite some of them using fresh and unique images.  
• Symbolism:  To introduce the idea of symbolism, discuss the significance of some of the key images like animals—goldfish, dragons, tigers, monkeys, lions, and rabbits—and other literary archetypes like the red thread and moon, from Chinese culture and literature.
• Story Map:  Map out how the various stories within the narrative connect to the main story line.
• Literature: Check out a book of Chinese folklore at the library.  Read some additional stories. 
• Writing:  As a group, with a partner, or individually, write an origin story.  Challenge students to incorporate similes and to be creative.
• Art:  Plan one or more Chinese inspired art projects. Try Activity Village or Pinterest.

Internet Unit Plans:

• Publisher Book Guide
• 4^th Grade Lit Unit
• Novel Study

For other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday recommendations, check out Always in the Middle.

Picture Book (Science): Pandas' Earthquake Escape (Phyllis J. Perry)

In honor of Endangered Species Day, I am highlighting Pandas' Earthquake Escape. This book is compliments of Sylvan Dell Publishing.  They have  numerous wonderful books on animals, many of which are endangered.   

Summary of Pandas' Earthquake Escape (by Phyllis J. Perry):

On May 12, 2008, a 7.9 earthquake rocked northern China.  Following this natural disaster, a giant panda escaped from the safe reserve he lived on.  Author Phyllis Perry uses that incident as inspiration for this fictional story about a mother panda (Liling) and her cub (Tengfei).  The two giant pandas are sleeping in a tree when it begins to shake violently, causing Tengfei to fall out of it.  Her frightened mother quickly checks on her.  Finding she is well, the two-some begin running.  They come to the wall that keeps them safely in the reserve.  In the chaos and panic, they continue to run with Liling leading the way.  When Tengfei gets separated from his mother, he begins to cry out.   Fortunately, they are reunited.  Deeper and deeper they flee into the forest where they eventually find a cave to take cover in.  The two pandas huddle close until they feel safe enough to leave to forage for food and water.  The workers from the reserve eventually find them and return them safely to their home. 

Evaluation:

Pandas' Earthquake Escape depicts how wild life is impacted by natural disasters.   Even in the midst of the confusion, though, the mother is quick to protect her young.   Animals have amazing survival instincts and resilient spirits.  This book reminds us how the panda’s habitat and food supply are endangered. As a result, there are reserves (like the one shown in this book) that help protect them, so they may continue to thrive and multiply. The story, though fictional,  is believable and appealing.  Artist Susan Detwiller has created striking illustrations with texture and depth.  The pandas’ features and emotions are captured brilliantly.  Their habitat is vivid and realistic.   I recommend this book for ages 4 and up. 

Sylvan Dell is an educational partner with parents and teachers.  They provide books on science and math concepts to accompany and promote learning at home and in school.   In addition, there are always valuable resources on the book pages, including a free teaching resource guide with lots of extension activities. 

This post is linked up with Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is the Word.  

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. 

Ancient World History (China): Confucius by Russell Freeman

In our study of ancient history and literature, we explored the life and legacy of Confucius.   Russell Freeman, renowned author of children’s biographies, wrote

Confucius: The Golden Rule which we used as our primary text.  

Overview of Confucius: The Golden Rule: 

Freeman begins with a brief synopsis of Confucius’ life.  In short sections, different areas are explored—his early life, his dangerous ideas, his travels, his golden rule, his final years, and his legacy.   Interspersed are ancient illustrations of Confucius and China.   In conclusion, Russell Freeman offers some insight into his research and makes suggestions for further reading. 

Evaluation:

Freeman’s biography is an ideal introduction into this legendary man of the orient.   Confucius: The Golden Rule is a combination of factual details, legendary stories, and snapshots of the sage’s life.  Since I was only familiar his name, I enjoyed the engaging, concise text.  Most of the sections are short enough for reading out loud to students without overwhelming them with information.   If you want a  brief overview of this historical figure for yourself or your students/children, you will enjoy this book. 

Teaching Opportunities:

·         First, I read an overview of Confucius’ life from the Mystery of History curriculum.

·         Next, I read Confucius: The Golden Rule over a period of several days.  Each day I reviewed briefly with my children to see what they remember, and I connected his ideas to some of the current ones we hold to today, such as education should be open to all, citizens should question their government, and the role of government is to benefit all people.

·         Then, we connected Confucius to other influential men of the era who were in different parts of the world like Buddha and Pythagoras.

·         Finally, I compiled this handout as an overview of the highlights of Confucius' life to help organize the information and to assist in reviewing it in the future.