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A review by luluwoohoo
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A whimsical, endearing and poignant fairytale that takes the classic stereotypes to new and interesting levels reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones.
This YA fantasy presents itself as a simple, wholesome read, which it is, but what isn't clear before reading is just how much depth it has to burrow into - how much it shares and teaches its audience about the world and life within it, without overreaching or becoming preachy. Barnhill traverses this tightrope skillfully, opening with tropes and characters that feel familiar before she weaves in heavier themes and moral quandaries that are often brushed over in the YA sphere.
Each character, protagonist or otherwise, is painted broadly with complexity and emotional facets that often subvert expectation. The world building here is just grand enough to excite without becoming overwhelming or unnecessary to the plot itself, which is adventurous in scope and execution.
Magic here is both embraced and feared. The circle of life is both embraced and feared. Coming of age is both embraced and feared. Combine these with themes of intergenerational loss, the power of love and family (and found family), corruption of power, and the strength of knowledge, and it creates a remarkably mature book that was a joy to read from start to finish.
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A whimsical, endearing and poignant fairytale that takes the classic stereotypes to new and interesting levels reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones.
This YA fantasy presents itself as a simple, wholesome read, which it is, but what isn't clear before reading is just how much depth it has to burrow into - how much it shares and teaches its audience about the world and life within it, without overreaching or becoming preachy. Barnhill traverses this tightrope skillfully, opening with tropes and characters that feel familiar before she weaves in heavier themes and moral quandaries that are often brushed over in the YA sphere.
Each character, protagonist or otherwise, is painted broadly with complexity and emotional facets that often subvert expectation. The world building here is just grand enough to excite without becoming overwhelming or unnecessary to the plot itself, which is adventurous in scope and execution.
Magic here is both embraced and feared. The circle of life is both embraced and feared. Coming of age is both embraced and feared. Combine these with themes of intergenerational loss, the power of love and family (and found family), corruption of power, and the strength of knowledge, and it creates a remarkably mature book that was a joy to read from start to finish.
"Everything, everything is for Luna. And it was true. She loved that girl with every ache in her back; she loved her with every hacking cough; she loved her with every rheumatic sigh; she loved her with every crack in her joints. There was nothing she wouldn't endure for that girl."
"A story can tell the truth, she knew, but a story can also lie. Stories can bend and twist and obfuscate. Controlling stories is power indeed."