Note that I listened to this book on Audible rather than reading it, but am linking the paperback. Purchasing a book through a link on here helps WdC.

This book is 400 pages long rated 4.7 stars on Amazon. It's 9 hours and 31 minutes on Audible and rated 4.5 stars. This book was the 2017 winner of the Newbery Medal. On Amazon, this book is still rated #7 in Children's Multigenerational Family Life. It's also #56 in Children's Fantasy & Magic and #74 in Children's Action & Adventure books. This is really impressive for a book that's been out several years.

The people of the Protectorate sacrifice the youngest baby each year, giving it up to the witch in the forest in hopes that she will leave the rest of them alone. Each year, the witch comes to rescue the baby who has been abandoned in the forest and she finds it a loving home. One year, she accidentally feeds the baby moonlight instead of starlight and "enmagics" the child. Knowing how dangerous the child can be with powerful magic she can't control, Xan, the witch decides to raise her, herself, with the help of Glerk, a bog monster and Fyrian, a perfectly tiny dragon. Meanwhile, a mad woman's sorrow feeds another monster for years before she decides to lock her sorrow away. And an elder's nephew's child is the youngest baby of the year and while the elder is content to allow his grand nephew to be the sacrifice, the baby's father is determined to kill the witch and save not only his own son, but all future babies of the Protectorate. What happens as these characters eventually collide?

This book is written in a fairy tale style and at points even sounds as if the book is being read to us and we (or someone else) is asking questions. Though this is a children's book, it's excellent and I frequently delayed doing other things in order to continue listening to this book. If you like stories of magic and witches or fairy tales, this is an excellent choice for you.

I especially loved the "perfectly tiny dragon," Fyrian. He sounded so adorable. I also loved how I often felt like the story was being read to me, not simply read out loud. I was also impressed with the fairy tale feel of this book.

I didn't like that there was nothing else of this book when it was done. I want to know more about the characters and what happens next in their lives. I did decide to look at other books by this author and have added several to my Wish List.

Add other books by this author to my Audible Wish List.

Did an excellent job creating a fairy tale atmosphere.

It's extremely well-written, interesting, creative, and has characters you care about.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal)   from Amazon.Com!

Created May 09, 2022 at 2:56am • Submit your own review...