The Girl Who Drank the Moon

By Kelly Barnhill

A witch raises a magical child, unaware of the looming threats and a young man's quest to end her life.

6.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.1/5 Goodreads · 118,787 ratings

388 pages· 82,631 words· Est. 9 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In a land where babies are sacrificed to a forest witch, kind-hearted Xan secretly saves them. But when she accidentally imbues a child, Luna, with moonlight magic, chaos looms. As Luna's powers awaken on her thirteenth birthday, a determined young man seeks to kill the witch to free his people. Meanwhile, ominous birds gather, a dormant volcano stirs, and a mysterious woman with a Tiger's heart prowls. Can Xan protect Luna and herself from the unfolding dangers?

"They left knowing that there surely wasn’t a witch. There never had been a witch. There were only a dangerous forest and a single road and a thin grip on a life that the Elders had enjoyed for generations. The Witch—that is, the belief in her—made for a frightened people, a subdued people, a compliant people, who lived their lives in a saddened haze, the clouds of their grief numbing their senses and dampening their minds. It was terribly convenient for the Elders’ unencumbered rule."

— from the book

From the publisher

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. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers 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 girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge–with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl . . .

The Newbery Medal winner from the author of the highly acclaimed novel The Witch’s Boy.

Awards

Newbery Medal (2017)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 388
Words: 82,631
Reading age: 10–14
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 640L

Themes & topics

Books about the moon Books about self control Books about magic Books about sacrifice Books about witches

What readers & critics say

Reviews

6.3

out of 7

6.3

“Such a complex, intriguing story. There are times when it gets a bit repetitive and drags, but the elaborate plot and backstory it develops calls to mind epic tales like the Lord of the Rings trilogy.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

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