Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Grace Lin’s debut novel weaves traditional Chinese folklore into a lyrical middle-grade fantasy centered on Minli, a resourceful young girl living in the impoverished village of Fruitless Mountain. Drawn by her father’s nightly tales, Minli sets out on a perilous journey to find the Old Man of the Moon, hoping he can offer guidance that will lift her family from hardship. Along the way, she encounters a cast of memorable figures drawn from Chinese myth and legend, including a talking dragon, a mysterious fortune teller, and the enigmatic Dragon King. Lin’s prose captures the rhythm of oral storytelling while exploring themes of courage, compassion, and the power of narrative to shape destiny. The novel’s richly detailed world reflects careful research into Chinese cultural traditions, and Lin’s own illustrations complement the text with a distinctive visual style. Through Minli’s travels, the narrative examines how curiosity and compassion can reshape personal circumstances while honoring the enduring influence of folklore.