The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill - 388 pages

Once a year, the youngest baby in the Protectorate is taken and left in the woods for the witch.  The witch steals the baby and eats it . . . .

Once a year, a witch finds an abandoned baby in the woods and rescues it.  She takes it to a loving family on the other side of the forest . . . .

One year, Xan the witch discovers a baby girl that steals her heart.  That year, Xan falls in love with the baby and feeds it moonlight enmagicking her.  This is the year that everything starts to change . . . for Xan, for the baby, for the forest, for the Protectorate, for the world.


I have loved all of Kelly Barnhill's books.  They are very sophisticated original fairy tales for children.  So I was looking forward to reading her latest.  Then it was declared the winner of the Newbery Award and I immediately checked it out.  I absolutely loved this book.  It's probably my favorite Newbery winner since The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  The characters capture your interest while the plot twists keep you reading.  This is a great read for all children and teens.

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill - 323 pages

Jack is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Hazelwood, Iowa when his parents decide to divorce.  Hazelwood is a new experience for Jack.  It is the first time that he is ever noticed by anyone -- bullies, adults, and friends.  It also seems to be a town with secrets that all center around Jack.

This is a difficult book to explain.  However, I sometimes think those are the best kind of books.  This was a truly unique fairy tale that I really enjoyed reading.  While I guessed parts of the final outcome, I was still surprised by several elements.  I do think that some might take issue with the fact that the ending is not a happy ending - a truly unusual thing in a children's book.

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill - 372 pages

Ned was the wrong boy . . . the wrong boy that was saved when both he and his twin brother went into the river.  He's been ostracized by the villagers ever since he was saved.  But when bandits come to his town to steal the magic his mother safeguards, it is Ned who saves the magic.  Together with Aine, the Bandit King's daughter, they travel through the Woods trying to keep the magic and his kingdom safe.

I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the fact that even though it was a children's book, I didn't exactly know where it was going.  It kept you guessing throughout the story.  The characters were interesting.  And I loved the bits of humor that were injected into the final part of the book.