The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Genre:  Fantasy  

Grade Level:  4th - 6th (5-8?)

Reading Level: 4.8

Length: 400 pages - 12 hours

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers (August 9, 2016)

My Rating: 3 out of 4

This book has such a beautiful cove! Always an important part of a new book.  The story line is a very intriguing idea.  Every year, on a certain day, the town of Protecterate leaves the youngest baby in the woods for the evil witch to take.  The leaders of the town have convinced the people that this is the only way that the witch will be satisfied and will not bother them. They are also very fearful of the forests around them and never leave their town.  The town is full of very sad people and a cloud hangs over the village. 

Now, on this day every year,  a witch does come and take the baby because she has discovered this village practice and takes the babies to save them from wild animals.  She is a very good woman and takes the children to cities where the children are loved and valued. They drink starlight in the journey and are considered priceless babies.

One day she finds the annual infant and while traveling with the baby, the baby accidentally drinks from the moon. This baby becomes enmajiked and so the witch has to keep her as her own child.  Meanwhile, a boy who has seen how devastating the practice of leaving babies for this witch has become, grows up to discover his own child will be the next sacrificial baby.  He sets out to kill the witch. 

The book is complex and not quite as simple of a plot as I have summarized.  Although beautifully written, I found I could not read this quickly. It felt like I was reading calligraphy text vs. a regular font, metaphorically speaking.  I happened to have it on my audible account and sometimes I actually read along with the narrator.   She was fabulous and her acting abilities were excellent in her narration.

I would probably say this book is more 5th-8th grade and even though the reading level is 4.8.  The writing style and plot is more complicated than most 4th grade novels. I was guessing more of a 7th - 8th grade reader level as I was reading the book.  That being said, fantasy is not my favorite genre and so perhaps my connection with a fantastic storyline is not as strong as those who read lots of fantasy.

This book has been proclaimed a Newbery contender for 2018. It wouldn't be a surprise because it is beautifully crafted.  I also appreciate that Kelly Barnhill is from Minnesota.

Star Of The North 2018 Favorites so far....

This is my list of Star of the North Books for 2018 that I like so far....

Check out my Google Link:  Star of the North Favorites So Far for 2017-18 vote

The Firefly Code by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Genre:  Science Fiction - Dystopian Life 

Grade Level:  4th - 6th

Reading Level: 4.6

Length: 352 pages - 11 hours

Publisher: Bloomsbury,  May 3, 2016

Rating: 3 out of 4

Five kids who live in Firefly Lane in the town of Old Harmonie meet a new girl on their street and her name is Illana.  She is perfect in appearance and ability. In this utopian town it is normal to try and achieve perfection. At the age of 13 you are allowed to enhance your natural abilities in order to make yourself a super successful resident of society. You are also allowed 30% other enhancements in your body. Mori, the main character has a connection to the woman who helped start the community. She is her great grandmother. Her old farm  house is still standing and yet no one is allowed to go there. Mori sneaks in with her friends and discovers the journals and experiments that were done before Old Harmonie town was created.  She discovers that Illana may not really be "natural" after all. Could science create a super person who could co-exist in this world as a natural person?


I thought the book was a great story for the upper elementary audience for a dystopian novel without getting too dark.  At the same time, the ending fizzled out for me.  It ended rather abruptly. Made me wonder if another book is in the works.  I think you were supposed to care a great deal for the Illana character and yet I didn't find this to be true for me. So close to a great story!  I give it a three out of four.

Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban

• Genre:  Historical Fiction - WW II - Japanese Internment Camp
• Grade Level:  4th - 7th
• Reading Level: 3.8
• Length: 192 pages - 4 hours
• Publisher: January 5, 2016
• Rating: 4 out of 4

World War II has started and Japanese Americans who lived on the West coast were gathered up and sent to internment camps to live in guarded and crowded  conditions. Manami's family leaves Bainbridge Island, Washington and end up in the desert of Manzanar, California. Manami learns that her loved dog cannot come along and so she hides him into her coat. Unfortunately, she can't keep him hidden and she is forbidden from taking him and he is left behind. Manami loses her voice from the trauma and is unable to speak. She misses her dog and decides that if she sends messages through drawings to her dog and sends them to the wind that perhaps her dog will come back to her.

 This story gives a picture of the life lived by the Japanese as they face the unfair conditions of separation from the rest of the U.S. just because of their race.  A simple and moving story of a family as they make the best of a terrible ordeal.

I visited Manzanar this summer. I was only able to visit this National Historical Site for an hour but it was a memorable visit. As I was leaving, a Japanese woman was talking to the park ranger about her experiences as she actually was a Japanese American living in Manzanar. It brought home how this part of history isn't really that long past. I highly recommend visiting this National Historic Site and reading this book.  This book has been listed as a possible contender for the Newbery Award for 2017.  I would approve of this choice.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pax is a fox who was adopted by a boy named Peter when the fox was an orphaned kit. Peter was dealing with the grief and loss of his mother and Pax helped with the healing process. Peter has to leave Pax behind when his father goes to war. His father has him leave Pax in the woods.  Peter goes to his grandfather's home.  However, Peter realizes he has made a terrible mistake and runs away and back to the woods which is hundreds of miles away.  He injures himself and a woman takes him in. She is also dealing with her own trauma from a war she fought in years before.  She helps Peter to get well enough to send him on his journey.  Meanwhile Pax has to learn to live in nature and support himself. War has also come to the woods that Pax is struggling for survival in and he has to figure out how to fend for himself and find a trusting family of his own.

This book has lots of depth and is probably aimed more for the upper elementary and  middle school student even though the illustrated cover looks more elementary. There is some violence included. One of the issues in the book is how war effects people and animals. The book is told through the point of view of Peter and Pax in alternating chapters which keeps you moving throughout the book.  It is a wonderful book that kept me reading and thinking.  I think it would be a great read aloud.  I read this book because it has been a Newbery contender for 2017. I agree that it may be a good choice for Newbery!

The AR reading level is 5.3 and is 8 points. School Library Journal lists the book for grades 4-7.

Here is the book trailer: Pax Book Trailer

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 760 
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 2, 2016)