Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

In a poor, muddy village in China, Minli lives with her mother and father. Each day is spent laboring in the rice fields, and yet they never have more than just barely enough. Each evening, Minli loves to listen to the enchanting stories and legends that her father tells. She especially loves to hear about the Man on the Moon who is said to know all the answers to life's questions.  One day, she sets out on a quest to find him so that she can learn how to change her family's fortune. On her journey, Minli encounters interesting, magical creatures including a dragon who joins her in her quest. By the end of her life-changing adventure, Minli has discovered a different kind of fortune and a lesson in what maters most.

This story has won many awards, including a Newbery Honor. All of them well-deserved in my mind. It is beautiful, magical and intertwined with so many fascinating Chinese legends and folktales, this wonderful book has almost a Wizard of Oz feel to it. It would be a fun read-a-loud for the family. I loved it!

Children of Blood and Bone

 

 

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

In a world where magic is illegal, teenaged Zelie remembers how the king’s guards killed her mother 11 years prior and hates the ruler and his laws. But after Zelie and her older brother are caught up in accidentally helping out a member of the royal family escape, their lives all turn upside down. No one can return to the old way of life, and they are on the run, trying to piece together the story and lies they’ve all been told. The young group must learn to understand their differences and how to forgive old wounds, all while working toward bringing back a culture that has been in hiding and fear for over a decade...

 

Children of Blood and Bone is an African-inspired fantasy, rich with culture and imagery, and characters who are likeable and believable in their actions. Fans of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games - even Avarar: The Last Airbender - will enjoy this story due to the unfolding magical elements and the action and high stakes the characters face. This book ends well, with a surprise in the epilogue that will have to be addressed immediately in the sequel! This is the first of yet-unfinished trilogy, with lots of lore and intrigue, action, some violence and also romance, and movie rights sold to Fox/Disney, so you can bet there’s something in this story for everyone.

With the Wind

With the Wind by Elizabeth Johns

Lady Anjou Winslow was married to her childhood sweetheart, Lieutenant Gardiner and shortly after their union, Gardiner went to war in America. Years pass and Anjou’s heart continues to hope; however, her dreams are crushed when her husband is declared dead. Her soul tells her it couldn’t be true and after five years of pain, Anjou sails to America with her brother, Charles, to find her husband. She begins to conquer her fears, follow her instincts, and feel the effects of being loved without bounds. Anjou begins to find herself in the least expected places and thrive even when discouraging circumstances are thrown at her.  

This is the third book in the Series of Elements. It was so fun to watch this author progress in her writing throughout the series. This is by far my favorite book in the collection. I loved all the unexpected turns in this book and the thrills that come from Anjou’s journey. I felt like I was a part of her adventure, and I’m so glad I chose to experience it with her. 

East of Eden

 East of Eden by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden, is a story of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and how their lives and destinies become intertwined. Adam Trask leaves the East Coast and moves to the Salinas Valley in California, hoping to live close to the land and create a good life for his famly. Things don't go as planned though when his wife comes un-done and he's left to raise their twin sons alone. Often painfully brutal, this story of love/hate and good/evil is a modern day re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel.

Is it possible to be born bad? Or good for that matter? Definitely a question that is explored in East of Eden. The characters are so flawed, so well-crafted, so real that I felt that I knew them. That is not to say, however that I liked them. This book is a heavy read, so if you're looking for something lighthearted, you may want to pass. However, if you're looking for a supremely well-written tale, I recommend giving it a try.