by Grace Lin
First published 2010
Minli works the barren fields around Fruitless Mountain while her father tells stories of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon each evening. Her mother grows frustrated with their poverty and dismisses these tales as foolish distractions. But Minli takes the stories to heart and sets out to locate the Old Man of the Moon, hoping he can tell her family how to escape their difficult circumstances. Her path leads her to a dragon who becomes her traveling companion. Together they meet various magical beings and face challenges that test her determination. Grace Lin weaves Chinese folklore into Minli's quest, creating a story that explores how family bonds endure even when dreams pull people in different directions. The girl's journey becomes as much about understanding her parents as changing her family's luck.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, magical-realism, folklore, fairy-tale-retellings, asian-american
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, quest
Setting: China, Fruitless Mountain
5 pages · Audio CD · Listening Library