By Kelly Barnhill
Genre: Fantasy
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: T
Where to find this book: Winship School Library
Every year on the Day of Sacrifice a baby is left alone in the woods for the witch. The sacrificed baby, say the Elders, pacifies the witch and keeps her from attacking the village or Protectorate. Most of the sacrificed babies' families are numb to this annual reality and do not fight to save the children. A cloud of sorrow perpetually hovers over the Protectorate. But not every family is giving up their baby without a fight. One mother defiantly takes her daughter in her arms and evades the soldier-like Sisters of the Tower who have come to take her baby away. But only for a brief time. The Sisters forcefully take the baby, who has a crescent-shaped birthmark on her forehead, for the sacrifice and lock the mother up in a Tower prison cell.
The people of the Protectorate do not know that the witch who lives in the woods is a kind, gentle witch named Xan. Xan discovers the babies in the forest each year and locates new families for them in the Free Cities on the other side of the forest. The witch does not know why the babies are left in the forest each year--she just rescues the babies when they appear. But if the witch is not demanding an annual sacrifice from the Protectorate, then who is?! The evil Elders who govern the Protectorate use the Day of Sacrifice to control the people and maintain their power. The Elders are backed by a much darker magical being called the Sorrow Eater, someone who feeds on people's sadness as if it were food. The people are kept perpetually sad in order to feed the Sorrow Eater.
Xan discovers the baby with the crescent-shaped birthmark and decides to raise the girl, who she names Luna, as her own granddaughter. But while caring for Luna on the journey home, she runs out of milk and decides to let the girl drink the light of the stars and moon. She accidentally gives Luna too much moonlight, which is full of magic. Luna acquires a destiny as a witch. Xan carefully trains Luna in how to use her magic to help people, not hurt them. Despite Xan's kindness in raising Luna and giving her a home, Luna has dreams and vague memories about her mother and her roots in the Protectorate. As Luna subconsciously explores her Protectorate origins, she confronts the reasons why she became a Day of Sacrifice baby. Can Luna and her grandmother Xan free the Protectorate from the terrible cloud of sorrow that blocks even the sun from shining on their village?
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a full-fledged fantasy with magic, dragons, witches, and a magical force of love that rules the world. If you liked Harry Potter, I'm pretty sure you'll like this Newbery Award-winning book too!
