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Starry River of the Sky
From bestselling author Grace Lin comes the companion to the Newbery Honor winner Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and the National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver. The moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can't help but notice the village's peculiar inhabitants and their problems. But one day, a mysterious lady arrives at the Inn with the gift of storytelling, and slowly transforms the villagers and Rendi himself. As she tells more stories and the days pass in the Village of Clear Sky, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers to all those questions. Newbery Honor author Grace Lin brings readers another enthralling fantasy featuring her marvelous full-color illustrations. Starry River of the Sky is filled with Chinese folklore, fascinating characters, and exciting new adventures.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2012
446 people are currently reading
7326 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,009 reviews
July 5, 2020
An absolutely beautiful companion to 'Where the Mountain Meets the Moon'.
Young boy Rendi has run away from home and ends up at the Village of Clear Sky where it appears the moon has gone missing. He becomes a chore boy at the local Inn and soon meets a colourful cast of characters, all the while stories are being spun and are becoming entwined with Rendi's own journey.
I simply love Grace Lin's way with words and her infusion of traditional Chinese folklore with original thought. There is always something so moralistic with Lin's works that it still shines powerfully in this novel. It's easy to fall in love with the characters here as they share their own stories and we learn more about them and their motivations.
Not as adventurous or as impactful (for me, at least) as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but it's still a gorgeous tale that I'm so, so happy I have read.
Young boy Rendi has run away from home and ends up at the Village of Clear Sky where it appears the moon has gone missing. He becomes a chore boy at the local Inn and soon meets a colourful cast of characters, all the while stories are being spun and are becoming entwined with Rendi's own journey.
I simply love Grace Lin's way with words and her infusion of traditional Chinese folklore with original thought. There is always something so moralistic with Lin's works that it still shines powerfully in this novel. It's easy to fall in love with the characters here as they share their own stories and we learn more about them and their motivations.
Not as adventurous or as impactful (for me, at least) as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but it's still a gorgeous tale that I'm so, so happy I have read.
June 29, 2012
I remember when Grace Lin first started writing chapter books for kids. She'd been doing picture books (mostly for others) for years and when at last she started creating small semi-fictionalized memoirs based on her own experiences she ended up tapping into a kind of 21st century need for books with a realistic "classic" (forgive the phrase) feel. The sideways shift into fully illustrated full-color folktale-based fiction felt simultaneously like a throwback to a long-forgotten era (particularly when you consider how few straight folktales are published these days) and a very hip and modern mix-and-meld of text and image and tale. The gamble paid off (they don't throw Newbery Awards at every book that meanders down the pike after all) and now, years later, Ms. Lin returns with yet another folktale/fiction retelling. She can no longer claim the small unnoticed status she once enjoyed. Not if she keeps writing books as good as this one anyway.
This wasn't part of the plan. Not the way he envisioned it, anyway. When Rendi hid in the wine merchant's traveling cart he naturally assumed it would take him somewhere big and populated. The last thing he expected was to be dumped in the middle-of-nowhere Village of Clear Sky. Now a chore boy in the only inn in the vicinity, Rendi takes his frustrations out on the inhabitants. It isn't until a mysterious and beautiful lady appears telling strange tales that he finds himself wrapped up in a mystery that may answer a twin problems: The location of the moon that disappeared several nights ago and the reason that only Rendi can hear unknown groans and moans on the night wind.
Though I knew walking in that the book wasn't going to be a sequel to Lin's Newbery Honor winning title Where the Mountain Meets the Moon I wasn't prepared for the overlapping elements that connect the two books. Interestingly both books have the same villain, though as before he is seen off-screen and mostly in retrospect. Magistrate Tiger isn't your standard stock villain, though. He has his moments of softness, if not goodness. These moments serve to make him far more interesting that the countless two-dimensional baddies that populate so many of our children's books. Other connections exist as well. The old man of the mountain with his book who was so sought after in "Where the Mountain" may indeed make an appearance in the second as well. And then there's a certain killer tiger . . .
As with Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (and even her works of realistic fiction, for that matter) Lin peppers her tale with classic Chinese folktales, adapted and reconstructed to serve the story. Yet unlike her other book Ms. Lin's stories here are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They all engage in a cyclical pattern. Seemingly unconnected at the start, every tale refers back to its teller in some way, and some even double back to tell stories that lead directly into tales already heard. By the time you reach the end you realize that no tale exists entirely by itself and that the key to the mystery and the solution to the story lies in remembering each tale. The crazy thing is that even as the book does this it appears on the outset to just be this sweet and simple children's story. Fair play to Lin's mad plotting skills then.
With its subdued cover and literary title, this is probably going to have to be one of those books that need to be talked up to get kids interested. The already existing Lin converts who ate up all her Pacy titles and devoured Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will naturally gravitate to the book anyway. For the others, it may take a little finagling. Fortunately a booktalk for this title basically writes itself. All you have to do is mention a boy with a mysterious path on the run, magic toads, bandits and kidnap attempts, thwarted lovers, tricking people into eating snails, and a mysterious being that moans in misery and pain but can only be heard by our hero and voila! Instant if not interest then curiosity.
When an author for children is good from the get-go it can sound like a bit of backhanded praise to say that they've improved over the years. Ms. Lin has always been an accomplished author and her plots have certainly always worked. Yet with Starry River of the Sky she cranks up the quality an additional notch or two. Perfectly planned and wholly original, she delivers her best novel for kids yet. It just works.
This wasn't part of the plan. Not the way he envisioned it, anyway. When Rendi hid in the wine merchant's traveling cart he naturally assumed it would take him somewhere big and populated. The last thing he expected was to be dumped in the middle-of-nowhere Village of Clear Sky. Now a chore boy in the only inn in the vicinity, Rendi takes his frustrations out on the inhabitants. It isn't until a mysterious and beautiful lady appears telling strange tales that he finds himself wrapped up in a mystery that may answer a twin problems: The location of the moon that disappeared several nights ago and the reason that only Rendi can hear unknown groans and moans on the night wind.
Though I knew walking in that the book wasn't going to be a sequel to Lin's Newbery Honor winning title Where the Mountain Meets the Moon I wasn't prepared for the overlapping elements that connect the two books. Interestingly both books have the same villain, though as before he is seen off-screen and mostly in retrospect. Magistrate Tiger isn't your standard stock villain, though. He has his moments of softness, if not goodness. These moments serve to make him far more interesting that the countless two-dimensional baddies that populate so many of our children's books. Other connections exist as well. The old man of the mountain with his book who was so sought after in "Where the Mountain" may indeed make an appearance in the second as well. And then there's a certain killer tiger . . .
As with Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (and even her works of realistic fiction, for that matter) Lin peppers her tale with classic Chinese folktales, adapted and reconstructed to serve the story. Yet unlike her other book Ms. Lin's stories here are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They all engage in a cyclical pattern. Seemingly unconnected at the start, every tale refers back to its teller in some way, and some even double back to tell stories that lead directly into tales already heard. By the time you reach the end you realize that no tale exists entirely by itself and that the key to the mystery and the solution to the story lies in remembering each tale. The crazy thing is that even as the book does this it appears on the outset to just be this sweet and simple children's story. Fair play to Lin's mad plotting skills then.
With its subdued cover and literary title, this is probably going to have to be one of those books that need to be talked up to get kids interested. The already existing Lin converts who ate up all her Pacy titles and devoured Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will naturally gravitate to the book anyway. For the others, it may take a little finagling. Fortunately a booktalk for this title basically writes itself. All you have to do is mention a boy with a mysterious path on the run, magic toads, bandits and kidnap attempts, thwarted lovers, tricking people into eating snails, and a mysterious being that moans in misery and pain but can only be heard by our hero and voila! Instant if not interest then curiosity.
When an author for children is good from the get-go it can sound like a bit of backhanded praise to say that they've improved over the years. Ms. Lin has always been an accomplished author and her plots have certainly always worked. Yet with Starry River of the Sky she cranks up the quality an additional notch or two. Perfectly planned and wholly original, she delivers her best novel for kids yet. It just works.
June 30, 2019
Grace Lin takes stories from Chinese Mythology and gives them her spin on the story. Our story is set in a remote village at an Inn, basically at the end of the Kingdom. A child has run away and found employment at an Inn. Then a fascinating women joins them. She is a story teller and she encourages Rendi, the boy, to tell a story for each one she tells. They tell many tales as the story goes on and we realize they somehow weave together.
The is a story of a magistrate and the story of a couple separated by seeking immortality. I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy mythology, then I think you will enjoy this story. I love Grace Lin's ability to spin a story and share her culture with the world. I love these myths and I think Grace has one more and I will find a way to read that one too.
The is a story of a magistrate and the story of a couple separated by seeking immortality. I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy mythology, then I think you will enjoy this story. I love Grace Lin's ability to spin a story and share her culture with the world. I love these myths and I think Grace has one more and I will find a way to read that one too.
November 4, 2012
Taiwanese workers have been fixing the leaking hot water pipes in our apartment. Custom is to not wear shoes inside apartments, but I cringe thinking they will slice open their foot on the shards of bricks, concrete and tiles scattered on the floor. I point to the tennis shoes I'm walking around in and say, "Okay... shoes." Then I give the thumbs up. They laugh and I noticed over the course of a week them eventually wearing shoes inside the apartment. While I like this custom of removing shoes, I think exceptions are okay too. The joy of living overseas is this sharing of cultures and I love how Grace Lin mixes Asian customs and blends cultures in a seamless way in her novels. This story takes Chinese folklore and weaves it into a storyline so masterfully that if you aren't familiar with them, you would think Lin made the stories up.
Rendi has run away from home and ends up in a remote village as a chore boy at an Inn. He is horribly angry with his father's choices. At the village Inn Rendi meets people who care about each other and who are also dealing with their own problems. Peiyi's mom has died. Master Chao fights with his neighbor, Widow Yang, and his son left after they had a horrible argument. MeiLan, Widow Yang's daughter, must secretly be friends with Peiyi and is in love with Master Chao's son. Mr. Shan is an old man who eats at the Inn every day and is getting more and more confused as the days go by. Worst of all the moon is missing and Rendi hears the night wind moaning and groaning so he can't sleep. When the mysterious Madame Chang arrives at the Inn she tells stories that not only entertain the guests but help heal their troubles. When Rendi joins in with his own stories he finds healing in a way he didn't expect.
Grace Lin's use of images such as prayer beads, dragon's pearl, lychees, peach symbol of longevity, and more, creates a setting rooted in Asian culture. Yet the themes are universal and abundant. Characters are searching for peace, acceptance, family, wisdom, belonging, and forgiveness. While this is mainly Rendi's story, she entangles all the stories in such a way that I found myself going back to reread what happened in a previous story because it applied to a future story. The complexity of how Lin interconnects these stories and characters makes for a terrific plot.
Those who read Lin's book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, will recognize Magistrate Tiger, the White tiger, and the old sage, but this story seemed more complex because of the plotting. Lin's character's are engaging and interesting from the tension caused by their internal changes. Rendi has to make choices on his attitude toward others, the way he wants to live his life, and decision to forgive others, and what it means to "return home." Rendi grows into a better person from his experiences and I can't help but think of my own life of living overseas, growing as an individual, and eventually "returning home."
There's a lot of Newbery buzz around this one. I can see why.
Reading level 5.8
Rendi has run away from home and ends up in a remote village as a chore boy at an Inn. He is horribly angry with his father's choices. At the village Inn Rendi meets people who care about each other and who are also dealing with their own problems. Peiyi's mom has died. Master Chao fights with his neighbor, Widow Yang, and his son left after they had a horrible argument. MeiLan, Widow Yang's daughter, must secretly be friends with Peiyi and is in love with Master Chao's son. Mr. Shan is an old man who eats at the Inn every day and is getting more and more confused as the days go by. Worst of all the moon is missing and Rendi hears the night wind moaning and groaning so he can't sleep. When the mysterious Madame Chang arrives at the Inn she tells stories that not only entertain the guests but help heal their troubles. When Rendi joins in with his own stories he finds healing in a way he didn't expect.
Grace Lin's use of images such as prayer beads, dragon's pearl, lychees, peach symbol of longevity, and more, creates a setting rooted in Asian culture. Yet the themes are universal and abundant. Characters are searching for peace, acceptance, family, wisdom, belonging, and forgiveness. While this is mainly Rendi's story, she entangles all the stories in such a way that I found myself going back to reread what happened in a previous story because it applied to a future story. The complexity of how Lin interconnects these stories and characters makes for a terrific plot.
Those who read Lin's book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, will recognize Magistrate Tiger, the White tiger, and the old sage, but this story seemed more complex because of the plotting. Lin's character's are engaging and interesting from the tension caused by their internal changes. Rendi has to make choices on his attitude toward others, the way he wants to live his life, and decision to forgive others, and what it means to "return home." Rendi grows into a better person from his experiences and I can't help but think of my own life of living overseas, growing as an individual, and eventually "returning home."
There's a lot of Newbery buzz around this one. I can see why.
Reading level 5.8
November 28, 2012
A modern retelling of traditional Chinese stories, this book is set in the same story world as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. It’s not a sequel (it’s set several hundred years before the other story), but it’s not exactly a prequel either, though a few characters figure prominently in both books.
The things I love about this book and the first are the same: Chinese mythology retold, that it's a story about storytelling, that young people make choices that make a big difference in their world. I also like the differences; the first book is a journey story; this one is a story about stasis (the inciting incident is the interruption or halting of a journey).
Starry River of the Sky also features a character who is a bit less likable at the start, and the story shows him learning to interact in positive ways with others. What hooked me into the first story was the main character; what hooked me into this one was trying to figure out who the main character is and what he is running away from.
I also like that Grace Lin doesn't take a definitive stance on the mythology, even between the two books, leaving things open to interpretation by the characters in the story, based off of the times in which they live.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a book about happiness and family. Starry River of the Sky is about forgiveness and responsibility. It's well worth the read. I'd definitely recommend it, and it's one I'll read with my children once they get a little older.
The things I love about this book and the first are the same: Chinese mythology retold, that it's a story about storytelling, that young people make choices that make a big difference in their world. I also like the differences; the first book is a journey story; this one is a story about stasis (the inciting incident is the interruption or halting of a journey).
Starry River of the Sky also features a character who is a bit less likable at the start, and the story shows him learning to interact in positive ways with others. What hooked me into the first story was the main character; what hooked me into this one was trying to figure out who the main character is and what he is running away from.
I also like that Grace Lin doesn't take a definitive stance on the mythology, even between the two books, leaving things open to interpretation by the characters in the story, based off of the times in which they live.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a book about happiness and family. Starry River of the Sky is about forgiveness and responsibility. It's well worth the read. I'd definitely recommend it, and it's one I'll read with my children once they get a little older.
February 7, 2017
Okay so this one was my third book for #diverseathon and I really enjoyed it! It has so many great elements to it specifically the inclusion of Chinese folklore. Here's what I specifically liked about the novel:
-Learning stories and legends associated with Chinese culture. I'm a huge fanatic of mythology and folklore so this book was definitely right up my alley.
-I enjoyed the characters. The main character Rendi was easy to relate to and although he had a touch time learning about himself and others, the reader is really given the opportunity to see him grow and appreciate those around him.
-I like that the folklore was infused around the main parts of the story, yet it had everything to do with how the story ended.
-The authors writing was clear, concise, and to the point and it was relatively easy to get through.
-This book contains full color illustrations which are absolutely beautiful.
-This is a good story for children who are learning what it means to heal through forgiveness. The main character is only comfortable with his life and those people in his life when he learns the importance of forgiveness.
Overall, I thought that this was a great book. I really really enjoyed the folklore associated with the book and I also really love the fact that the author provides the reader with additional reading about where she discovered these tales and how she adapted them. This is a great book if you looking to add a little diversity to your reading.
-Learning stories and legends associated with Chinese culture. I'm a huge fanatic of mythology and folklore so this book was definitely right up my alley.
-I enjoyed the characters. The main character Rendi was easy to relate to and although he had a touch time learning about himself and others, the reader is really given the opportunity to see him grow and appreciate those around him.
-I like that the folklore was infused around the main parts of the story, yet it had everything to do with how the story ended.
-The authors writing was clear, concise, and to the point and it was relatively easy to get through.
-This book contains full color illustrations which are absolutely beautiful.
-This is a good story for children who are learning what it means to heal through forgiveness. The main character is only comfortable with his life and those people in his life when he learns the importance of forgiveness.
Overall, I thought that this was a great book. I really really enjoyed the folklore associated with the book and I also really love the fact that the author provides the reader with additional reading about where she discovered these tales and how she adapted them. This is a great book if you looking to add a little diversity to your reading.
October 7, 2016
মূলত চাইনিজ রূপকথার গুলো আরেকরূপ কথার ভিতরে ঢুকিয়ে পরিবেশন করা হয়েছে।
একটা প্রবাদ আছে প্রথমে দেখব দুয়ারী তারপর গুন বিচারী। দেখা দেখির বিচারে এই বইটা ভালই এগিয়ে আছে। প্রচ্ছদ, ভিতরের ইলাস্ট্রশন সবই অসাধারন।
বিশেষত ইলাস্ট্রেশন গুলা অসাধারন।
গুনি বিচা��ের দিকে প্রথমে কিছুটা পিছিয়ে ছিল কারন হল অসম্ভব ধীরগতির শুরু।
তবে কিছুটা দূর যেতে পারলে ভালই লাগবে।
রূপকথার ব্যাপারে আরেকটা জিনি��� হল রূপকথা সব বয়সে ভাল নাও লাগতে পারে। আরব্যরজনী এর রূপকথা গুলো যেমন ছেলে বুড়ো সবাইকে মুগ্ধ করতে পারে এই বইটার বেলায় সেটা বলা যাচ্ছে না।বইটা পাঠকের টেস্ট বাডের উপরে ডিপেন্ড করছে। তবে মূলত ১৪-১৫ বয়স পর্যন্ত সবারই ভাল লাগবে।
ঘর পালানো ছেলে রেন্ডির গল্প। ঘর পালিয়ে সে আশ্রয় নেয় সরাইকারখানায় সেখানেই এক মেয়ে চ্যাংগ তাকে রেন্ডি আর সরাইকারখানায় মালিকের মেয়েকে গল্প শোনায়, চাইনিজ রূপকথার গল্প। বিনিময়ে রেন্ডিকেও গল্প শোনাতে হয়।
এই চাইনিজ রুপকথা হল গল্পের ভিতরে গল্প। আসল গল্পটা রেন্ডির কেন সে ঘর পালালো। কেন সে ছাড়া কেউ আর রাতের আকাশের আর্তনাদ শুনতে পায় না। শুধু মাত্র রেন্ডিই কেন চাঁদ হারানো আকাশের আর্তনাদ শোনে।
বইয়ের প্রথম কিছুটা অংশ টেনে টুনে চলেছি কিন্তু এর পরেই জোনাকি এর অনবদ্য বর্ননা পুরো মন গলায় দিছে। এক সময় জোনাকির উপরে ক্রাশ খেয়েছিলাম।
এক পাশে কর্ণফুলী নদী, মাঝেখানে নেভাল একাডেমির রাস্তা , রাস্তার অন্যপাশে জোনাকির মেলা। হটাত করে দেখলে মনে হয় পুরো আকাশটা যেন নেমে এসেছে। এই দৃশ্য আসলে ভাষায় প্রকাশ করা সম্ভব না।তখন ঠিক করেছিলাম প্রিয় কাউকে নিয়ে এই জায়গায় আবার আসব। সমস্যা হল বাংলাদেশে এখন হারিকেন দিয়ে খুজলেও জোনাকি পোকার দেখা মিলবে না।
স্টারি রিভার অফ স্কাই সেই জোনাকি পোকা দেখার অসাধারন অনুভুতিটা ফিরিয়ে এনেছে।
এবং এর পর থেকেই উপন্যাসটা গতি পেয়েছে। চাইনিজ লোকগাথা এক নজরে দেখার জন্য অসাধারন বই।
শুরুর দিকের জন্য ৩অথবা৩.৫ পেলেও পরের অংশটুকুর জন্য অনায়াসে ৪দিয়ে ফেলা যায়।
কারো চাইনিজ রুপকথা জানতে ইচ্ছা হলে এই বইটা পড়ে দেখতে পারেন। সাথে বোনাস হিসাবে থাকবে আকাশের চাঁদের কি হল রেন্ডি কেন ঘর পালালো সব কিছুর বিস্তারিত বর্ননা।
একটা প্রবাদ আছে প্রথমে দেখব দুয়ারী তারপর গুন বিচারী। দেখা দেখির বিচারে এই বইটা ভালই এগিয়ে আছে। প্রচ্ছদ, ভিতরের ইলাস্ট্রশন সবই অসাধারন।
বিশেষত ইলাস্ট্রেশন গুলা অসাধারন।
গুনি বিচা��ের দিকে প্রথমে কিছুটা পিছিয়ে ছিল কারন হল অসম্ভব ধীরগতির শুরু।
তবে কিছুটা দূর যেতে পারলে ভালই লাগবে।
রূপকথার ব্যাপারে আরেকটা জিনি��� হল রূপকথা সব বয়সে ভাল নাও লাগতে পারে। আরব্যরজনী এর রূপকথা গুলো যেমন ছেলে বুড়ো সবাইকে মুগ্ধ করতে পারে এই বইটার বেলায় সেটা বলা যাচ্ছে না।বইটা পাঠকের টেস্ট বাডের উপরে ডিপেন্ড করছে। তবে মূলত ১৪-১৫ বয়স পর্যন্ত সবারই ভাল লাগবে।
ঘর পালানো ছেলে রেন্ডির গল্প। ঘর পালিয়ে সে আশ্রয় নেয় সরাইকারখানায় সেখানেই এক মেয়ে চ্যাংগ তাকে রেন্ডি আর সরাইকারখানায় মালিকের মেয়েকে গল্প শোনায়, চাইনিজ রূপকথার গল্প। বিনিময়ে রেন্ডিকেও গল্প শোনাতে হয়।
এই চাইনিজ রুপকথা হল গল্পের ভিতরে গল্প। আসল গল্পটা রেন্ডির কেন সে ঘর পালালো। কেন সে ছাড়া কেউ আর রাতের আকাশের আর্তনাদ শুনতে পায় না। শুধু মাত্র রেন্ডিই কেন চাঁদ হারানো আকাশের আর্তনাদ শোনে।
বইয়ের প্রথম কিছুটা অংশ টেনে টুনে চলেছি কিন্তু এর পরেই জোনাকি এর অনবদ্য বর্ননা পুরো মন গলায় দিছে। এক সময় জোনাকির উপরে ক্রাশ খেয়েছিলাম।
এক পাশে কর্ণফুলী নদী, মাঝেখানে নেভাল একাডেমির রাস্তা , রাস্তার অন্যপাশে জোনাকির মেলা। হটাত করে দেখলে মনে হয় পুরো আকাশটা যেন নেমে এসেছে। এই দৃশ্য আসলে ভাষায় প্রকাশ করা সম্ভব না।তখন ঠিক করেছিলাম প্রিয় কাউকে নিয়ে এই জায়গায় আবার আসব। সমস্যা হল বাংলাদেশে এখন হারিকেন দিয়ে খুজলেও জোনাকি পোকার দেখা মিলবে না।
স্টারি রিভার অফ স্কাই সেই জোনাকি পোকা দেখার অসাধারন অনুভুতিটা ফিরিয়ে এনেছে।
এবং এর পর থেকেই উপন্যাসটা গতি পেয়েছে। চাইনিজ লোকগাথা এক নজরে দেখার জন্য অসাধারন বই।
শুরুর দিকের জন্য ৩অথবা৩.৫ পেলেও পরের অংশটুকুর জন্য অনায়াসে ৪দিয়ে ফেলা যায়।
কারো চাইনিজ রুপকথা জানতে ইচ্ছা হলে এই বইটা পড়ে দেখতে পারেন। সাথে বোনাস হিসাবে থাকবে আকাশের চাঁদের কি হল রেন্ডি কেন ঘর পালালো সব কিছুর বিস্তারিত বর্ননা।
December 27, 2017
Although not a direct sequel to Where the Mountain meets the Moon, Starry River of the Sky has enough overlapping elements that readers of Lin's early work will recognize and love.
Lin reimagines and reshapes Chinese folktales and combines them with gorgeous illustrations to create a beautifully written story of tales within tales. I ADORED the way this book was written! It's both simply written and extremely poetic at the same time. Its strong themes of revenge and forgiveness is perfectly captured in the story of a young boy who leaves his family and learns how to find both love and forgiveness in a small, remote village.
I highly recommend this book and Lin's writing in general. An wonderful middle grade novel.
Lin reimagines and reshapes Chinese folktales and combines them with gorgeous illustrations to create a beautifully written story of tales within tales. I ADORED the way this book was written! It's both simply written and extremely poetic at the same time. Its strong themes of revenge and forgiveness is perfectly captured in the story of a young boy who leaves his family and learns how to find both love and forgiveness in a small, remote village.
I highly recommend this book and Lin's writing in general. An wonderful middle grade novel.
March 8, 2016
رود پرستاره آسمان، كتابي جذابه كه نوجوون ها قطعا دوستش خواهند داشت.
به پيشنهاد يكي از دوستام خوندمش، خيلي روون هست كتاب و آدم رو تا اخر داستان ميكشه. براي من دونستن حكايت هاي چيني خيلي هيجان انگيزه اونم به زبوني كاملا ساده و روون. من دوسش داشتم و باهش ارتباط برقرار كردم. مخصوصا اون قسمتي كه ميگه رمز رسيدن به آرامش، بخشش و گذشت هست!
به پيشنهاد يكي از دوستام خوندمش، خيلي روون هست كتاب و آدم رو تا اخر داستان ميكشه. براي من دونستن حكايت هاي چيني خيلي هيجان انگيزه اونم به زبوني كاملا ساده و روون. من دوسش داشتم و باهش ارتباط برقرار كردم. مخصوصا اون قسمتي كه ميگه رمز رسيدن به آرامش، بخشش و گذشت هست!
November 14, 2012
Review by Karen, intended for young readers:
I have a very important tip for you: the next time you have a cross-country flight and you’re looking for the perfect book to keep you entertained — make you chuckle, make your eyes well up with tears, make the time pass ridiculously quickly — choose Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin.
Of course, it’s always a risk to pack just one book for a long plane ride because what if you hate it from the first chapter and you’re stuck reading the Skymall magazine in your seatback pocket instead? Not to worry, in this case! I started reading the book as we sat on the runway and I was hooked right away. And once I started, I read it straight through until I finished. I couldn’t even put it down during the take-off when I usually close my eyes because I get a headache from the plane going at an angle!
The book tells the story of Rendi, a runaway boy who gets stuck in a teeny village, working alongside a family that owns the local inn. While he plots his departure, he gets to know the village residents and the mysterious woman staying at the inn — and so do you. And you’ll probably get to wondering: Could they all be connected to the fact that the moon is missing and the sky seems to cry? What in their history is coming back to haunt them? What secrets are they hiding? And what are they revealing in the stories they tell to pass the time?
Variations on Chinese folk tales play a big role in this book, but the story never feels dull OR overly fantastical. There’s an element of magic, but it’s really a story about the human heart — and how one boy changes the lives of everyone in the town.
So, what makes this book so good? That’s actually kind of hard to explain, because the book is a quiet sort of book and sneaks up on you. Maybe that’s part of it — it’s not loud and big and in-your-face, so it affects you in a much gentler way. Since I lurve food, I’d say it’s like a complex blended soup: comforting and easy to eat, but the more you consume, the more you start tasting and enjoying all the hidden flavors from the ingredients you can’t see.
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
I have a very important tip for you: the next time you have a cross-country flight and you’re looking for the perfect book to keep you entertained — make you chuckle, make your eyes well up with tears, make the time pass ridiculously quickly — choose Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin.
Of course, it’s always a risk to pack just one book for a long plane ride because what if you hate it from the first chapter and you’re stuck reading the Skymall magazine in your seatback pocket instead? Not to worry, in this case! I started reading the book as we sat on the runway and I was hooked right away. And once I started, I read it straight through until I finished. I couldn’t even put it down during the take-off when I usually close my eyes because I get a headache from the plane going at an angle!
The book tells the story of Rendi, a runaway boy who gets stuck in a teeny village, working alongside a family that owns the local inn. While he plots his departure, he gets to know the village residents and the mysterious woman staying at the inn — and so do you. And you’ll probably get to wondering: Could they all be connected to the fact that the moon is missing and the sky seems to cry? What in their history is coming back to haunt them? What secrets are they hiding? And what are they revealing in the stories they tell to pass the time?
Variations on Chinese folk tales play a big role in this book, but the story never feels dull OR overly fantastical. There’s an element of magic, but it’s really a story about the human heart — and how one boy changes the lives of everyone in the town.
So, what makes this book so good? That’s actually kind of hard to explain, because the book is a quiet sort of book and sneaks up on you. Maybe that’s part of it — it’s not loud and big and in-your-face, so it affects you in a much gentler way. Since I lurve food, I’d say it’s like a complex blended soup: comforting and easy to eat, but the more you consume, the more you start tasting and enjoying all the hidden flavors from the ingredients you can’t see.
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
October 11, 2016
I love Lin's writing. I love the beautiful stories woven together and the themes that feature in her work. My children loved noticing the connections between Starry River of the Sky and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. We listened to this on CD, and the reader does a great job. Lessons to remember: the way to peace is forgiveness. You can choose to be fierce like a tiger or calm and kind...no matter who your parent is or what your background.
A few great quotes: "If a listener truly understands, he can hear what others cannot."
"It is better to light a lantern than to bemoan the darkness."
"Sometimes the best decision is a painful one, but it is never made out of anger."
"Instead of losing his unhappiness, he lost himself and the things he held dearest."
A few great quotes: "If a listener truly understands, he can hear what others cannot."
"It is better to light a lantern than to bemoan the darkness."
"Sometimes the best decision is a painful one, but it is never made out of anger."
"Instead of losing his unhappiness, he lost himself and the things he held dearest."
February 11, 2023
The main character is a young boy named Rendi who is seeking to find Peace. He is troubled by the disappearance of the moon and mysterious moans from the night sky which no one else seems to notice or hear. In an attempt to run away ( we don't learn what he is running away from at first), he stows away in a cart but when he is discovered he gets stranded in the tiny village of Clear Sky where he then works as a chore boy.
A mysterious lady appears and begins telling stories that help to solve various problems and mysteries. The stories contain elements of Chinese folklore and legends but are woven into the story in the book.
A mysterious lady appears and begins telling stories that help to solve various problems and mysteries. The stories contain elements of Chinese folklore and legends but are woven into the story in the book.
May 14, 2012
Feel so honored to read this book. Looking forward to sharing it with students and friends for years to come. Perfect stand-alone story with rich folktale mixture intertwined with the most beautiful story with rich character development. Cannot wait to read it again when it is officially published with all the illustrations richly in color as the treasure of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon!
June 29, 2021
I started my year of by reading this one and I might've loved it more than I did the first time I read it.
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I got a little bit confused when it came to the character's and who's who in this one, but I still liked it a lot. And I loved seeing how all of these stories are interwoven with each other.
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I got a little bit confused when it came to the character's and who's who in this one, but I still liked it a lot. And I loved seeing how all of these stories are interwoven with each other.
December 6, 2015
I absolutely loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and this book did not disappoint. I do feel it moved a little slower as it took place in one location, rather than on a journey. However, each character and story told within was just as unique and riveting as it's companion.
July 23, 2017
Another beautiful book by Grace Lin. I love the way she weaves folk tales into her story.
November 21, 2012
Rendi has run away from home – gone as far as he can to be away from his father, Magistrate Tiger as he possibly can. His father, hoping to become an important man, bullies everyone around him with his arrogant and dishonest challenges. His tricks and plans seem to get him what he wants, but Rendi cannot bear to be part of the deceit. Although it means leaving his mother and sister behind, Rendi’s anger at being used and discarded gets the best of him and he set off. His journey brings him to the City of Clear Sky. He finds a job as chore boy in the Inn and here questions and stories unfold around him. They make him wonder about choices - his choices. Where has the innkeeper’s son gone? Is Peiyi angry or sad? Why is she concerned about leaving? Why do neighbors argue, when working together they could find a solution? Is it possible that Mr. Shan cannot tell the difference between a rabbit and a toad? Where is the moon and why does no one else notice it is missing? And mostly, what is the sound, the crying and haunts Rendi everywhere he goes?
An elegant lady comes to the Inn and Reyndi wonders why she has chosen to stay there. At once enchanted by her stories and the ease she brings to their lives, Rendi begins to understand that people are revealed by the stories they tell. He learns that many stories can be understood different ways – one story may have as many different meanings as there are listeners. Finally Rendi’s questions are answered and he knows what he must do.
Readers of Starry River to the Sky will smile as they discover how the threads from each story told are woven together to create a rich tapestry combining China’s ancient tales with our contemporary lives to create a new, completely satisfying story challenge, friendship and love. Mountains, the moon, toads and journeys play an important role in Grace Lin’s new book – a companion to When the Mountain Meets the Moon. You’re sure to love to journey as you begin to wonder what you reveal through the stories you share and tell.
An elegant lady comes to the Inn and Reyndi wonders why she has chosen to stay there. At once enchanted by her stories and the ease she brings to their lives, Rendi begins to understand that people are revealed by the stories they tell. He learns that many stories can be understood different ways – one story may have as many different meanings as there are listeners. Finally Rendi’s questions are answered and he knows what he must do.
Readers of Starry River to the Sky will smile as they discover how the threads from each story told are woven together to create a rich tapestry combining China’s ancient tales with our contemporary lives to create a new, completely satisfying story challenge, friendship and love. Mountains, the moon, toads and journeys play an important role in Grace Lin’s new book – a companion to When the Mountain Meets the Moon. You’re sure to love to journey as you begin to wonder what you reveal through the stories you share and tell.
March 17, 2016
I have been eagerly awaiting this new title from Grace Lin, half-fearful that I'd be disappointed because of my high expectations for it and half-gleeful because I assumed it would transport me to a time and place far from today and allow me to forget my own cares and woes. My fears were foundless since the author does not fail to delight. I was transported to the remote village of Clear Sky where Rendi has ended up working as a chore boy for a local innkeeper. I was enchanted by Madame Chang and Mr. Shan and the toad that was removed from the well. While some readers may feel annoyed at the stories, bits of Chinese folklore shaped slightly for a modern audience, that interrupt the main narrative, I was charmed by the stories, and as in the case of the companion novel, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and appreciated the added layer the stories gave to the entire book. The power of story and its ability to alter lives or to help us see ourselves and those around us more clearly has never been more evident than in this delightful book filled with life lessons. The way the book is tied together, with story after story adding to a reader's understanding of what the problem is with the moon and why Rendi has run away from home, is masterful and sure to hold the attention of most readers.
January 20, 2013
Rendi runs away from home after a bitter dispute with his father, ultimately being taken in by an innkeeper as a chore boy. As Rendi gets to know the innkeeper and his daughter and exchanges stories with the inn's mysterious guests, he is troubled by haunting moans in the night that only he seems able to hear. To make matters more perplexing, the moon seems to have disappeared from the heavens--and no one in the Village of Clear Sky appears to care. The innkeeper is far too consumed by his own problems--a missing son, and a centuries-old squabble with his neighbor--to notice. Does Rendi have what it takes to solve these many puzzles?
Lin draws upon Asian mythology and folklore to craft an original tale set in a rural China imbued with a long-ago feel. This lyrically written companion novel to "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" is a beautiful exercise in book-making, complete with gorgeous illustrations by the author. The prose is peppered with apt examples of similes, metaphors, and personification, making this book an excellent choice for sharing in middle-grade classrooms engaged in studies of literary elements. Short chapters propel the story along at a swift pace, further rendering it a novel well-suited for reading outloud.
Lin draws upon Asian mythology and folklore to craft an original tale set in a rural China imbued with a long-ago feel. This lyrically written companion novel to "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" is a beautiful exercise in book-making, complete with gorgeous illustrations by the author. The prose is peppered with apt examples of similes, metaphors, and personification, making this book an excellent choice for sharing in middle-grade classrooms engaged in studies of literary elements. Short chapters propel the story along at a swift pace, further rendering it a novel well-suited for reading outloud.
August 5, 2016
As much as I loved the companion novel, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, this one wasn't as well executed. There was less to the main plot, and so the folklore stories felt a little forced. These moralistic stories kept popping up frequently, too frequently, and served to disrupt, rather than enhance, the main plot.
I did love the cultural elements, the power of forgiveness and the main character - who was believable and endearing. But there was something missing, the magic just wasn't there. It was pleasant to read, but I probably won't do so again.
I did love the cultural elements, the power of forgiveness and the main character - who was believable and endearing. But there was something missing, the magic just wasn't there. It was pleasant to read, but I probably won't do so again.
May 19, 2017
I remember reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and feeling very happy. This one sure made me felt the same. Modern retelling of old myths dan fairy tales, intertwined each other and made up the big story of the book. All light and warm, and carrying powerful message of forgiveness. The illustrations also unique and pretty.
Love it. Love it. LOVE IT.
Love it. Love it. LOVE IT.
May 15, 2015
Really good book! There are so many Chinese myths and legends woven into the story. Information was revealed bit by bit along the way, which kept it interesting. There are so many hints about what would come scattered throughout the book, so it also felt like reading this book was like playing a scavenger hunt game! There are many clever name choices and so forth in this book. Definitely would recommend it!
March 12, 2018
A boy runs away from home and finds ends up as a helper boy at the town of Clear Sky's inn. But something's not right here - the moon is gone from the sky, Rendi can hear someone moaning every night, and everyone seems to be hiding something about their true identity.
Lin's storytelling abilities are spectacular, and her way of spinning stories within stories and connecting them all together is wonderful. Definitely recommended, as the writing is as magical as the stories themselves.
Lin's storytelling abilities are spectacular, and her way of spinning stories within stories and connecting them all together is wonderful. Definitely recommended, as the writing is as magical as the stories themselves.
June 21, 2017
Unlike "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," which felt like it was full of optimism and goodness and adventure, thanks to the bold and kind-hearted main character and her crazy quest, this book was more of a downer. Everybody was whining or moaning (including the "sky"), and the main character was stuck in one place being ineffectual.
August 11, 2018
Still well-written and with some good emotional beats, but underwhelming and oddly small compared to its predecessor. The passivity of the protagonist and the scattershot nature of the themes do a lot to get in the way of what could've been an interesting, unusual story, failing where the first book succeeded.
May 15, 2015
I rate this book a 3.5
Personally I found the book quite boring in the beginning. But as the story went on, it was pretty fun to figure out the small mysteries hidden into the story. The ending was my favorite part. :D
Personally I found the book quite boring in the beginning. But as the story went on, it was pretty fun to figure out the small mysteries hidden into the story. The ending was my favorite part. :D
April 5, 2019
This was even more beautiful than I was expecting. I love the importance given to storytelling, and the sometimes unexpected way these characters and storylines intersected.
This book left me with such a feeling of warmth and love and peace.
This book left me with such a feeling of warmth and love and peace.
May 15, 2015
I think this book was very interesting, but it wouldn't be my first choice. The overall story was touching and deep.
May 15, 2015
The book was okay, the book was based in China, but the book actually feels more American then Chinese.
August 22, 2016
A little slow to start in comparison with its companion novel, Where The Mountain Meets The Moon; however, the ending is just as satisfying, and Lin's illustrations remain a delight.
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