I like when you read a book and think, “Yes, I see why this won an award.” The Newbery was very well deserved in this case.

In The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, Xan is a witch in the forest. She is loved by the townsfolk on one side, and feared by the other. The latter believes they must sacrifice a child each year to appease her; but Xan, unaware of their reasoning, rescues the babies and finds them new homes in the other cities. She feeds each baby starlight to give them a hint of magic, ensuring a good life. But when she accidentally feeds one baby moonlight, thus giving her far more power, she decides to raise the child herself. So the baby, Luna, grows up with Xan, the small dragon Fyrian, and the swamp monster Glerk as her family. As Luna gets older, though, her magic manifests strongly, and Xan fears for her own survival as she is drained of strength. Meanwhile, in the city Luna came from, the authorities have a stranglehold on the people thanks to their fear-mongering about the witch. So when one citizen decides to eliminate the threat of the witch, Luna has to face the reality of who she is and what she can do in order to protect those she loves.

I’ve read several books by Kelly Barnhill so far, and the more I do, the more I wonder why it took me so long to discover her. She’s so talented at spinning a magical, atmospheric world that’s as rife with peril and sharper edges as it is full of whimsy and comfort.

I really liked the setting of this, a vast forest and various neighboring towns. The way the people have such differing attitudes and views, especially toward magic, felt realistic and layered. And the characters are excellent. I loved this strange little family of beings, from tiny sweet Fyrian to grumpy but affectionate Glerk. Luna is lovely, too, full of youthful wonder but also a seriousness that makes her a great protagonist.

As for Antain, the young man in Luna’s original village, his storyline was fantastic. I loved how it ended up intertwining with everything else in the plot. And Xan’s backstory too was cleverly incorporated. This aspect was particularly moving; memory and secrets are a major theme here. The way Barnhill explores both is wonderful. Really, this book is about the power of stories, but also about the dark power of secrets. Barnhill demonstrates that even secrets kept to protect someone can cause harm, can cause people to not truly know themselves fully. And the truth, even one that’s difficult to face or that will incite major change, is always better out in the open. There’s probably a commentary on censorship I could pick out here, but that’s just one former English major’s interpretation. I bet I could write a decent essay on that theme’s portrayal in this book, but I’ll spare all of you.

In the end, this is one of those novels that feels like it’s good for any age, and proves that “children’s” literature isn’t just for children. We all need stories like this. The author doesn’t talk down to her intended audience (middle grade), but also does show that there is a good spirit in humanity, despite the harshness that sometimes arises in life. The characters are delightful, with some fun banter and genuine heart. This book is a fairytale that’s sometimes dark and dangerous, but ultimately full of light and love. I really enjoyed it, and I think by now I need to accept that Kelly Barnhill is on my list of “I need to read everything they’ve written.” She’s so talented!