Knowledge is powerful, but it is a terrible power when it is hoarded and hidden.
Introduction
In the realm of contemporary children's literature, where stories often oscillate between light-hearted fantasy and moral allegory, Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon stands as a luminous example of both. Published in 2016, this Newbery Medal-winning novel captures the hearts of readers through its intricate world-building, rich character development, and an emotionally resonant narrative that transcends age categories. Barnhill has crafted a fairy tale that is not only enchanting but also profound, weaving together themes of love, loss, power, and the often misunderstood nature of magic. This review looks into the novel’s plot, thematic depth, and its overall impact, offering a comprehensive analysis of why The Girl Who Drank the Moon deserves its place in the annals of great children's literature.
Synopsis
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is set in a world divided by fear and misunderstanding. The Protectorate, a small, sorrowful town, lives under the shadow of an oppressive tradition: every year, the town's elders sacrifice the youngest child to the witch who lives in the forest. This ritual is believed to keep the witch from destroying the town, though the townspeople are unaware that the true horror lies in the manipulation and lies perpetuated by the elders, particularly the malevolent Grand Elder Gherland and the enigmatic Sister Ignatia.
The witch in question, Xan, is far from the monstrous figure the town believes her to be. Instead, she is a compassionate and wise old woman who has been rescuing the sacrificed children for years, carrying them across the forest to be adopted by loving families in other towns. However, one year, Xan accidentally feeds one of the children moonlight instead of starlight, infusing her with extraordinary magical powers. This child, whom Xan names Luna, becomes the focal point of the story.
As Luna grows, her uncontrolled magic becomes increasingly dangerous, leading Xan to bind the magic within her until she is old enough to manage it. Meanwhile, Luna's mother, driven mad with grief after the loss of her child, is imprisoned by the elders, and a young man named Antain, who questions the morality of the annual sacrifices, embarks on a journey that will eventually lead him to Luna and the truth about the witch and the Protectorate.
The story crescendos to a climactic confrontation involving Xan, Luna, Antain, and Sister Ignatia, revealing the true source of the Protectorate's misery and the power of love, memory, and forgiveness to heal even the deepest wounds.
Thematic Analysis
One of the most compelling aspects of The Girl Who Drank the Moon is its exploration of the nature of power and the consequences of its misuse. The novel presents various forms of power: magical, political, and emotional, and examines how they can be wielded for both good and ill. Xan’s magical power, though immense, is always used with care and compassion, in stark contrast to Sister Ignatia's manipulation and consumption of sorrow to sustain her own life. This dichotomy between Xan and Sister Ignatia serves as a powerful commentary on the ethical responsibilities that come with power. While Xan nurtures and protects, Ignatia exploits and destroys, highlighting the novel's central message about the importance of how power is used rather than the power itself.
Memory and the past also play crucial roles in the novel’s thematic structure. The story is replete with characters haunted by memories—Xan's memories of her long life, Luna's forgotten magic, and the Protectorate's collective memory of the sacrifice. These memories shape their actions and decisions, underscoring the novel's meditation on the ways in which the past can imprison or liberate individuals and communities. Luna's journey, in particular, is a quest to reclaim her memories and, in doing so, her true self. This reclamation is paralleled by the town's eventual confrontation with the truth about the sacrifices, leading to a collective healing and the breaking of a cycle of sorrow.
Love, in its many forms, is another central theme in The Girl Who Drank the Moon. The love between Xan and Luna is the emotional heart of the novel, portrayed with tenderness and depth. Their bond, though strained by the secrets Xan keeps and the magic Luna cannot control, ultimately proves to be a source of strength and redemption. Similarly, the love of Luna’s birth mother, who despite her madness never ceases to yearn for her lost daughter, and Antain's love for his wife and future child, drive much of the plot’s tension and resolution. Barnhill uses these relationships to explore the transformative power of love—its ability to protect, to endure, and to heal even the deepest wounds.
The novel also dives into the theme of sacrifice, questioning the morality of traditions and rituals that demand such acts. The Protectorate's annual sacrifice of its children is a chilling representation of how fear can be manipulated by those in power to control and subjugate. However, the novel also suggests that true sacrifice is not about loss but about giving for the sake of others. Xan sacrifices her safety and comfort to protect Luna and the other children, and Antain is willing to risk everything to end the town’s cycle of sorrow. Through these characters, Barnhill offers a nuanced view of sacrifice as an act of love rather than an act of fear.
Finally, the novel addresses the concept of identity, particularly through Luna's character. As a child infused with magic, Luna struggles to understand who she is and where she belongs. Her journey is one of self-discovery, of coming to terms with her powers and the legacy of her past. This theme resonates with readers of all ages, as it touches on the universal quest for identity and purpose.
Conclusion
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a masterful blend of fantasy and moral inquiry, offering readers not just an enchanting tale, but also a deep exploration of themes that resonate far beyond the pages of the book. Kelly Barnhill's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting a world that is both familiar and fantastical, populated by characters who are complex, flawed, and deeply human.
The novel's strength lies in its ability to weave together these thematic threads into a cohesive and compelling narrative. Whether it is the exploration of power and its consequences, the enduring strength of love, or the reclaiming of memory and identity, Barnhill handles each with a deftness that belies the novel’s classification as a work for children. Indeed, The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a book that can be appreciated by readers of all ages, offering layers of meaning that invite reflection long after the last page is turned.
In the end, the novel is a celebration of hope and resilience, of the belief that even in the darkest of times, love and truth will ultimately prevail. It is a reminder that while the past may shape us, it does not have to define us, and that we all have the power to change our stories. The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a timeless tale that will continue to inspire and enchant readers for generations to come, earning its place as a modern classic in the world of children's literature.