I absolutely loved this book, beautifully written. Then, my mind suddenly shouted, How about that book from the library? I bolted to get the book and started to read. Grace went on a blog tour for her book. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. She supported herself designing for a party company, two years contributing to the worlds landfills as she puts it, until her first book was published. As she debates what to do, she looks down at the Book of Fortune on the Old Mans lap and sees that he has added in the paper she received from the king. Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). When Minli finds Dragon, it cant fly and is caught up in some ropes. Sift (A) into a mixing bowl. The goal of this activity is to have students engage with the text through a series of focused questions listed by chapter and page in Worksheet 1. That is, does it have a beginning, a middle, and an end? (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. The Old Man instructs Minli to remove a rock on Dragons head it has been keeping Dragon from flight. Illustrate this character3. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. date the date you are citing the material. who have not yet read the book get excited and ALL have a great time! In the book, what were many suggestions about the word that was written on the paper the Magistrate wantedthe secret of happiness. The meaning of that gift can only be revealed by reading the book. Two destinies at stake. In moments, he disappeared from view into the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, and if it wasn't for the goldfish Minli had in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon study guide contains a biography of Grace Lin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. In the book "Games at Twilight", what details do you notice that show this story is not taking place in the United States? Create a character map for the major characters. Mix well, a soft dough should form. Have you explained how you felt when you had met the challenge? When he lands, he says that he feels like he is home. Jade Dragons four children took pity on the people and transformed their bodies into great rivers to nourish the land. The elder of the family gave up the secret readily. However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. Still, real life faces everyone with difficult challenges that require courage and ingenuity. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Worksheet 2. This strong-willed, young Chinese girl lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain and decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. their work. What benefits did they get from the stories? Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. Eventually she decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. But the stories that the dad told I did like and it added more fun to the book and made me want to finish it. He is tied up with some ropes, so Minli cuts him free. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. Her mother, Ma, complains that these stories are foolish and harmful. He tells her that she must hurry up and ask what she wants to know. Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. Tell students that before they write the story, they are going to practice the skill of using vivid language. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. Then ask what they think of when they see each of these words and phrases: crowded; faded brown; coax the rice; tramping and stooping; dried mud. Use your hands and roll the dough into small balls (about 1 tsp. This summer I finally able to purchase the book and re-read it a third time. Part 1. The performance starred Caroline Workman as Minli, Michael Tow as Storyteller/ Minli's Ba, and was directed by Jane Staab. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. Every day, the family works in. Despite her mothers disapproval of stories and dreaming, Minli gathers her courage, her resourcefulness, and her openness to new people and places, to take a remarkable journey to accomplish the impossible. Write the definition of a frame story on the board (a main story which has other stories contained within it) and have them copy the definition in their notebooks. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. Have students write a paragraph or more using the following prompt: Your values are your principles, the things that you hold to be important in life. Essay Topics. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. eNotes.com He wrote a single word on a sheet of paper, but the magistrates soldiers lost it on the way home. The cellar was dark and kind of creepy. When her parents find out she is gone, they try to look for her, but are stopped by the goldfish seller, who tells them to trust Minli. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. 2023 . "Bringing fortune to our house! My mom and I first read it as part of my Sonlight curriculum and we loved it. Much to the displeasure of Ma, Minli spends her precious money on a goldfish. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Using the borrowed line of text and the line of destiny, the adventurers stitch a kite that stretches into a bridge, and Minli goes on alone to meet the Old Man of the Moon. At the onset of the quest, she meets Dragon. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Remind them that to be a narrative, a story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. One exceptionally effective way of conducting a critical discussion is by the Socratic seminar method which is increasingly popular. The questions focus exclusively on the frame story of Minlis travels, giving students first-hand experience with frame story analysis. With the help of a buffalo boy, Minli tracks down the King. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. You may wish to use these tales for additional literature or composition study. I would recommend this book for children from age 9 to 99. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Then do the same for high ground: mountain, hill, crag, and slope. It also suggests something valuable; The black mountain seems ominous and threatening; The fact that the mountain cut the sky like a jagged piece of rough metal suggests that it is harsh and perhaps dangerous. Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. The single line of text upon it is usually unreadable, but sometimes during historically important moments, the words are intelligibleand they always say something different. Numerous collections of Chinese folktales can also be accessed through the library. Minli remains silent, absorbing this new information. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary. Have students tell the story of their challenge and how they met it. (for grades 3-6), 2010 Newbery Honor NY Times Bestseller (Feb 4th, March 14th 2010) IndieBound Bestseller 2010 Bank Street College of Education Josette Frank Award 2010 Indies Choice Book Awards Finalist For Middle Reader Book of the Year Al Rokers TODAY Show Kids Book Club Pick, December 2009 2010 Mythopeic Fantasy Award for Childrens Literature Starred Kirkus Review Starred School & Library Journal Review Starred Booklist Review Booklist Top 10 SF/Fantasy for Youth:2009 2009 Parents Choice Gold Winner 2010 CCBC Choices List 2010 EB White Read-Aloud Honor Book 2010 Massachusetts Book Award for Childrens/Young Adult Literature, I dont think that, in the fourteen years I have worked as a childrens bookseller and the 16 years I have been a mother buying books for her children, I have ever seen such a magnificently illustrated, beautiful gem of a book hit the shelves. Tanya from Books4yourkids.com, This is a flawless little gem of a book, written in a straightforward, warm tone that always has a hint of a smile in itThere is a lovely sense of satisfaction as one link after another is connected, until the entire shape of the book is revealed like a Chinese knot seemingly complicated yet pleasing and harmonious. Eva from Evas Book Addiction, Booklist*Starred Review* In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means quick thinking, lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him. A battle between the Green Tiger and Dragon ensues, and Dragon is mortally wounded. Ma and Ba say that Minli is too little to do such a thing. Ma blames Ba, saying that his stories put foolish ideas in Minlis head. However, when a few people complained that they preferred sunshine, Jade Dragon grew angry. Which gives the reader a better understanding of the village? Without even asking the Old Man of the Moon, Minli has come to understand why people like the buffalo boy and A-Fu and Da-Fu seemed so happy: they are thankful for what they have rather than bitter about what they do not. Her grief at losing her children made Fruitless Mountain barren of growth. All rights reserved. Define a frame story and explain the complex way that subsidiary stories are embedded within the novel, Identify different types of challenges in the story. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. Inspired by her fathers stories and dedicated to her family, Minli decides to leave and seek a more prosperous future for them all. The Old Man explains that, once every ninety-nine years, someone comes to ask him a question. Lins own full-color drawings open each chapter. What do you think is the secret of happiness? Minli's mother is very dissatisfied with the family's situation. Distribute Worksheet 3 and go over the directions with the students. Andrew Medlar, School Library Journal*Starred Review* Gr 3-6 Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon begins with a description of a small girl, Minli, and her parents, who live in a poor village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. This character visits the Village of the Fruitless Mountain early in the book and at the very end. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis This outline can serve as a reference for the teacher for the entire lesson.). The boy laughs and refuses to accept it. That afternoon, she meets a man who sells goldfish. In thanks, the fish tells Minli how to travel to Never-Ending Mountain to find the Old Man of the Moon, who may know how Minli can change her familys fortune. The authors writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. They identify the friends and mentors who helped her, and the character traits that led to her success. Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme. Reunited with her son, Jade Dragon transforms Fruitless Mountain into Fruitful Mountain, allowing it to grow again. When the students come to class, give them time to share their sentences from the pre-activity in small groups. The goldfish man says that Minli, too, may be able to change her fortune. Minli thus begins a traditional quest. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. They become friends, and Dragon offers to be her steed for the journey, despite the fact that he cannot fly, unlike other dragons. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Common Sense Media See Preparation and Resources.)]. Those eye-opening visits made the folk tales and fairy tales her mother had shared with her as a child seem more alive. While Minli has this adventure, Dragon waits outside the city. Which characters in the book prove to be true friends? How important are stories in your life? Curious, she follows it and finds a red dragon crying a river of tears. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lead a class discussion about the differences between the sentence on the board and the sentence in the novel. The goldfish man asks a child in the street to direct him to Minlis house. Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. An editor [1][2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor[3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. I loved the way it was told through a lot of fairy tales. It is not too scary. Symbols & Motifs. The old man instructs her to remove a rock from Dragon's head, which has been preventing him from flying. However, what she especially enjoys are her father Ba's stories, which are often told at the dinner table. The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. Themes. Minli wishes to change her family's fortune but realizes over time that her discontent is the major factor causing her to lament her family's fortune. While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. Even though you can determine the scene in your head, Grace Lin adds sharp details making the scene more vivid. What is a true friend? Also, she is full of bitterness and resentment due to their poverty. To her surprise, the fish speaks and says that it has swum every river of the world except the Jade Riverthe one Minli has brought her to now. The kite magically transforms itself into a rope bridge, but it is too thin to carry Dragon. Finding Identity through Childrens Books, Dont Judge a Book by Its Character (Even If It Is Chinese), The Extra Adjective: How I Came to Terms with Being a Multicultural Book Author, Folktales and Ecology: Animals and Humans in Cooperation and Conflict, Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore, "Cinderella" Folk Tales: Variations in Character. It turns out he is not a beggar at all, but the king in disguise. [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. well as challenges the characters face. Writing the narrative of their own challenge gives students a chance to reflect on the themes (courage, persistence, imagination, resourcefulness) of the Lin novel from the first two lessons as they see them enacted in their own experience. I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. . How can the links between the frame story and the embedded Chinese folktales be represented to show how they reinforce the underlying themes of courage and generosity? When her parents find out, Ma is angry. They travel onward, and after an encounter with a vicious tiger, they meet the family that used to be famous for its perfect happiness. The child of immigrants from Taiwan, Grace Lin was born in the United States in 1974 and grew up in New York State. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. It turns out the goldfish can talk when people want to hear it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon By Grace Lin Chapters 1-4 Before you read the chapters: The protagonist in most novels features the main character or "good guy". Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. Making Fruitless Mountain bloom! He in turn gives her a line of text written on a page that the Magistrate Tiger ripped out of the Old Man of the Moon's Book of Fortune. 1. Determine the Age of the Dragon (using peach math) She said there will be a movie released on 11/21/2020, however the movie was never made. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis. He warns her that he only has time to answer one question. They continue the journey together. I went down to the cellar the other day. thissection. Ask them to tell the groups how they felt after dealing with this challenge. If the boys in the class seem likely to find it difficult to identify with a female protagonist, suggest that they imagine a twin brother accompanying her on her journey. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. The objective of her quest is to find the Old Man of the Moon who possesses the power to change a persons fortune. Map Your Own Connections (with red threads) We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Use vivid language to construct their own personal narrative. JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! Meanwhile, Minli sleeps for the night in the forest, only to wake up to find a trapped dragon, which she saves. But her ingenuity helps her to survive as she meets and befriends a dragon, sees through the tricks of the King of the City of Bright Moonlight, finds a cure for Dragon's poison, and figures out how to communicate with the Old Man of the Moon. When they first meet, he has been bound with ropes and she cuts them off of him. Traits - where the mountain meets the moon She obeys and almost immediately, Dragon can fly. They will also appear in Google search results. Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters. Minlis parents desperately hope she can change the familys fortune. Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? In order to find the Old Man, the pair must find the Never-Ending Mountain. The main character, Minli, is a young Chinese girl scraping by with her poor parents in the village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide: Analysis He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. Relive your favorite parts, test your memory and pretend to be on the journey yourself! Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. Log in here. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Buy It Now In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. Design a costume for the character. He alone recognizes it as a dragons pearl, a treasure worth as much as the Emperors fortune. Together they fly home to Minli's village. The journal topics generally cover a group of chapters; teachers may assign them all at the beginning or assign individual topics as appropriate. Ask students to write one final paragraph in which they compare themselves with Minli. With her lively and impulsive spirit, Minli emerges a stalwart female role model who learns the importance of family, friendship and faith during her amazing journey. Write The house was on the hill on the board. Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement Also there are many villages. Think about how important the telling of stories was to Minli and Ba. The boy finds out that the king is supposed to appear in the Market of Green Abundance. She returns to Dragon and, following the Old Mans instructions, helps him pull a big, heavy bump off the top of his head. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Minli Minli is the protagonist and hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. En route she befriends a dragon who joins her quest. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous Minli Minli (her name means "quick thinking") is the main character. She is supposed to find the citys Guardian and ask for something called the borrowed line. She assumes that the Guardian is the king, so she leaves Dragon in the forest outside the city and goes in alone. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. GradeSaver, 5 February 2018 Web. This beautiful book is bound to become a classic. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Use evidence from the text to argue who is the most generous character in the book. Dragon also reveals that he was born from a painting and came to life when his eyes were painted. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? [Optional activity: Show them the first 1:40 minutes of Al Rokers interview with Grace Lin in which she covers much of the same material. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character Descriptions This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. eNotes.com, Inc. There, he meets the first dragon he has ever seen, a female dragon with bright orange skin. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. She does so, and immediately Dragon can fly. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement Why did Ma change from being envious of other peoples wealth to being content? Already a member? Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Wikipedia These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. The last date is today's Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Despite her mother's disapproval of stories and dreaming, Minli gathers her courage, her resourcefulness, and her openness to new people and places, to take a remarkable journey to accomplish the impossible. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5: Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. While some may say there are too many pages, I think the amount of pages doesn't matter anyways, although I like the amount, and reading more pages is a great challenge. The author of where the Mountain Meets the moon is Grace Lin. Along the way she makes new friends including a flightless dragon and an orphan and proves her resourcefulness when she tricks a group of greedy monkeys and gets help from a king. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a wonderfully crafted tale with great messages on gratefulness, contentedness, self-sacrifice, faith and love. One year later, the goldfish man returns to the town at the base of Fruitless Mountain, and he cannot believe how much it has changed. At the end of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and in her essays, Lin shares photos and drawings and discusses how she came to use and adapt elements of Chinese culture in her stories. In the final activity and summative assessment, students plan and then write a personal narrative about a challenge they have overcome, using vivid descriptions of persons and places. After students have completed the first draft of their story, conduct a peer-editing session in your usual manner (or a self-editing session if you think any of the stories cover sensitive material that the students would be uncomfortable sharing). All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, How did Magistrate Tiger plan on making his wish come true. She endeavors on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon who will answer her question of how to find her family's fortune. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. In this activity, students return to the novel to analyze the folktale embedded within it. It was a boring day, and I tried to figure out what to do. An editor Where The Mountain Meets The Moon - SuperSummary "[6], Andrew Medlar from Booklist said: "Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine & mystical land [] children will embrace this [] story"[6], A companion, titled Starry River of the Sky, was published on February 11, 2014. Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. Perfect for Moon Festival celebrations or Mother-Daughter Book Clubs, this kit provides an invite, posters and instructions for the journey-like game. Here are some questions to extend students' understanding of the novel. When she does so, the goldfish tells her directions to Never-Ending Mountain, where a wise immortal known as the Old Man of the Moon lives. The boy is poor and has nothing but a buffalo but helps her find the king, who possesses a borrowed line of text, which is essential to finding the Old Man of the Moon. [4] Then I dropped something and it made a loud noise. Da-Fu and A-Fu lead Minli to Never-Ending Mountain, where the Old Man of the Moon is said to live. Interwoven with Minlis quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. The CharactersThe Characters Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is filled with rich and varied characters: Minli, whose name means quick-thinking; Dragon, her companion on the . The new book was published on October 4, 2016. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Minli befriends a dragon along the way. the end with a mysterious gift. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great Most of the information of the notes is correct. Together, they live in a small stick hut in a bleak, dry farming village at the intersection of the . 2. 4 Mar. Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. Give each student or pair a story to work with from the following list or let them choose one themselves, being sure that no two are working on the same story. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. Many children are gathered there, and Ba is about to tell the story of Minlis adventures. Lin's love of Chinese culture is evident in her creation of vivid new folktales that are built into the narrative in such a way that they become a seamless part of the story and their messages are thus relevant and meaningful. By a bare mountain, where the Jade River runs through, lies a poor, mud-covered village known as the Village of Fruitless Mountain, where the protagonist, Minli lives. She walks deep into the forest and travels all through the night, stopping to sleep at first light. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how she can change her familys fortune. [1] [2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor [3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. The second is the date of Minli is a young ten-year-old girl with a fast and eager spirit, and is constantly ready for adventure. The line written there has changed again. Show students a collage picture frame with multiple photos or draw one on the board. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous Where the Mountain Meets the Moon tells of a classic journey with a young duo, Minli and Dragon, working to find their way to the mountain that leads to the moon.