Starry River of the Sky (edizione 2012)

Rendi was not sure how long the moon had been missing. (first sentence)

"When people tell stories, they share things about themselves." (Madame Chang to Rendi, p. 264)

Runaway Rendi arrives at an inn in the Village of Clear Sky and becomes a chore boy, getting to know Master Chao, his daughter Peiyi, their neighbors Widow Yan and MeiLan, and guests Madame Chang and Mr. Shan. Through the stories Madame Chang and Rendi tell, readers gain clues into their true identities, as well as how the characters in Starry River of the Sky are connected to those in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and When the Sea Turned to Silver. The stories-within-the-story format is entrancing, and occasional full-color illustrations enhance this tale of the missing moon, Magistrate Tiger, rabbits and toads. ( )

What happened to the moon in the Village of Clear Sky? The central question in this delightful tale filled with Chinese folklore may only be answered by young Rendi, who hears the moon wailing at night. Author’s Note, Book List.

children's fiction. historic fic/cultural fic. I appreciate what Grace Lin does with the genre but it wasn't what I felt like reading at the time (and there were lots of other library patrons waiting in the queue for it). ( )

Gotta say that I liked Where the Mountain Meets the Moon a lot more than this. I think I enjoyed the higher level of fantasy with that one, and I really liked the dynamic between the characters (and especially with the parents). The plot in Starry River moved reeeeeally slowly at first--I wasn't sure exactly where it was going for the longest time--and then a lot of the foreshadowing seemed a bit too heavy-handed. I still love the means of storytelling in both books--interspersing Chinese folklore--and I liked the way the tales came together here. And I will absolutely read any book Grace Lin writes in this fashion. It just *feels* like a luxurious read. ( )

“W When a troubled runaway arrives in an isolated Chinese village where the moon has disappeared, he initiates a quest to find the missing orb and resolve his past.

Escaping from home in a merchant’s cart, Rendi’s abandoned in the Village of Clear Sky, where the innkeeper hires him as chore boy. Bad-tempered and insolent, Rendi hates Clear Sky, but he has no way of leaving the sad village where every night the sky moans and the moon has vanished. The innkeeper’s bossy daughter irritates Rendi. He wonders about the innkeeper’s son who’s disappeared and about peculiar old Mr. Shan, who confuses toads with rabbits. When mysterious Madame Chang arrives at the inn, her storytelling transports Rendi. She challenges him to contribute his own stories, in which he gradually reveals his identity as son of a wealthy magistrate. Realizing there’s a connection between Madame Chang’s stories and the missing moon, Rendi assumes the hero’s mantle, transforming himself from a selfish, self-focused boy into a thoughtful young man who learns the meaning of home, harmony and forgiveness. Lin artfully wraps her hero’s story in alternating layers of Chinese folklore, providing rich cultural context. Detailed, jewel-toned illustrations and spot art reminiscent of Chinese painting highlight key scenes and themes and serve as the focus of an overall exquisite design.

A worthy companion to Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009). (author's note, bibliography of Chinese folk tales) (Fantasy. 8-12)” Kirkus Starred Review www.kirkusreviews.com