The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a fantasy novel by Kelly Barnhill that tells the story of a young girl named Luna, who is accidentally imbued with magical powers as an infant. Each year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch of the forest, Xan, in hopes of preventing her from cursing their town. Unbeknownst to them, Xan is kind and rescues the abandoned children, delivering them to loving families in distant towns.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby girl moonlight instead of starlight, filling her with extraordinary magic. Deciding to raise the girl herself, Xan names her Luna and hides her growing magical abilities until she turns 13. Meanwhile, as Luna’s powers begin to awaken, a young man from the Protectorate, determined to free his people from the witch, sets out on a mission to confront Xan, unaware of the truth about her and the magic that connects them all.
The novel weaves together the stories of several characters, including Xan, Luna, a tiny dragon named Fyrian, and a mysterious "madwoman" locked away in the Protectorate. It explores themes of sacrifice, love, the danger of blindly accepting traditions, and the power of hope and courage in the face of oppression.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a rich, lyrical tale that blends magic, adventure, and mystery, offering both young readers and adults a captivating and heartfelt story about the complexities of human emotion and relationships.
