physical and character traits of both major and minor characters. 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. I cannot say enough good things about this book. In this activity, students will depict the characters of the story using a character map. Soup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet Soup, Book of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat. The rock that Minli removed from Dragons head turns out to be the coveted Dragon Pearl. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? That afternoon, she meets a man who sells goldfish. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Ba, however, seems glad that Minli is so hopeful. He wrote a single word on a sheet of paper, but the magistrates soldiers lost it on the way home. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. (From a Christian perspective, it also had a surprising theme of providence in it.) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family's circumstances. She meets an orphan boy who lives alone with only a water buffalo for company, and she tells him that she needs to see the king. 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. Think About Your Own Answers (with a reading guide) Amazed, Ma observes that the fortunes of the family have changed. A couple years after we sold that curriculum, I borrowed it from our local library and read it again. Questions to ask during the editing process: EDSITEment is a project of theNational Endowment for the Humanities, Grace Lin: Sharing Asian Traditions with Young Readers, Member of Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, Chinese Dragon: A Powerful Metaphor in Chinese Cultural History", Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year, Why Couldnt Snow White Be Chinese? Chapter 1 Summary. This is quite a minor character. Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. 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. The depth of Minlis affection for Dragon is put to the test, as is her loyalty to her family. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Most of the information of the notes is correct. Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Trying to come to terms with her own identity, she searched for and treasured books that featured Asian American characters, even when their portrayal was oversimplified or stereotyped. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. She thinks it will be made from 2020 to 2025. Write The house was on the hill on the board. They travel onward, and after an encounter with a vicious tiger, they meet the family that used to be famous for its perfect happiness. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. In the book, what were many suggestions about the word that was written on the paper the Magistrate wantedthe secret of happiness. Many children are gathered there, and Ba is about to tell the story of Minlis adventures. The main characters are Minli, Ba, Ma and Dragon. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. "Where The Mountain Meets The Moon,", Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-Present, Mythopoeic Awards: Acceptance Remarks 2010, "Wheelocks Mountain a vivid adaptation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Where_the_Mountain_Meets_the_Moon&oldid=1135777303, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 20:10. Determined to change her familys fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. The meaning of that gift can only be revealed by reading the book. Image Based Life > Uncategorized > where the mountain meets the moon character traits This book, a celebration of the importance of imagination and story, introduces upper elementary students to Chinese culture and tradition. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. She invites them to come with her to see the Old Man, but they laugh and say, Why would we want to change our fortune? Minli is left to ponder these words as she flies a kitemade of both the paper and the thread from the City of Bright Moonlightinto the sky. Imagine how much more those books would have meant to me, she wrote later, if they had been books of substance, if they had reflected my life with more accuracy and heart, addressed concerns and struggles and triumphs that really affected me. She also loved the books of Chinese folktales that her mother gave her, in spite of their being too simply told. Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. Collect the second worksheets for assessment purposes when they have finished. It turns out he is not a beggar at all, but the king in disguise. With each photo, ask students to identify what is happening in the picture, what kind of challenge is presented, and what kinds of skills or abilities the subjects need to be successful. In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, How did Magistrate Tiger plan on making his wish come true. who have not yet read the book get excited and ALL have a great time! Have you explained how you felt when you had met the challenge? For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. 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. The principal told me that was not a good idea. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. . Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your ideas. Rewrite one of the following passages to make it more vivid, using specific language and concrete details. I definitely recommend this book! Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. She ultimately meets the king, and he willingly gives up the borrowed line, which is revealed to be a page from the Book of Fortune, a legendary book that tells of fates and can be read only by immortal folk. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Put the character's name in the title boxes and choose a character and scene to represent each one. Summary. She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. Have them write three sentences about this challenge in answer to these questions: What qualities did you have to show to meet this challenge? Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. Work on the first sentence together. [4] It has been translated into Chinese, French, Hebrew, Romanian, Korean and Slovene.[5]. 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. More books than SparkNotes. How does this character change over time? As she works, Minli wishes she could change her familys fortune. the end with a mysterious gift. Tell students about Grace Lin, using information from the Background section. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. She looks up to her father, the optimist, and clashes with her mother, the cynic. The game is an age-appropriate series of puzzles; kids are rewarded at Think about how important the telling of stories was to Minli and Ba. Perhapsyou need to trust her, the goldfish man says. Neither is sure which line is the one they need, so they decide this is another question for the Old Man of the Moon. She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. When he lands, he says that he feels like he is home. Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character. Distribute Worksheet 3 and go over the directions with the students. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. Have students tell the story of their challenge and how they met it. I bolted to get the book and started to read. Ma and Ba camp in the forest, and Ba tells the story of a greedy magistrate who tried to steal the secret of happiness from a poor but otherwise perfect family. Be sure to include evidence from the text in their answers. When they first meet, he has been bound with ropes and she cuts them off of him. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? Two destinies at stake. Illustrate this character3. Then the twins, and their grandfather A-Gong, nurse Dragon and lead the travelers to Never-Ending Mountain. Dragon cannot fly. She's dutiful, empathetic, curious, and resourceful. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. Since then, she has traveled to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, learning more about her own heritage. She can either ask him to fix her familys fortune, or she can ask him to help Dragon fly. Together they encounter a talking goldfish, a boy with a buffalo, a king, a fierce green tiger and laughing twins before scaling Never-Ending Mountain. All of the villagers, along with Minli's family, are also very poor, as farming is difficult in the hard and dry land due to Fruitless Mountain being the broken and lonely heart of the immortal Jade Dragon, a dragon that once brought rain to the Earth. However, that is far from the end of this intricate tale. She says she is sorry. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. publication online or last modification online. by Grace Lin Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character List These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Did they show the same qualities that she did in her quest, or did they use different qualities to meet the challenge? A stage adaptation based on Lin's book was performed at Wheelock Family Theater in Boston, in April 2014. Why did Ma change from being envious of other peoples wealth to being content? . We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Goldfish When Minli finds Dragon, it cant fly and is caught up in some ropes. Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters. 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. Mix well, a soft dough should form. Every day, the family works in. Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). During her journey, she comes across many challenges. GradeSaver, 5 February 2018 Web. 4 Mar. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". [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. 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. Traits - where the mountain meets the moon where the mountain meets the moon Minli is very nice Ma is stressed through out the story Pa is wise Dragon is loyal Green tiger/magistrate is foolish Jade Dragon is sad but becomes happy in the end Jade Dragons Kids are loyal Minli's Goldfish is wise and helpful The Goldfish man is wise 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. 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? (p19) In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, What is contained in the old man in the moon's book of Fortune? For years, she and her siblings were the only Asian American children in her school and she was the only one in her class. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. Read more 2009 Grace Lin (P)2020 Hachette Audio Listening Length 4 hours and 58 minutes Author Minli upsets her parents, who are frightened about what will happen to her. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. Create a character map of the characters in the story. How important is magic in the story? (For example: ReadWriteThink's, Each student should have a notebook or composition book with a dedicated section for. Minli is a young ten-year-old girl with a fast and eager spirit, and is constantly ready for adventure. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary, Read the Study Guide for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, View Wikipedia Entries for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. Suggested techniques: If students are interested in folktales in general, the. She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. The cellar was dark and kind of creepy. Then photocopy the sheet to have students keep in their binders. Depending on the ability level of the class and the time available, teachers may assign the book for independent reading at home; have students read independently or in reading groups in class as you work with individuals; have students read it aloud in class; or use a combination of these methods. 1. The art is absolutely beautiful. When she arrives to find the Old Man of the Moon, he offers her what seems to be a Spartan gift: she can only ask him a single question. [11], Renee Greenfield and Jennifer Rabold. The next day, Minli sneaks away from her village, leaving a note for her parents saying where she is going. This is a good book but it is kinda slow. Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The goldfish man says that Minli, too, may be able to change her fortune. Minli's father is a storyteller. There were a lot of things down there. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2.d:Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. It is at this point she asks the Old Man in the Moon Dragons question. They travel all through the night, searching. Tell students that they are going to use their three sentences as a basis for writing a kind of story called a personal narrative. Finally, see if students can come up with a vivid verb to replace was: sat, clung, perched, etc. The two unlikely allies travel together in search of the Old Man, coming upon many different places along the way. Youre always wishing to do impossible things! Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. Give students time to reread and analyze their stories and fill in the results on Worksheet 2 as you circulate to answer questions and give assistance. Then, my mind suddenly shouted, How about that book from the library? I bolted to get the book and started to read. While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. If preparing a "Gallery" for the Optional Day 2. Her grief at losing her children made Fruitless Mountain barren of growth. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. It is a mystical dragon, born from a painting that was supposedly owned by the evil Magistrate Tiger (who serves as the villain of the book). Still following the goldfishs instructions, Minli sets out for the City of Bright Moonlight. Ma blames Ba, saying that his stories put foolish ideas in Minlis head. their work. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. Outside the city, Dragon also obtains a red string of destiny that is used to tie people destined to meet and marry together, which he believes is the borrowed line. In a poignant essay entitled Why Couldnt Snow White Be Chinese? Lin discusses her sense of otherness and states that as a child, she found her dual identity to be a burden. 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. In returning to Fruitless Mountain, Dragon also meets his mother, Jade Dragon. The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. Because of what seemed like a personal sacrifice in favor of helping a friend, Minli and her family receive all they ever hoped for and more. As the Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. The objective of her quest is to find the Old Man of the Moon who possesses the power to change a persons fortune. 8-12), Reading level: Ages 8-12Pages: 288 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Young ReadersLanguage: English ISBN: 0316114278, 978-0316114271. Making Fruitless Mountain bloom! Espaol (prximamente) - volver al inicio, Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More, Growing Up Queer: Thoughtful Books About LGBTQ+ Youth, Check out new Common Sense Selections for games, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews. A variety of online maps of China can be found in. She notices that he is wearing a piece of golden dragon jewelry, and she follows him. [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] The author of where the Mountain Meets the moon is Grace Lin. Bitter and resentful, Minlis mother complains when her husband fills Minlis imagination with enchanting tales of Never-Ending Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon. 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. 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. 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. Minli thus begins a traditional quest. Encourage students to consider why Grace Lin chose those particular words to describe the mountain. 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. "Bringing fortune to our house! Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. How does this character interact with the main character. Ba tells the first such story. She said there will be a movie released on 11/21/2020, however the movie was never made. 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. Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. eNotes.com, Inc. Lin has fleshed out this . We walked down the hall and into the classroom. Draw a Dragon (that could come to life) thissection. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. 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. As they search, they come upon the goldfish man, who listens to their troubles and tells them his story. It is about Jade Dragon, who used to be beloved by the people of the earth because she controlled the rain that made crops grow. How important are stories in your life? will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. I loved the way it was told through a lot of fairy tales. Word Count: 2124. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. They rush to make her breakfast, and then Ba sees the bump from Dragons head, which Minli has brought home with her. Lead a class discussion about the differences between the sentence on the board and the sentence in the novel. Ask students to think of and share other types of challenges they have seen or experienced. It will take more than a goldfish to bring fortune to our house, she says. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? 3. The Jade Dragon reunites with one of her children, Dragon, and transforms Fruitless Mountain to Fruitful Mountain. Eager for adventure, Minli sets out alone seeking advice from the Old Man of the Moon. The second part of the lesson has students return to the book to explore how the folktales enhance Minlis story. Plus, there is barely enough rice to feed the people there, causing Minli to develop a wish for good fortune. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. As you look at the embedded folk tales in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, what are three values that seem to be important? Unable to believe her luck, Minli accepts the paper from him. Meanwhile, as Dragon waits outside of the city, he receives a string of destiny from one of the Guardians of the City. . Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. After learning about the concept of the frame story, pairs of students take one of the folktales to analyze and then illustrate a key scene from it. Eventually she decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. (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.