The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Along the lines of Hunger Games, the Protectorate sacrifices a baby each year to the forest witch in order to preserve their safety. But the Protectorate is led by a which who is fed and strengthened by the sorrow of others.

Xan, the so-called forest witch, saves these abandoned children each year and takes them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest. But one year, Xan mistakenly feeds the sacrificial baby moonlight which gives the child powerful magic. Xan takes responsibility for her mistake by raising little Luna as her own granddaughter.

Luna’s unstable magic, Xan’s secrets, the Sorrow-eater’s insatiable appetite, and a young father’s determination to save his baby in an unforgettable climax.

This epic coming of age story involves magic, dragons, bog monsters, and an evil sorceress which make it a fast-paced read for any young adult. Apart from the good witch/bad witch scenario, I enjoyed The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Newberry Medal winner, just over 300 pages.

Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Piccadilly Press, 2017.