Age: 5th-8th grade
Family: Parents

"In the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli’s mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest" (Goodreads feature review).

I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of folktales coming to life. Reminiscent of historical fiction due to the simple, rural life and no technology but it is not set during a specific time. Beautiful (but few) pictures accompany some parts of the text. A lovely message to prize the relationships in your life above all else.