The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Daily Mail describes the No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and Newbery Medal winner as a beautifully written and darkly funny coming-of-age story that will captivate its readers. In this tale, the people of the Protectorate offer a baby to the witch who lives in the forest every year, hoping to appease her and prevent her from terrorizing their town. However, the witch, named Xan, is actually benevolent and resides in the forest with a wise Swamp Monster and a tiny dragon. Xan rescues the babies and delivers them to loving families on the other side of the woods, nourishing them with starlight along the way. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, imbuing the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides to raise the girl, Luna, as her own. As Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge, leading to perilous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate sets out to kill the witch and free his people. Deadly birds with ambiguous motives hover nearby, a dormant volcano rumbles underfoot, and a woman with a tiger’s heart is on the hunt. This novel, from the author of the acclaimed book “The Witch’s Boy,” is a recipient of the prestigious Newbery Medal.