Starry River of the Sky (2012)
by Grace Lin
This is the companion book, a prequel, to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. In this book, young Rendi has run away from home and ends up working as a chore boy at an inn in a small town. As much as he’d like to leave, he ends up becoming more and more invested in the lives of those who live there and the visitors who stay there. Slowly, Rendi’s story and those of the people around him are revealed, and, of course, all tie together beautifully.
For whatever reason, it took me a little longer to get sucked into this book, but once I did, there was no going back. The format is similar to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, with wonderful ancient stories sprinkled throughout. I am in awe of the way Grace Lin so seemingly effortlessly weaves together the stories and characters of this book, while also tying into the first one in the series. For me, this a book that begs to be re-read so I can catch all the beautiful work that was put into it. With the gorgeous artwork, unforgettable ancient tales, wise words, and thought-provoking story, it is a must-own, for sure.