Children’s literature often revolves around the family, regardless of whether that family is biological or “made.” Children’s books tend to focus exclusively on either biological families (ex. Little House on the Prairie), or a child’s creation of their own family of friends and parent-like figures (ex. Harry Potter). Kelly Barnhill’s Newberry Medal Award winning fantasy novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2016) shows that it is possible to have multiple, equally rich, family units. This is seen most clearly through Luna, one of the novel’s many protagonists. Luna is ripped from her biological family as a baby to be sacrificed to the Witch in the woods. Subsequently, she is adopted by the witch, Xan, and becomes part of her patchwork family that includes a swamp monster and a Simply Enormous Dragon. Luna loves her made family but continues to be linked to her biological family through visions and magical episodes. We learn that her biological mother never recovered from losing Luna, that she has been declared “mad” and locked away in a tower. For thirteen years she works to recover Luna, and in the end they are reunited. Luna then has two families simultaneously; she says “My love isn’t divided… It is multiplied” (Barnhill 378). This book teaches children that it is possible to have multiple families, and to love them all. In today’s society where “family” takes multiple shapes and forms, it is important to emphasize that there is no “true” family—all are valid and all are powerful. You do not have to have the same blood to be a family, and you do not have to reject your biological family to create a new one. As Luna says, “there is no limit to what the heart can carry” (Barnhill 364).
About the presenterAngelina M. Randazzo
Angelina studies English and education at Ithaca College. She has a particular interest in fantasy, fairy tales, queer literature, and middle-grade and young adult literature. She is a founding member and current president of the Graphic Novel Advisory Board.