Grace Lin has written a middle-grade trilogy of surpassing wonder and emotional weight. When the Sea Turned to Silver is the last of the three novels, and it is full of charm and driving action. Statues, paintings and ginseng roots come to life. A horse becomes a dragon, a king becomes a tiger, two thugs become monkeys, a mussel becomes a swallow, a tongue becomes a snake, and a girl becomes a storyteller. Now that it is complete, you must read this trilogy: with your book club, your students, your kids who seem too young for it and your kids who think they're already too old.

★ 08/29/2016
In this compelling companion to Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky, inspired by Chinese folklore, shy Pinmei, granddaughter of the revered Storyteller, sets out to rescue her grandmother from the evil emperor who has seized her. In the midst of the seemingly endless winter that has fallen over the kingdom, Pinmei and her good friend Yishan begin a dangerous journey in search of the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night to give the emperor in exchange for her grandmother. Lin’s fans will not be disappointed: she again delivers a rich interweaving of ancient tales with fast-paced adventure, fantasy, and slowly unfolding mysteries told through captivating language with beguiling similes (“uncooked rice began to fall... like beads from a broken necklace”). Like the Sea King who turns into a dragon when needed, Pinmei remembers her grandmother’s words that “when it is time for you to do something, you will do it,” and transforms into a storyteller in her own right. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Oct.)

Praise for When the Sea Turned to Silver:


A New York Times Bestseller
A New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2016
A National Book Award Finalist
An IndieBound Bestseller
NPR Best Book of the Year Pick
The Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2016
ALA Notable Book for Children
An Amazon Best Books of 2016 Pick
A CCBC Children's Choices Pick
A School Library Journal Best of 2016: Middle Grace Choice
A Booklist Editor's Choice 2016
B&N Kids Blog 10 Notable Middle Grade Novels of 2016
Bank Street College of Education 2017 Best Children's Book of the Year

"Grace Lin has written a middle-grade trilogy of surpassing wonder and emotional weight... Remarkable... A must-read... Full of charm and driving action... Lin has made herself immortal in this trilogy, no doubt."—The New York Times Book Review

*"On its own, this third volume contains a richly complex adventure story that revisits previous themes....The three books together, however, offer one grand epic that spans generations....Lin's stonecutter claims that storytellers 'can make time disappear...bring us to places we have never dreamed of...feel sorrow and joy and peace'; the description is a fitting one for author-illustrator Lin herself, who has proven herself a master."—The Horn Book, starred review

*"The meticulous craft delivers what Lin's fans have come to expect... This beautifully told companion to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) and Starry River of the Sky (2012) offers lyrical storytelling, bringing 'us to places we have never dreamed of.'"—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

*"Lin's vibrant chapter decorations and full-color, full-page paintings add to the work's beauty....A stunning addition to a deservedly beloved set of novels; recommended for all middle grade collections."—School Library Journal (starred review)

*"Compelling....Lin's fans will not be disappointed: she again delivers a rich interweaving of ancient tales with fast-paced adventure, fantasy, and slowly unfolding mysteries told through captivating language."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

*"Lin's evocative language sweeps readers away, and the stories within the story are juicy and delicious....[A] worthy companion to her Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) and Starry River of the Sky (2012)."—Booklist (starred review)

"Pinmei's journey has a compelling urgency that quickens the pace and enlivens the adventure, while the short stories are smoothly integrated and provide sly, subtle connections to plot events, making satisfying the climactic scene in which the elements converge....Lin's characteristic elegant prose...keeps its enchanting, luminous quality."—BCCB

"In this captivating tale... readers will not only enjoy the 'frame' story revolving around Pinmei and Yishan, but will also like (and recognize) some of the other stories being told."—School Library Connection

* "The lively mixture of adventure, mystery, and fantasy, supported by compelling character development and spellbinding language, will captivate a wide swath of readers."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ 01/01/2017
Gr 4–6—In this companion novel to When the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky, the Black Tortoise of Winter's chilly grip hasn't stopped villagers from trekking up the mountain to hear tales from Amah the Storyteller. Upon their arrival, Pinmei, Amah's granddaughter, hides in the shadows and listens. Life abruptly unravels when the conniving Tiger Emperor kidnaps Amah, and Pinmei, with her friend Yishan, must find the courage to rescue her beloved grandmother. While they are en route to find The Luminous Stone That Lights the Night, the only acceptable ransom, their encounters with travelers provide clues in thwarting the Emperor's malicious scheme. Pinmei also discovers that her childhood of eavesdropping created her own deep spring of stories, which prove quite useful. Kim Mai Guest returns as narrator, superbly capturing each character. Her seamless switching from story to folklore is sharp and clear, allowing readers to easily follow along. In Lin's skilled hands, enchanted readers find themselves "standing among the villagers as if pulled by a thread" in this companion novel woven tightly with elements from previous tales, creating a rich tapestry of fiction and Chinese folklore. Includes a PDF of Lin's colorful illustrations. VERDICT This charming audiobook is a must-have for middle grade listeners and fans of Lin's first two novels in the series.—Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH

12/01/2016
Gr 3–6—This luminous companion to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky complements—and may even outshine—its predecessors. When the Tiger Emperor kidnaps Pinmei's grandmother, she sets out, along with her mysterious friend Yishan, to find the legendary stone that lights the night sky. Chinese folklore is incorporated throughout, as are Lin's jewel-like full-color illustrations. Fantasy, mystery, and adventure combine through elegant storytelling. This is Lin at the top of her game.

Kim Mai Guest’s precise, soft reading sets a mood in which magic and reality meet. Shy Pinmei lives far up a mountain with Amah, her wise, storytelling grandmother. Guest’s gentle tone fits both Pinmei’s timidity and their quiet life. But Guest’s voice grows harsh when the ruthless emperor and his soldiers burst in and capture Amah. Her release will occur only in exchange for the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. So begins Pinmei’s brave mission with her neighbor, Yishan. Her storytelling gift and bravery grow, measured by Guest’s strengthening voice. Guest gracefully voices the author’s elegant prose and weaves a wealth of bejeweled folktales into three entwined stories—the adventurers’ quest, the imprisoned Amah, and the suffering of Black Tortoise of Winter. A wonderful fable for family listening. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

★ 2016-07-20
When her grandmother’s kidnapped, a shy girl living in ancient China embarks on a magical journey to find her.Pinmei lives with her grandmother, Amah, a revered storyteller, and Yishan, a boy with a secret, on Never-Ending Mountain. When soldiers of the cruel Tiger Emperor abduct Amah and burn her hut, Pinmei hides in a huge vat. Learning the emperor wants a Luminous Stone, Pinmei and Yishan set out to find it to barter for Amah’s release. As their quest unfolds, Pinmei tells Amah’s stories, which alternate structurally with the main story. Elements and characters from these folk tales feature in Pinmei’s own quest as she encounters such evocatively named figures as Nuwa’s Tear, the Paper of Answers, the Starry River, the Ginseng Boy, the Red Stone, the Iron Rod, the Green Tiger, the Black Tortoise, and the Sea King. While many things are not what they seem, everything amazingly connects in the surprising finale, when Pinmei finds her voice. The meticulous craft delivers what Lin’s fans have come to expect. Final illustrations were unavailable for review. This beautifully told companion to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) and Starry River of the Sky (2012) offers lyrical storytelling, bringing “us to places we have never dreamed of.” (author’s note, book list) (Fantasy. 8-12)