Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
A cursed girl, a wizard and a moving castle give the same playful, sly fairy-tale spirit. Jones mixes whimsy with sharp wit, much as Barnhill does with her witch and her Swamp Monster.
10 books to read next
Books Like The Girl Who Drank the Moon
If you loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Readers who love The Girl Who Drank the Moon usually come for its fairy-tale warmth: a kind witch in a forest, a found family, and a gentle, wise narrator who slips between tender and frightening. The pace is unhurried, with short chapters full of small, odd details like the Swamp Monster and the Perfectly Tiny Dragon. The book balances humour with real loss and quiet courage, and it trusts young readers with big feelings. The picks below follow those threads: fairy-tale voice, creature companions, enchanted storytelling and a few older, darker journeys.
Fairy-tale voice and warmth
The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo, Timothy B. Ering
Its direct, chatty narrator addresses the reader and turns a small hero into a story about kindness and darkness. Fans of Xan's gentle, unusual world will recognise the same fable-like warmth.
Creature companions and found family
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
A child is raised by the residents of a graveyard, a found family that feels as odd and loving as Xan's household. Its mix of eerie atmosphere and tenderness suits readers drawn to Barnhill's quiet magic.
Pax
Sara Pennypacker
A boy and a fox share a deep bond and are forced apart, a journey built on loyalty and longing. Like Luna's story, it pairs an animal companion with emotional stakes that feel large for a young reader.
The Wild Robot
Peter Brown
A robot washes up on an island and learns to care for the animals there, finding a home among creatures. Its gentle, observant tone and themes of belonging echo the warmth at the heart of The Girl Who Drank the Moon.
Enchanted, mythic storytelling
The Last Unicorn
Peter S. Beagle
A lyrical, melancholy quest through a magical world, told with the same mix of humour and sorrow that runs through Barnhill's novel. Its fable-like voice rewards readers who loved the book's dreamy, old-fashioned tone.
No Cover
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle
A young heroine faces strange powers and a dangerous darkness in a story that treats wonder and fear with equal seriousness. Like Luna, its protagonist is an unusual child whose unique gifts matter enormously.
Go deeper into darker worlds
Akata witch
Nnedi Okorafor
A girl discovers she has magical abilities and must learn what they mean for her life. It has the same sense of a hidden magical world, with witchcraft handled as something both powerful and dangerous.
Sabriel
Garth Nix
A young heroine crosses between worlds to face the dead, armed with bells and a strong sense of duty. Its atmosphere of quiet dread and old magic suits readers who want more of the book's shadowed side.
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien
A small, reluctant traveller sets out into a world of wizards, dangerous creatures and unexpected kindness. It shares the classic fairy-tale journey structure and the warm narrator voice that many readers of Barnhill's book enjoy.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. Learn more