When the Sea Turned Silver by Grace Lin takes readers on a journey through a richly imagined world full of imagery and Chinese folklore. The novel follows the adventures of Pinmei and Yishan as they navigate themes of Finding and Creating Identity, The Power of Stories, and how Perception Shapes Reality. Recognized for its storytelling and cultural depth, When the Sea Turned Silver was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist. Critics praise the novel for its intricate narrative and beautiful illustrations. This novel is a sequel to Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009) and Starry River of the Sky (2012) and continues her tradition of weaving traditional folklore into modern tales.

Lin, an acclaimed author and illustrator, has significantly contributed to children’s literature with over 25 published books for early and middle grade readers. Drawing from her Taiwanese heritage and personal experiences, Lin’s work, including When the Sea Turned Silver, reflects her commitment to diverse storytelling. Lin began her career with the picture book Ugly Vegetables in 1999 and has since garnered numerous accolades, including the Children’s Literature Legacy Award from the American Library Association in 2022.

This guide references the 2016 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers e-book edition.

Plot Summary

The protagonist, Pinmei, is a timid girl living with her grandmother, Amah, in a hut on the Never-Ending Mountain. The villagers seek Amah out not only for her exceptional embroidery but also for her storytelling. Throughout the novel, Amah and Pinmei share various folktales and stories that connect to the frame story. The mountain and the village endure a harsh and prolonged winter, prompting Pinmei to speculate that the Black Tortoise of Winter is trapped. Meanwhile, a new Tiger Emperor rises to power and abducts the men of the mountain to build a Vast Wall around the kingdom.

The emperor and his soldiers attack the hut, capturing Amah while Pinmei hides. The emperor, disguised as a soldier, demands that Pinmei’s friend, Yishan, bring him the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night to secure Amah’s release. Yishan rescues Pinmei from her burning house, and the two set off for the City of Bright Moonlight, believing that the Dragon Pearl mentioned in one of Amah’s stories may be the Luminous Stone.

During their journey, they encounter Lady Meng, who is also heading to the City of Bright Moonlight. Lady Meng is distraught because her husband, Wan, has gone to meet the emperor, and she fears he is dead. She shares with the children that she sewed a protective shirt for Wan with a needle left in the fabric. Lady Meng joins Yishan and Pinmei on their quest.

Upon reaching the city, they meet King KaeJae, who reveals that the Tiger Emperor captured Wan and tore a patch from his shirt before becoming invincible. Before they can act further, the emperor visits King KaeJae, forcing the trio to hide on the opposite side of the palace. Yishan and Pinmei sneak into the emperor’s camp to search for Amah, but the soldiers catch them. They take refuge in a garden and overhear King KaeJae offering the Dragon Pearl to the emperor, who rejects it, hinting that the Luminous Stone is at Sea Bottom. The emperor compels KaeJae to consult the Paper of Answers, which states that immortality comes from stories and confirms that the emperor will become immortal. The emperor’s quest for eternal life is the reason behind Amah’s abduction.

After the emperor departs, KaeJae gives the children the Paper of Answers. Lady Meng parts ways with them but leaves her horse, BaiMa, which transforms into a longma, a dragon-horse. BaiMa takes them underwater to the Sea King’s Crystal Palace. The Sea King requests help from Yishan, stating that the Black Tortoise of Winter is in trouble. They learn from the Paper of Answers that the Iron Rod traps the Black Tortoise of Winter. The children realize they must free the Black Tortoise of Winter to end the harsh cold season.

The Sea King tells them about the fish-tailed goddess Nuwa, who left behind three magical objects: the Iron Rod, the Red Stone, and the Luminous Stone. He guides them to the Luminous Stone in the Heavenly Lake, which is the land-dweller’s Starry River, or sky. The Luminous Stone is the moon. Yishan attempts to retrieve the moon but feels ashamed at the Sea King’s reaction.

The Sea King takes Pinmei and Yishan to the Capital City, and they arrive in time for Wan’s funeral. The emperor wishes to marry Lady Meng, but she refuses to wed anyone until her husband has a proper burial at sea. As the ceremony ends, she leaps into the water. The sea refreezes, but Pinmei sees the shadow of a fish-tailed woman swimming beneath the ice. Yishan hands Pinmei a handkerchief, revealing the Luminous Stone, transformed from Lady Meng’s tear.

They go to the emperor and arrange to trade the stone for Amah. Amah warns that it is a trap. The emperor seeks Yishan, the Ginseng Boy, who has the power to grant immortality. As the emperor’s men attempt to capture Yishan, Pinmei notices the iron needle stuck in an embroidered turtle on the emperor’s shirt. She recognizes it as the Iron Rod and retrieves it, freeing the Black Tortoise of Winter.

Freeing the Black Tortoise of Winter causes the ground to shake, killing Amah and the emperor. Yishan places a drop of his blood in a bowl and feeds it to Amah, who heals. Then, he throws the bowl over the emperor, and it becomes a mountain. Yishan loses his youth and returns to his other form, as the Old Man of the Moon, promising Pinmei that the emperor will gain immortality through her stories. Yishan promises to never forget Pinmei, then leaves to return the Iron Rod. Pinmei and Amah return to the City of Bright Moonlight to return the Paper of Answers. King KaeJae’s son asks Pinmei about her adventures, and she tells the story, repeating the novel’s opening lines.