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kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=8186
I first learned about Baba Yaga when I was in middle school, and I learned about Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition suites based on paintings by Viktor Hartmann. Suite 9, “The Hut on Fowl’s Legs” was based off of his painting of a clock in the form of Baba Yaga’s hut. Because I liked the music so much when I first heard it, I wanted to learn more about it, and one of the things I distinctly remember researching was Baba Yaga who I found fascinating! I then was reintroduced to Baba Yaga when I was reading the Fables series by Bill Willingham, and once again I went and read all about her folklore. Which meant when I saw that there was an upcoming graphic novel, my favorite!, about her, I had to get it.
Marika McCoola’s retelling of the Baba Yaga folktales does them justice. With a mix of classic stories of Baba Yaga and McCoola’s story of Masha, the book does a wonderful job of introducing the readers to who Baba Yaga is at the core, a conflicted witch, and also puts a twist on it all. Masha’s story is more than just an addition to Baba Yaga’s story though. She is the star. Her story is a sad one, and Baba Yaga may just be what she needs. This text will really start some discussions around Masha’s family status and why Baba Yaga and her may just be perfect for each other.
I first learned about Baba Yaga when I was in middle school, and I learned about Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition suites based on paintings by Viktor Hartmann. Suite 9, “The Hut on Fowl’s Legs” was based off of his painting of a clock in the form of Baba Yaga’s hut. Because I liked the music so much when I first heard it, I wanted to learn more about it, and one of the things I distinctly remember researching was Baba Yaga who I found fascinating! I then was reintroduced to Baba Yaga when I was reading the Fables series by Bill Willingham, and once again I went and read all about her folklore. Which meant when I saw that there was an upcoming graphic novel, my favorite!, about her, I had to get it.
Marika McCoola’s retelling of the Baba Yaga folktales does them justice. With a mix of classic stories of Baba Yaga and McCoola’s story of Masha, the book does a wonderful job of introducing the readers to who Baba Yaga is at the core, a conflicted witch, and also puts a twist on it all. Masha’s story is more than just an addition to Baba Yaga’s story though. She is the star. Her story is a sad one, and Baba Yaga may just be what she needs. This text will really start some discussions around Masha’s family status and why Baba Yaga and her may just be perfect for each other.
sarag1701's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like there should be more to this book. But I'm glad it ended the way it did.
sparklemaia's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute! I especially liked how various fairytales were woven throughout, and how Masha's memory of her grandmother's storytelling helped her solve all the problems Baba Yaga threw at her. The story did feel a little rushed, and I was hoping for a little more depth and nuance to the characters, but those things can be difficult to achieve in such a short book.
moonpie's review against another edition
5.0
In Baba Yaga's Assistant, a young woman named Masha applies to be... Baba Yaga's assistant. Along the way, Masha gets some help from the Baba Yaga stories she remembers, mostly passed down by her grandmother. Love the story, and I love Carroll's artwork, which is not as spooky here as her work for Through the Woods, because this book's intended for a younger audience, but still a little spooky, because Baba Yaga.
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
So clever - liked the way the stories helped Marsha through this story, and how that ties to the core of fairy tales and their original purpose. Emily Carroll's illustrations are terrifying.
bookishgoblin's review against another edition
4.0
This was an adorable book! Cute pictures, great story! I love a bit of Baba Yaga so I knew I'd love it, but it was a little short! I wish there was more to read!
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the tests with Baba Yaga, but I've been a big grinch about Russian fairy-tale inspired stories. How come a generic American family was threatening their little girl named Danielle with Baba Yaga? Why is there no explanation of the mythology? Why is it so damn superficial, every time, and kind of appropriative? (In case you can't tell, I'm Russian. And mad.)
I really hate being critical of graphic novels because I tend to love the art (as I do here) and I know how much effort goes into crafting one, but I'm so tired of these Russian fairy tale inspirations behind popular books published in the US that just seem like skim milk version of the stories I grew up on, the stories that related to who I was, my people, and where we come from. Yes, they're super cool and dark and twisted and fun, but can we please look deeper into the context? The interrelated stories? I'm so frustrated. I want to celebrate that my culture is becoming a more mainstream part of children's and YA lit, but I'm sick of the shallow interpretations. I don't really want to pick them up anymore, because even the ones that promise satisfaction and quality let me down.
Anthony Marra remains the one non-Russian person whose books truly spoke to me and celebrated my culture.
So anyway. I'll still give this author a chance, but I'm :/ about this one.
I really hate being critical of graphic novels because I tend to love the art (as I do here) and I know how much effort goes into crafting one, but I'm so tired of these Russian fairy tale inspirations behind popular books published in the US that just seem like skim milk version of the stories I grew up on, the stories that related to who I was, my people, and where we come from. Yes, they're super cool and dark and twisted and fun, but can we please look deeper into the context? The interrelated stories? I'm so frustrated. I want to celebrate that my culture is becoming a more mainstream part of children's and YA lit, but I'm sick of the shallow interpretations. I don't really want to pick them up anymore, because even the ones that promise satisfaction and quality let me down.
Anthony Marra remains the one non-Russian person whose books truly spoke to me and celebrated my culture.
So anyway. I'll still give this author a chance, but I'm :/ about this one.
heatherinthenether's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
There aren't enough Baba Yaga books in the world. This is a great one.
asimilarkite's review against another edition
3.0
As a newly minted Emily Carroll devotee, I was expecting to like this more than I did. And then I realized that the problem is that while this is illustrated (AMAZINGLY, of course) by Emily Carroll -- it isn't written by her. Emily Carroll is an amazing writer, as evidenced by Through the Woods.
Marika McCoola's storytelling is not as amazing as it could be. The story feels a little choppy and confusing, and the wording of things is kind of awkward at times. All that being said, I think I will book talk this at schools before summer reading -- I've kind of already written the book-talk in my head, and I think kids might really like this. The Baba Yaga stories are so much fun, and Emily Carroll's art really is what raises this above just kind of mediocre.
I LOVE how her style of art changes depending on the story she's telling. This graphic novel is a combination of present, past, and folktale, and each of those three distinct story types are represented differently in the art. You know IMMEDIATELY which one you're in just by looking. It's fantastic. I also liked the idea that the character is using her knowledge of folktales and stories to make her way through the present day world.
Marika McCoola's storytelling is not as amazing as it could be. The story feels a little choppy and confusing, and the wording of things is kind of awkward at times. All that being said, I think I will book talk this at schools before summer reading -- I've kind of already written the book-talk in my head, and I think kids might really like this. The Baba Yaga stories are so much fun, and Emily Carroll's art really is what raises this above just kind of mediocre.
I LOVE how her style of art changes depending on the story she's telling. This graphic novel is a combination of present, past, and folktale, and each of those three distinct story types are represented differently in the art. You know IMMEDIATELY which one you're in just by looking. It's fantastic. I also liked the idea that the character is using her knowledge of folktales and stories to make her way through the present day world.