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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read aloud to my 11 yo son and 7 yo daughter. We all loved it! I liked the strong female characters that predominate the story. I also enjoyed the magical elements of the story (a house with chicken legs used to help ferry dead souls to the afterworld!) mixed in with the very real coming-of-age emotional lability of the main character.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've never read about a character more selfish than her. But I guess she is 13.
Her denial about Baba and her confidence that she could get her back, even though she has never done anything remotely like that, was so annoying and repetitive that it gave me a headache, tbh.
I would've liked it better had she learned from her guilt and mistakes, and not always shifted the blame on either the house or her Baba, but I guess getting angry is and will always be easier than self-reflecting...
Benjamin, his father, Tatyana, Jack, and the house all deserve better than Marinka.
Edit: Saw that for "Strong Character Development?" ppl voted yes, 85%... how tho?
She literally never learned anything??
She got exactly what she wanted at the end without getting a real-life lesson out of it! There was no development anywhere to be seen... but I guess that's just my opinion
This one just didn’t do it for me. I get that she’s a kid and wants a life different from the one she is fated for but I didn’t think the main character had any redeeming qualities. She was selfish and whiny and always “burning with anger” towards all those who tried to help her. The writing was simplistic (yes it’s a middle grade fiction novel but there are plenty of books out there where the language is beautiful and fantastical such as Gaiman or Rowling). I did like the other characters but that’s about it for this one
The House With Chicken Legs was recommended to me as a book that would be just my type, and it hit that mark spot on, it really was just my type. In case you don’t know this, I am really into Russian folklore inspired stories, there’s something about it that just tickles my fancy (and as I read this as part of the Charms Extra Credit Magical Readathon for Rictusempra, a book that tickles you the right way, it fit the bill perfectly).
This book is a middle grade fantasy retelling of the tale of Baba Yaga, and I loved the spin this had! Rather than just the one Baba Yaga, there is a whole Yaga family, spread across the world, helping the dead pass on to the other side. The Yaga’s are not to interact with the living, for each night, they celebrate with the dead.
Our main character is the young Marinka Yaga, living with her grandmother, Baba Yaga, and a Jackdaw named Jack, in their house with chicken legs. Marinka is young, and afraid of having her fate decided for her at such a young age, she wants to be able to take control of her own life, and her own destiny, and have a life with the living. In a way, this is a story of Marinka coming to terms with her life, and making the best of her situation.
Accompanying Marinka, we have her Grandmother, Baba Yaga, who was a really sweet old lady type. She was definitely the type of character who deserves a big cuddle and to be loved and appreciated. She was quirky and fun, and as Marinka’s Grandmother, of course wanted the best for her, but perhaps misunderstood her a little. It was nice to have such a present parental figure in this novel, as I know often those are pretty absent. And in Baba’s absence, we had the ‘Old Yaga’ who also had the Grandmotherly air about her, although she was slightly more mysterious, but also fun and quirky.
Some of the lesser side characters really did annoy me, but I feel they were supposed to, they were more of a plot device and helped Marinka develop her own character, but I could have done without a few of them to be honest with you. I did enjoy the role that the dead played in this, they were all rather friendly, which makes a change from the way ‘ghosts’ or ‘spirits’ are usually presented (a something slightly creepy!).
I absolutely adored the atmosphere this book provided, I felt completely connected to this world. I loved how warm and homely it all was, yet there was a slight eeriness to it, with the strong presence of the dead. There was quite a strong focus on the homely setting, and I think this came through really well, it made me feel right so comfortable reading it, like I belonged between those pages. The various settings of the book also projected a strong atmosphere to me, they visit the ocean at one point, and I loved how this was presented, I could sense the waves lapping at their feet, it was delightful.
I really don’t want to spoil anything for anyone by talking about the plot in too much depth, but I did like it. It was fast paced and heartwarming, a tale of a young girl coming to terms with her life and her fate, but also making it her own. I loved the way this wrapped up and the conclusion we reached, it was truly satisfying. But I don’t want to spoil that for you.
As this is a middle grade novel, the writing was very simplistic and easy to follow. I didn’t see anything particularly noteworthy in the writing style myself, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The writing flowed nicely, and I was carried through the story with ease, I’d say that’s a relatively positive note.
I really did enjoy this story, although there were certainly moments when Marinka would anger me with her silly choices, but at the same time we must remember that she’s a 12 year old girl having her fate forced upon her, she’s bound to make some poor choices. Despite that, I still felt for her. Some of the side characters may have annoyed me, but it all aided Marika’s growth, so certainly worth it.
Overall, a decent 4* read for me, the overall winning factor being the twist on the Baba Yaga story, and the personality of the Chicken House - I had a fun time with this, and I read for fun if you didn’t know!
This book is a middle grade fantasy retelling of the tale of Baba Yaga, and I loved the spin this had! Rather than just the one Baba Yaga, there is a whole Yaga family, spread across the world, helping the dead pass on to the other side. The Yaga’s are not to interact with the living, for each night, they celebrate with the dead.
Our main character is the young Marinka Yaga, living with her grandmother, Baba Yaga, and a Jackdaw named Jack, in their house with chicken legs. Marinka is young, and afraid of having her fate decided for her at such a young age, she wants to be able to take control of her own life, and her own destiny, and have a life with the living. In a way, this is a story of Marinka coming to terms with her life, and making the best of her situation.
Accompanying Marinka, we have her Grandmother, Baba Yaga, who was a really sweet old lady type. She was definitely the type of character who deserves a big cuddle and to be loved and appreciated. She was quirky and fun, and as Marinka’s Grandmother, of course wanted the best for her, but perhaps misunderstood her a little. It was nice to have such a present parental figure in this novel, as I know often those are pretty absent. And in Baba’s absence, we had the ‘Old Yaga’ who also had the Grandmotherly air about her, although she was slightly more mysterious, but also fun and quirky.
Some of the lesser side characters really did annoy me, but I feel they were supposed to, they were more of a plot device and helped Marinka develop her own character, but I could have done without a few of them to be honest with you. I did enjoy the role that the dead played in this, they were all rather friendly, which makes a change from the way ‘ghosts’ or ‘spirits’ are usually presented (a something slightly creepy!).
I absolutely adored the atmosphere this book provided, I felt completely connected to this world. I loved how warm and homely it all was, yet there was a slight eeriness to it, with the strong presence of the dead. There was quite a strong focus on the homely setting, and I think this came through really well, it made me feel right so comfortable reading it, like I belonged between those pages. The various settings of the book also projected a strong atmosphere to me, they visit the ocean at one point, and I loved how this was presented, I could sense the waves lapping at their feet, it was delightful.
I really don’t want to spoil anything for anyone by talking about the plot in too much depth, but I did like it. It was fast paced and heartwarming, a tale of a young girl coming to terms with her life and her fate, but also making it her own. I loved the way this wrapped up and the conclusion we reached, it was truly satisfying. But I don’t want to spoil that for you.
As this is a middle grade novel, the writing was very simplistic and easy to follow. I didn’t see anything particularly noteworthy in the writing style myself, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The writing flowed nicely, and I was carried through the story with ease, I’d say that’s a relatively positive note.
I really did enjoy this story, although there were certainly moments when Marinka would anger me with her silly choices, but at the same time we must remember that she’s a 12 year old girl having her fate forced upon her, she’s bound to make some poor choices. Despite that, I still felt for her. Some of the side characters may have annoyed me, but it all aided Marika’s growth, so certainly worth it.
Overall, a decent 4* read for me, the overall winning factor being the twist on the Baba Yaga story, and the personality of the Chicken House - I had a fun time with this, and I read for fun if you didn’t know!
medium-paced
Not a bad children’s story but a little irritating. The main character is entitled and very frustrating. She acts selfishly and takes a long time to learn her lessons. SHES surprised when she has to have empathy for things and everything that happens in the book is a direct result of her doing things that she’s been told not to. She is saved multiple times by random things and never directly fixes anything in the story. The ending feels unearned and random. She grows this HUGE relationship with another women and it also feels unearned? She gets everything she wanted without changing anything? She gets a replacement guardian and not having to do her job. Overall it’s a cool storyline just an annoying character with a bad ending.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tender and poignant, this readable book is captained by a heroine with lots of inner turmoil who struggles with feeling trapped by destiny. Deep wisdom is contained in this middle grade tale: death is a subject that needs more exploring and this book tackles it with wit and descriptive prose. My heart strings were pulled and my imaginative fires stoked. I swallowed this book whole and highly recommend it!
Also, I would love a Yaga house of my own! 🌱🍗🏠🍗🌱
Also, I would love a Yaga house of my own! 🌱🍗🏠🍗🌱
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes