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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I don't think I'm in the mood for this
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love this book. It's a wonderful coming-of-age fantasy that is relatable even though it's about baba yaga(s). The main theme is about finding a supportive community.
I would give this 3 1/2 stars - it is mostly because I am not much of a fantasy reader. I don't know if I would have liked the story as a child, but it is interesting. Twelve-year old Marinka struggles to find her place. She lives with her grandmother who is a Yaga, a person who guides the dead through the gate to the afterworld. Marinka is suppose to learn the trade and take over, but she longs to join the living rather than be surrounded by the dead. Plus, she is always moving. Her house moves from place to place as different needs arrive.
I could relate to Marinka's struggle to find her course in life. I loved the poetic phrases as the dead summed up their lives - The Yaga would ask - "What do you take with you to the stars" One answer - the love of family and home (p. 76). It certainly made me reflect on what the summary of my life would be!
Marinka has a chance to hang out with the living, but finds not everyone is as wonderful as she hoped. She says, "I wanted to be something I'm not.....I wish I had been stronger in myself" (p. 179). Another wise Yaga gives Marinka some advice, "Don't give up on the living, though. There are more good people than bad people in this world. You just have to be careful, and choose your friends wisely" (p. 183).
I could relate to Marinka's struggle to find her course in life. I loved the poetic phrases as the dead summed up their lives - The Yaga would ask - "What do you take with you to the stars" One answer - the love of family and home (p. 76). It certainly made me reflect on what the summary of my life would be!
Marinka has a chance to hang out with the living, but finds not everyone is as wonderful as she hoped. She says, "I wanted to be something I'm not.....I wish I had been stronger in myself" (p. 179). Another wise Yaga gives Marinka some advice, "Don't give up on the living, though. There are more good people than bad people in this world. You just have to be careful, and choose your friends wisely" (p. 183).
This was a fantastic children's story, with really positive messages, a beautiful storyline and strongly developed characters.
Come back to for:
- Great language, particularly plot descriptions (varied locations)
- Recommendations for children who seem to like gore/ horror to turn them towards something with more positive messages but similar themes
- Help to understand grief/ death
Come back to for:
- Great language, particularly plot descriptions (varied locations)
- Recommendations for children who seem to like gore/ horror to turn them towards something with more positive messages but similar themes
- Help to understand grief/ death
The main character Marinka was annoying and self-centred and unwilling to take responsibility for her poor choices and their outcomes, till about 90-95% of the way into the book, at which point I liked her. I realize she was only twelve so her lack of maturity and responsibility were necessary to show her evolution by the end of the book, but it was difficult for me to feel patient with her (maybe because I’ve met plenty of kids that age who were much more responsible than Marinka was.)
Anyway, I liked the jackdaw a lot, and was reminded of the afterlife Lirael saw in Garth Nix’s “Lirael” when Marinka went there, and the chicken legs reminded me of Studio Ghibli’s version of Howl’s Moving Castle, so this book was somewhat derivative. ==> 3 stars.
I LOVED the cover by Red Nose Studios ==> 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars.
Anyway, I liked the jackdaw a lot, and was reminded of the afterlife Lirael saw in Garth Nix’s “Lirael” when Marinka went there, and the chicken legs reminded me of Studio Ghibli’s version of Howl’s Moving Castle, so this book was somewhat derivative. ==> 3 stars.
I LOVED the cover by Red Nose Studios ==> 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars.
Based on the Slavic folk tale of Baba Yaga, this story turns tradition on its head: Baba Yaga has always been painted as a witch, an evil character plotting and magicking against others. Here, we see Baba Yaga as a loving grandmother to Marinka.
Marinka assists her grandmother as she sends the dead through The Gate, from one world to the next; however, Marinka's frustration with her repetitive life, and inability to make lasting, meaningful friendships, leads her to make some questionable decisions.
Throughout the book, Marinka is torn as to what is right and what is wrong - she always seems to have made her mind up, but her stubborn streak is often scuppered by her sense of duty and loyalty to her grandmother, and to her house with chicken legs.
Without wanting to reveal too much, one of my favourite things about the book was that Marinka made bad decisions, and largely had to pay the price for them. This is an important lesson for children to learn as it can often be the case that stories have characters making the wrong decision, but then everything works out just fine. Not the case here, and it's all the better for it.
Brilliant world-building, a strong female lead and suspense throughout - a great read.
Marinka assists her grandmother as she sends the dead through The Gate, from one world to the next; however, Marinka's frustration with her repetitive life, and inability to make lasting, meaningful friendships, leads her to make some questionable decisions.
Throughout the book, Marinka is torn as to what is right and what is wrong - she always seems to have made her mind up, but her stubborn streak is often scuppered by her sense of duty and loyalty to her grandmother, and to her house with chicken legs.
Without wanting to reveal too much, one of my favourite things about the book was that Marinka made bad decisions, and largely had to pay the price for them. This is an important lesson for children to learn as it can often be the case that stories have characters making the wrong decision, but then everything works out just fine. Not the case here, and it's all the better for it.
Brilliant world-building, a strong female lead and suspense throughout - a great read.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying
Marinka lives with her Baba in a house with chicken legs. Baba is a Yaga who helps guide the dead through the gate into the afterlife. Marinka is expected to become the next Yaga but she wants a normal life. She wants to stay in one place and make friends, maybe go to school. Right now her only friend is her pet jackdaw and she never knows when the house will decide to walk to the next destination.
Things start to go wrong when Marinka keeps one of the dead as a friend. Then Baba has to guide the girl through the gate herself. Suddenly Marinka is on her own with a house that seems to be coming apart because the dead are not being guided. Marinka enlists the help of another Yaga and discovers some hard truths about herself.
I have a strange fascination with Baba Yaga stories. Maybe because I wasn't exposed to them until I was an adult. I love the chicken house aspect of all the stories. I quite enjoyed the twist that Yagas guide the dead. I also loved Marinka's journey as she discovers who she is and how she can make a life as both a girl and a Yaga.
Things start to go wrong when Marinka keeps one of the dead as a friend. Then Baba has to guide the girl through the gate herself. Suddenly Marinka is on her own with a house that seems to be coming apart because the dead are not being guided. Marinka enlists the help of another Yaga and discovers some hard truths about herself.
I have a strange fascination with Baba Yaga stories. Maybe because I wasn't exposed to them until I was an adult. I love the chicken house aspect of all the stories. I quite enjoyed the twist that Yagas guide the dead. I also loved Marinka's journey as she discovers who she is and how she can make a life as both a girl and a Yaga.