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A review by thelibraryofethos
The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
4.0
"You need to stop thinking strength is about the size of your muscles or the length of your fangs. True strength is something far more delicate. Like spider silk. And you'll need a web of it to defeat Smey. We" - Mousetrap spins around - "are your web."
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This book was such a delightful surprise!
I saw this book ages ago and was immediately interested in the cover alone. I mean, look at it. It's beautiful alright.
This book is gaining a lot of recognition in children's book awards, which is what eventually pushed me to actually sit down and read it.
And to start with, I was disappointed.
The beginning of this story did not capture my attention or my heart. I disliked the main character, Yanka, and felt like the world-building was laid on too heavily to be enjoyable.
But somewhere in the middle of this book, it snuck up on me. I was completely entralled.
It all began with Mousetrap.
Mousetrap is one of the loveliest characters to grace modern children's literature. I say loveliest not in the sense that he is lovely, but in the sense that he is sharp-tongued, witty, brave and wise. I should probably mention, Mousetrap is a weasel.
Because this girl, as the title suggests, CAN SPEAK TO ANIMALS.
I know it's not the first time this has been written about. But Sophie Anderson weaved this story together so delicately, so adeptly, it was enchanting. I was catapulted straight back to my childhood dreams of wanting to communicate with every animal I came across.
Once I was into the thick of the story, I had no complaints. It was just the transition into the story that has me withholding the 5th star from this book.
Anderson has created a fantastical, wonderful world based around Russian (?) fairytales, which obviously she herself is very interested in. Which is understandable - it seems to be an interesting subject indeed. Who doesn't love fairytales?
But I feel like she is so focused on aspects of the world-building that she personally has fallen in love with (I'm looking at you, House with Chicken Legs) that she kind of... neglects the storytelling and character building.
While Mousetrap was such a bright and brilliant influence on this story, Sasha was simply Side Character No.1. And he shouldn't have been. There could have been more characterisation, but it was pushed aside to make room for the world building, the not-so-subtle mention of traditional food or ceremonies.
Trust me, I am all for education about culture through fiction. But don't neglect the characters in the story while you're at it. Characters are always more interesting than background information. (I am a big fan of specific food mentions, however).
Saying all that, I should finish this review with the way I felt upon finishing the book.
This book was a whole journey really. You start off with a normal (if that is a thing) story of a girl trying to find her place in the world (which, of course, is a Russian fairytale world), some poor decisions made along the way, a diverse set of animal friends and an actual QUEST to save the magical world. This story has ALL the jazz. Actually finishing it left me with such a warm feeling inside. I'm talking about the REALLY mushy stuff. Friendship is magical, the cheese is real, kind of stuff. I loved the ending.
-------------------------------------
This book was such a delightful surprise!
I saw this book ages ago and was immediately interested in the cover alone. I mean, look at it. It's beautiful alright.
This book is gaining a lot of recognition in children's book awards, which is what eventually pushed me to actually sit down and read it.
And to start with, I was disappointed.
The beginning of this story did not capture my attention or my heart. I disliked the main character, Yanka, and felt like the world-building was laid on too heavily to be enjoyable.
But somewhere in the middle of this book, it snuck up on me. I was completely entralled.
It all began with Mousetrap.
Mousetrap is one of the loveliest characters to grace modern children's literature. I say loveliest not in the sense that he is lovely, but in the sense that he is sharp-tongued, witty, brave and wise. I should probably mention, Mousetrap is a weasel.
Because this girl, as the title suggests, CAN SPEAK TO ANIMALS.
I know it's not the first time this has been written about. But Sophie Anderson weaved this story together so delicately, so adeptly, it was enchanting. I was catapulted straight back to my childhood dreams of wanting to communicate with every animal I came across.
Once I was into the thick of the story, I had no complaints. It was just the transition into the story that has me withholding the 5th star from this book.
Anderson has created a fantastical, wonderful world based around Russian (?) fairytales, which obviously she herself is very interested in. Which is understandable - it seems to be an interesting subject indeed. Who doesn't love fairytales?
But I feel like she is so focused on aspects of the world-building that she personally has fallen in love with (I'm looking at you, House with Chicken Legs) that she kind of... neglects the storytelling and character building.
While Mousetrap was such a bright and brilliant influence on this story, Sasha was simply Side Character No.1. And he shouldn't have been. There could have been more characterisation, but it was pushed aside to make room for the world building, the not-so-subtle mention of traditional food or ceremonies.
Trust me, I am all for education about culture through fiction. But don't neglect the characters in the story while you're at it. Characters are always more interesting than background information. (I am a big fan of specific food mentions, however).
Saying all that, I should finish this review with the way I felt upon finishing the book.
This book was a whole journey really. You start off with a normal (if that is a thing) story of a girl trying to find her place in the world (which, of course, is a Russian fairytale world), some poor decisions made along the way, a diverse set of animal friends and an actual QUEST to save the magical world. This story has ALL the jazz. Actually finishing it left me with such a warm feeling inside. I'm talking about the REALLY mushy stuff. Friendship is magical, the cheese is real, kind of stuff. I loved the ending.