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A review by sasha_in_a_box
Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola
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.