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