Review: Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll (Illustrations)

Tuesday, October 31, 2017


Title: Baba Yaga's Assistant

Series: Stand-Alone

Author: Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll (Illustrations)

Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy

Publication Date: August 4th 2015 by Candlewick Press

Format: Hard Cover

Source: Library


Rating:









ASSISTANT WANTED ASAP
Must have skills in hauling, obeying orders, cooking, and cleaning. Magical talent a bonus. Must be good with heights. Enter Baba Yaga's house to apply.

Most children think twice before braving a haunted wood filled with terrifying beasties to match wits with a witch, but not Masha. Her beloved grandma taught her many things: that stories are useful, that magic is fickle, and that nothing is too difficult or too dirty to clean. The fearsome witch of folklore needs an assistant, and Masha needs an adventure. She may be clever enough to enter Baba Yaga's house on chicken legs, but within its walls, deceit is the rule. To earn her place, Masha must pass a series of tests, outfox a territorial bear, and make dinner for her host. No easy task, with children on the menu!

Wry, spooky and poignant, Marika McCoola's debut--with richly layered art by acclaimed graphic artist Emily Carroll--is a storytelling feat and a visual fest.







I have always wanted too read book by Baba Yaga after I read the book Uprooted there are some reference about her in Uprooted, which by the way I just love Uprooted as well. So when I saw this graphic novel that has Baba Yaga in it I wanted to give it a go and read it since I am really into graphic novels lately. So I check it out from the library this book is a 3.5 star for me I didn't love it but I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite part was how Baba Yaga was acting towards her would to be assistant Masha and giving her test to do and prove if she was a worthy assistant or not. And I really liked the silly and crazy test she gave and thoroughly enjoy how Masha acted on those silly and crazy test. Masa is a very cleaver girl which her grandmother told her plenty of Baba Yaga Stories so she is so ready for her own adventure with Baba Yaga as her future assistant if she past the test though. I absolutely love the artwork in this graphic novel it was very beautiful and creepy at the same time which is the way I like creepy novels to be like. The plotline was very unique and new for me, which this is the only graphic novel I have read with Baba Yaga in it so it was a refreshing book for me to read. The characters I thought were well rounded and well developed but I didn't feel any connection to any of them. But the writing style was beautiful and flawless that I just love reading every word in this graphic novel. All and all while I didn't love this graphic novel I absolutely and thoroughly enjoy it more than I thought I would. I would really like to read more books by Marika McCoola and Emily Carroll in the near future.
















Author Marika McCoola


Marika McCoola has an MA in writing for children from Simmons College and is a former children’s book buyer at an independent bookstore in Massachusetts. Baba Yaga’s Assistant marks her publishing debut. She lives in Massachusetts.



Illustrator Emily Carroll



My name is Emily Carroll, and I was born in June of 1983. I grew up in London (Ontario) but moved to Vancouver for work after graduating Sheridan College's Classical Animation program. I have since moved back to Ontario, and now live in Stratford with my wife, Kate Craig. We have a very large cat.


















    

2 comments:

  1. Oooh! This sounds fun. I'll have to see if my library has it :) Great review!

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    Replies
    1. Yes it was a really fun book to read during the fall season, I hope you enjoy it as well when you get the chance to read it Erica. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog Erica.

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