Loved the illustrations with all the bright colors.

Content: remembering death of parent

4.5 Stars ( )

Very interesting update of Baba Yaga. Excellent illustrations, well written. ( )

I recently read Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola, which is a middle-grade graphic novel that tells the story of a young girl named Masha who becomes the assistant to the legendary witch Baba Yaga. I love the art of Emily Carroll (Through the Woods is a fantastic graphic novel), and her illustrations are the main reason I picked up this book. While I was thoroughly impressed by the stunning artwork, I found the story to be somewhat lacking. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and bring the fantastical world of Baba Yaga to life in a way that is truly magical. However, I was left wanting more from the narrative itself.

In the book, Masha is a young girl who is trying to find her place in the world. She stumbles upon Baba Yaga, the legendary witch, and becomes her assistant. Masha finds herself on a journey filled with magic, mythical creatures, and new experiences as she helps Baba Yaga with her tasks. Along the way, Masha discovers that she has a talent for magic herself and begins to gain confidence in her abilities. The story follows Masha as she learns more about herself and her grandmother, who was also once an assistant to Baba Yaga. Through her adventures, Masha discovers the importance of bravery and determination.

There is certainly an interesting premise here, but unfortunately it feels quite simplistic in its current form. There is a lack of depth and complexity to the plot, with very little character development or intricate world-building. For example, while Baba Yaga is depicted as a powerful and mysterious figure, her motivations and character are not explored in any meaningful way. I liked the flashbacks to stories Masha had heard before and I enjoyed learning little snippets of the Baba Yaga mythos, but all of the conflicts seemed to resolve too easily (and yes, I recognize that this is a middle grade story based in folklore haha).

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a visually stunning story, but those looking for a more substantial narrative may be disappointed. The illustrations alone make this book worth checking out, but be prepared for a story that feels like it could have been fleshed out more. ( )

Don't go to a job interview with Baba Yaga unless you're well-versed in her stories. Remember that.
I liked this quite a bit. The artwork was appealing, and there was an easy mix of modern story and fairy tale.
I would read more by this author.
( )

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley. ( )