Status
Available
Publication
Candlewick (2015), Edition: First Edition, 136 pages
Description
"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, 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!"--
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User reviews
LibraryThing member kivarson
Why would anyone choose to live with the Baba Yaga? Most tales surrounding that child eating witch involve a bright child outwitting the witch to escape the enchanted roving house with gigantic chicken legs. But when Masha's cold and distant father abruptly introduces her to a new stepmother and
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stepsister, life with the evil Baba Yaga seems like a better option than the physical pain of being scratched, bitten and beaten by her new stepsister or the deeper emotional pain of watching her father shower attention on his new bride and child. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this graphic novel to review through Netgalley. This ended up being a well done young adult graphic novel that explores both growing up and the myths surrounding Baba Yaga.
Masha is struggling when her dad announces that he is getting re-married. Part of the “new” family includes
This was a wonderful look into some of the Baba Yaga mythology. Masha’s grandmother told Masha a number of different stories/myths about Baba Yaga when she was alive and Masha retells her grandmother’s stories throughout this book.
The story is entertaining and fun. It was fun to watch Masha outwit Baba Yaga and twist Baba Yaga’s requests to match her own morals. Additionally throughout the story Masha learns to make peace with her new family and learns how to stand up for herself better.
The illustration was a bit more cartoony than I like and had a bit of an unfinished look to it. I did enjoy that the illustrations were full color and didn’t have any trouble following the illustration; it just wasn’t my favorite drawing style.
The character, Masha, seems to be more YA age...however, there isn’t anything here that would prevent the middle grade age group from enjoying the story as well.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining graphic novel about the mythos behind Baba Yaga and a young woman’s struggle to fit in with a new family. I loved the mythology throughout and loved learning more about Baba Yaga. I enjoyed Masha’s character and loved how she grew throughout the story. This would be a great read for those readers middle grade and older who are interested in mythology.
Masha is struggling when her dad announces that he is getting re-married. Part of the “new” family includes
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a viscious little girl. Masha is desperate for an adventure (and to escape her new family) answers an ad looking for an assistant for Baba Yaga. After undergoing a number of trials and outwitting Baba Yaga at her own game; Masha not only learns that a lot of the myths around Baba Yaga aren’t quite true...she learns a lot about herself.This was a wonderful look into some of the Baba Yaga mythology. Masha’s grandmother told Masha a number of different stories/myths about Baba Yaga when she was alive and Masha retells her grandmother’s stories throughout this book.
The story is entertaining and fun. It was fun to watch Masha outwit Baba Yaga and twist Baba Yaga’s requests to match her own morals. Additionally throughout the story Masha learns to make peace with her new family and learns how to stand up for herself better.
The illustration was a bit more cartoony than I like and had a bit of an unfinished look to it. I did enjoy that the illustrations were full color and didn’t have any trouble following the illustration; it just wasn’t my favorite drawing style.
The character, Masha, seems to be more YA age...however, there isn’t anything here that would prevent the middle grade age group from enjoying the story as well.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining graphic novel about the mythos behind Baba Yaga and a young woman’s struggle to fit in with a new family. I loved the mythology throughout and loved learning more about Baba Yaga. I enjoyed Masha’s character and loved how she grew throughout the story. This would be a great read for those readers middle grade and older who are interested in mythology.
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LibraryThing member eduscapes
BABA YAGA’s ASSISTANT by Marika McCoola is an engaging middle-grade graphic novel fantasy featuring a central character in Russian folklore.
Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She
McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.
This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.
Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.
Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She
Show More
inherited a love of folklore and bit of magic from her grandmother, but that may not be enough to save her from this supernatural old woman who preys on children and flies around in a mortar wielding a pestle. McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.
This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.
Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.
Show Less
LibraryThing member eduscapes
BABA YAGA’s ASSISTANT by Marika McCoola is an engaging middle-grade graphic novel fantasy featuring a central character in Russian folklore.
Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She
McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.
This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.
Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.
Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She
Show More
inherited a love of folklore and bit of magic from her grandmother, but that may not be enough to save her from this supernatural old woman who preys on children and flies around in a mortar wielding a pestle. McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.
This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.
Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Debra_Armbruster
Clever and fun, perfect for middle school readers.
LibraryThing member BillieBook
A new and interesting take on both Baba Yaga and blended families. Step-parents and step-siblings aren't always awesome and amazing and sometimes it's preferable to run off and become the assistant to the witch in the woods. And, yes, Baba Yaga eats children, but she's (reluctantly) willing to let
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them go if they can truly change their behaviors and attitudes. McCoola cleverly blends several Baba Yaga tales into a single and singular narrative and I can't think of any artist who would have been better suited to bring this story to life than Carroll. Unfortunately, the ARC was in black and white and the finished copy will be in full color. While the story completely works in black and white, adding color will inevitably affect the mood of the piece--for good or ill I do not know. However the color affects the final product, the story is well worth your time and should prove popular with middle grade girls. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jape200
Not being a fan of graphic novels, McCoola is accurate in creating Masha the moody teen character. Obedience, thinking out of the box and appreciation are a few of the important concepts taught in "Baba Yaga's Assistant" . to mention a few. The illustrations of course make each page visually
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pleasing. Recommended for young readers 7-12. Show Less
LibraryThing member aratiel
Loved the art - Emily Carroll was a good choice for this. Her illustrations are dark, whimsical, and portray a lot of emotion. The story was okay; I wished there was more of a resolution for the characters at the end.
LibraryThing member kittyjay
Masha has grown up on stories of Baba Yaga, told to her by her grandmother, and finds herself longing for some magic in her life. Her father has married a new stepmother, who brings with her a terrible step-sister for Masha. Frustrated by the attention her father lavishes on his new family, Masha
Like all good fairy tales, she must complete certain impossible tasks to prove herself, which she does aptly with the help from her grandmother's stories. When Baba Yaga kidnaps her new step-sister and several other children, Masha's quick wit keeps them safe and brings them home, with a twist ending that betrays a certain maturity about this story.
The artwork in Baba Yaga's Assistant is done with soft, thin lines. The characters are portrayed realistically, aside from the titular Baba Yaga, who is the prototypical cartoon witch. The stories told to Masha by her grandmother are drawn in more simplistic, flat art that works to emphasize the difference between them and the main storyline.
The color palette is where illustrator Emily Carroll really shines, however. Flipping through the pages is an experience in color: reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows are used to depict danger and quick-wit, grays and blacks are used for sad scenes, and a gorgeous cool color palette is used as the story moves to its conclusion. One particular spread of the children, led by Masha, marching along a golden road through blue, black, and purple trees under a purple sky spotted with stars reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, is downright magical.
The conclusion itself, as I said, betrays a certain maturity. Appropriate for a story about Baba Yaga, this story does not have a Disney-happy, everything works out ending. Instead, it's a bittersweet, realistic take that doesn't flinch away from unhappy realities.
A lovely, moving story that will delight all readers who grew up with stories of the infamous Baba Yaga, Baba Yaga's Assistant is well worth a look.
Show More
strikes out to find Baba Yaga after finding an advertisement in the paper for an opening as Baba Yaga's assistant.Like all good fairy tales, she must complete certain impossible tasks to prove herself, which she does aptly with the help from her grandmother's stories. When Baba Yaga kidnaps her new step-sister and several other children, Masha's quick wit keeps them safe and brings them home, with a twist ending that betrays a certain maturity about this story.
The artwork in Baba Yaga's Assistant is done with soft, thin lines. The characters are portrayed realistically, aside from the titular Baba Yaga, who is the prototypical cartoon witch. The stories told to Masha by her grandmother are drawn in more simplistic, flat art that works to emphasize the difference between them and the main storyline.
The color palette is where illustrator Emily Carroll really shines, however. Flipping through the pages is an experience in color: reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows are used to depict danger and quick-wit, grays and blacks are used for sad scenes, and a gorgeous cool color palette is used as the story moves to its conclusion. One particular spread of the children, led by Masha, marching along a golden road through blue, black, and purple trees under a purple sky spotted with stars reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, is downright magical.
The conclusion itself, as I said, betrays a certain maturity. Appropriate for a story about Baba Yaga, this story does not have a Disney-happy, everything works out ending. Instead, it's a bittersweet, realistic take that doesn't flinch away from unhappy realities.
A lovely, moving story that will delight all readers who grew up with stories of the infamous Baba Yaga, Baba Yaga's Assistant is well worth a look.
Show Less
LibraryThing member justreign
Loved this! Emily Carroll's illustrations completely meet expectations and are amazing as always! Completely conveys McCoola's story perfectly. Would totally read again!
LibraryThing member DGRachel
Not a fan of the art style and I really didn’t like the lettering, but the story more than made up for the graphics. It was a fast, fun, creepy read.
LibraryThing member obtusata
This starts as a story of grief and mourning, but brings in the magic and trickery of Baba Yaga. It's absolutely delightful.
The art is as you'd expect from Emily Carroll - lovely and creepy.
The art is as you'd expect from Emily Carroll - lovely and creepy.
Awards
Thumbs Up! Award (Top Ten — 2016)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — 2017)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2018)
Massachusetts Book Award (Honor Book — 2016)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2016)
Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Book (Junior — 2016)
Notable Children's Book (Older Readers — 2016)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Fiction — 2016)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Fiction for Older Readers — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-08-04
Physical description
8.88 inches
ISBN
076366961X / 9780763669614