Baba Yaga's Assistant: A Graphic Novel

Given the intended elementary school-age audience, it’s understandable that this graphic novel turns the fearsome and fickle witch, Baba Yaga, into a prank-playing, misunderstood crone with a heart of gold. Author Marika McCoola makes it clear in the opening pages that her retelling of the Slavic folklore will be unconventional.The defanging of the Baba Yaga character didn’t bother me so much as the demonizing of the stepmother one, a long tradition in ancient and popular culture, which sets this so-called unconventional tale in motion. The main character, Masha, runs away to become Baba Yaga’s assistant because she’s unhappy with her father’s intended new wife (weirdly, a woman she’s never met before).The confusing and complicated plotlines pile up from there. Is this a stepmother/daughter conflict? Coming of age story? Fairy tale? Family drama? Magical realism? Fantasy? Adventure story? Heroic tale?McCoola touches on all these themes in this 127-page book. After a Hansel and Gretel-type interlude, Masha leaves behind her normal-looking but uncaring family, to live with the evil-looking but lovable Baba Yaga. On top of the dead mother, a recently-dead grandmother graces the pages in flashback form, who, it turns out was Baba Yaga’s assistant, too. So, add spiritual inheritance and destiny to the list of covered subjects.Emily Carroll saves the book with her richly depicted and colored illustrations that slow down the pell-mell pace of the story. Without her, this book would be a two-star work. A beautiful but confusing book for any age.

This is a really fun book that has an ever-so-slight identity crisis. The story reads as if it were a children's book, and they the content is a little too adult in my opinion to be a children's book. Young children will still be a little scared of the concept of a witch that eats little children, and yet the main characters are all very light-hearted, wink in your eye. I wanted to assume that this was one of those things in life that is written on two level (like early simpsons episodes), but I don't think it is that deep. It's merely a pleasant tale of a young girl and here interactions with the witch Baba Yaga. I don't think you'll get a lot out of this book, but it's a very pleasant read and you'll smile throughout. A disposable, yet enjoyable tale.Re-readability = 5

This is a chapter book for young readers that has a kindly view of Baba Yaga. It doesn't portray her as her legend is known but at least it's an introduction for young minds who might look into her legend when they get older.

I originally bought this as a birthday gift for a 7-year old. I had read her a different version from the library that she enjoyed, that had a more traditional happy ending, but I eventually decided that this one was a bit dark for her at this age. That said, I love the book and am keeping it to give her when she is a little older - I just want her to keep believing in 'happily ever after' for as long as she can.

Beautiful artwork and a mesmerizing story. Loved reading this spooky book with my daughter (8).

Baba Yaga is certainly not a new character and this book certainly captured this old time tale but with a 21st century twist. My 11 year old had re-read this book at least 5 times. The illustrations are well done. I certainly recommend this book to tween parent's looking to get their kids into reading more.

I love this book I wish it was around when I was a kid! Its an amazing book especially for the girls, gays and they's! Hands down much needed story with a new spin on the Baba Yaga (otherwise known as the "Blaire Witch") 😘

My daughter read in a day!!!

So, after reading a few novels recently which all had adultery at their heart, I felt that my latest read should be a little more, relaxed, shall we say? And, considering that I need to get on and read books from my tbr pile, I decided upon this one, for a quick read.When I originally picked this graphic novel, I did so because of the illustrator, Emily Carroll. Having read a couple of other graphic novels by her, I was eager to find something else that she had worked on. She does not disappoint this time round either. Carroll's illustrations perfectly enhance the tale by Marika McCoola. McCoola's tale perfectly uses elements of folk and fairy tales, to tell this tale. Carroll's colour palette is fantastic, bringing the illustrations and characters to life.For a quick read, this novel was perfect.

This graphic novel is for younger readers, but I picked it up because the art style is really cute and I'm currently interested in Baba Yaga's character and folklore.The main story is great. Poor Masha has been left alone after the death of her beloved grandmother, who used to tell her stories and teach her things while her dad was off doing whatever (it's not specified). I felt really bad for her because her dad surprises her at the beginning of the book with his new fiancée and her daughter - like he's already replaced her with a new, ready-made family. I actually really despised the dad and he wasn't even the main villain of the story.So, feeling like she's no longer wanted - and her dad not really doing anything to stop her - Masha goes off to seek Baba Yaga and become her new assistant, spurred on by the stories that her grandmother used to tell her. For the story being about Baba Yaga, to a certain degree, she isn't actually in it a whole lot and I was a bit let down because of this.It's still a cute story for younger kids and I think it shows a lot about forgiveness and being brave enough to do the right thing. The art really brings the story to life and the story and illustrations combined make a very visually appealing book for kids. Definitely worth picking up for those interested in fairy tale type stories.

Ho comprato questo volume per i disegni di emily carrol, fumettista che adoro. In effetti anche stavolta sono carini e l'utilizzo del colore per veicolare emozioni e lassi temporali diversi è ottimo. Personalmente la storia non mi ha entusiasmato, ho trovato i personaggi poco coerenti e non troppo chiari.In ogni caso è un fumetto carino per adolescenti o bambini, ma non lo consiglierei per adulti.

An awesome story about growing as a person. I loved the ending. You can forgive someone but still do what is best for you regardless of what they want. Beautiful art.

This is a wonderful graphic novel, so beautifully drawn and an amazing story!