I've been on a folklore kick lately, so when I saw "Vasilisa" by Julie Mathison, I leapt to read it, having just finished several books featuring Vasilisa and Baba Yaga. Mathison's rendition of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is not like any other I've read, which I appreciate.

Yes, there are some things that are 'very Baba Yaga,' that one may expect to see, like her chicken hut and mortar and pestle. But it really is neat to see different interpretations of the witch-woman.

* What I Liked

- The humor and wit is great

- It's clear the author loves language

- Evelyn: A complex, interesting and surprising character -- her story line was so surprising

- I love the lessons Vasilisa imparts to those around her, simply by being herself



* What Tripped Me Up

- This is probably my modern vantage point showing, but Vasilisa and Ivan seemed much older than their 14 years of age, when they spoke.

I do wonder if this has to do with the hardened realities they experienced, that made them grow more mature beyond their years, perhaps? I kept on having to remind myself that they were just teenagers, even though they spoke in a more mature way, and that briefly pulled me out of the story and into reality (perish the thought)!

* Stars: Four

* Other thoughts:

- Fast moving plot

- Interesting characters

- Plot twists and surprises

- Characters who grow and change over the course of the book

- And ... a promise that we, as readers, will be able to return to Old Rus again in the future, as the Old Rus series will consist of four volumes!

Thank you Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book. These are my honest thoughts.

I have just finished Vasilisa by Julie Mathison. This was a middle-grade book, set to be published 23 February 2021, all about the Russian tale of Baba Yaga. She is known as an elderly woman, or sometimes a trio of sisters who lives in a hut described as standing on chicken legs.

The story brings us Vasilisa and Ivan, who find themselves embroiled in the tales of old Russia and who must work together to bring Vasilisa's father home from war, and to resolve Ivan's thirst to avenge his parent's deaths.

The story was well-written, and I was immediately invested in Vasilisa's story. The character development of Vasilisa intrigued me, as she begins as a little girl, longing for her father to return home, but finishes the book as a strong young woman who stands up for herself and for her friends and family. The novel emphasizes kindness over violence and demonstrates that choosing to be caring and kind will always have better consequences than being hateful and violent.

This theme played out throughout the novel and is an excellent message for middle-grade readers. Vasilia's struggles with mythological creatures may not be relatable, but the way in which she responds to these threats certainly can be. Vasilia's resilience and positive choice are an excellent role model for middle-grade readers.

The only critique I had whilst reading the book was that I found the story quite linear. There was a very clear path of what was to come, and there was little deviation from this. The straight path meant that the ending was quite predictable.

Overall, the story was sweet, with an excellent message for young readers, and it was an enjoyable read.

Rating: 4/5 stars.