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.
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