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I'm not sure what has inspired the many Baba Yaga books of the past few years, but I can't say I'm disappointed by it! I've enjoyed most of them, and "The Door by the Staircase" might just be my favorite of them all.
Mary has been trying to escape the orphanage where she lives, but suddenly she is adopted by the mysterious Madame Z. Madame Z whisks her away to Iris, New York, a town full of magical shops. Mary makes her first friend here, and thinks she might finally have a home. But is Madame Z who she says she is? Or does she want something more sinister?
I really liked how Baba Yaga was used in this story. It was different to see the nicer side of her, which you may or may not like, depending on how you like your Baby Yaga. I enjoyed how feisty Mary was, and I didn't see some of the twists and turns coming. A fun middle grade read.
Mary has been trying to escape the orphanage where she lives, but suddenly she is adopted by the mysterious Madame Z. Madame Z whisks her away to Iris, New York, a town full of magical shops. Mary makes her first friend here, and thinks she might finally have a home. But is Madame Z who she says she is? Or does she want something more sinister?
I really liked how Baba Yaga was used in this story. It was different to see the nicer side of her, which you may or may not like, depending on how you like your Baby Yaga. I enjoyed how feisty Mary was, and I didn't see some of the twists and turns coming. A fun middle grade read.
This is a quietly beautiful book. I'm not sure what I was expecting--more action? A stronger conclusion?
Sol and her sister have been left behind in Louisiana by their father. He also abandoned their stepmother, Vea. They live together uneasily in an apartment on the poorer side of town. Sol has told her sister fairy tales constantly, while also living with the guilt that she was the cause of death for her older sister and perhaps her mother. The story tracks one summer in their lives, showing how Sol has misjudged other people in her life, while also showing that stories both help us get by and also cause us to follow false dreams.
Sol and her sister have been left behind in Louisiana by their father. He also abandoned their stepmother, Vea. They live together uneasily in an apartment on the poorer side of town. Sol has told her sister fairy tales constantly, while also living with the guilt that she was the cause of death for her older sister and perhaps her mother. The story tracks one summer in their lives, showing how Sol has misjudged other people in her life, while also showing that stories both help us get by and also cause us to follow false dreams.
I just couldn't with the ending of this book. I'm sure it's very realistic and perhaps even somewhat true to the author's experience, but I just wasn't into it at all.
I'm going to have to do a more complete review of this book later (probably on the blog), but it's achingly real. At first, I was surprised that O'Neill created such an unlikable character, but then I realized that was part of the point-- no one deserves what happened to Emma. It doesn't matter what you are like normally. Just gutwrenching.
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A Tyranny of Petticoats
Y.S. Lee, Marissa Meyer, Andrea Cremer, J. Anderson Coats, Marie Lu, Katherine Longshore, Jessica Spotswood, Kekla Magoon
An interesting collection of historical and historical fantasy stories. You can tell that there was an effort to be diverse, although some stereotypes remain. I did really enjoy it, and look forward to the second one.
An excellent middle novel, which I think is rare. I'm glad I'm savoring this series, spacing it out so I have longer with it but not so long that I forget what is happening.
Funny. And why do I crave Snickers now?