The House With Chicken Legs!

This was a book we had to read for school and it was a rollercoaster of a story! Marinka is an ordinary girl with an ordinary life, just kidding! Her grandmother is Baba Yaga, but she is no scary witch. She is a kind hearted soul, guiding the dead from this world to the next, and taking in her granddaughter after her parents' death. Every night, they have parties for the dead, filled with delicious food, enchanting stories, and wonderful music. As well, their house has legs and carries them across vast distances to foreign lands! However, Marinka doesn't want this life, she wants friends. This conflict with her destiny and Baba causes rebellion, risks, and, most of all, problems! With loneliness looming, and a fate worse than death, can Marinka find a way out of the Yaga life, or should she just accept her fate and settle for less? 

This book is a great read, Sophie Anderson is an incredible author and never disappoints! It's inclusivity of Slavic culture and legends are so creative and make this story so fascinating to read. I love the addition of the glossary in the back for all the words I have now learnt like borscht, balalaika, pirog, not to mention kvass and pchelka. Those are only to list a few words of my new vocabulary. The twists and turns made me gasp multiple times and I genuinely had emotions for Marinka. I was mainly annoyed at her for being so reckless, but I connected with the story none the less. Overall, an amazing read full of description, vivid imagination and a wholesome ending. Well done Sophie Anderson, a truly remarkable book!

Recommended Age Rating: 8+

Star Rating: 4.99999..... Stars ⭐️ (would of been 5 but Marinka made such stupid decisions it aggravated me so much)