Egg & Spoon

Master storyteller Gregory Maguire surpasses himself in a dazzling tour de force as he spins a mesmerizing, magical tale for readers of all ages. Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father is dead and her mother dying. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar's army and the other taken to serve in the house of a wealthy landowner. Elena's future is as bleak as the wastelands surrounding her village of Miersk. That is until the night of a freak storm when a majestic steam train is forced to stop at the village's abandoned station. The train carries a fabulous Faberge egg and Ekaterina, a girl whose fate is now entwined with Elena's. When their lives collide, a complex, funny and engrossing adventure begins. An adventure that embraces mistaken identity, the mythical Firebird, a prince travelling incognito, the awesome city of Saint Petersburg, the glacial lands of the north, and - in a starring role - Baba Yaga, the enigmatic witch of Russian folklore and her shapeshifting house, Dumb Doma, perched on chicken legs.

Commended for Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Fiction) 2015

“Though the story bears some marks of a heroic quest, it is really a series of dreamy, expertly painted vignettes, set pieces both absurd and spectacular. … Maguire's wit is shown to best advantage when in sync with his lush whimsy… In this surfeit of myth and mayhem, there are also moments of poignant quiet, when the grand quest of saving the magic of Russia recedes. In these moments, the human comes to the fore, and our focus narrows once more to a child longing for a parent, a mother longing for a child, the aching burden of living through suffering that life demands again and again. … It is impossible not to root for girls and watches and aunts alike, and to cheer their little victories as acts of grace. -The New York Times Book Review Maguire marries the traditional "Prince and the Pauper" narrative to the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga with his trademark wit and aplomb. His lyrical descriptions of the drab countryside are equally detailed and moving as the charmed, floating courts of the Romanov dynasty. Each character is well-drawn and fascinating... The author weaves a lyrical tale full of magic and promise, yet checkered with the desperation of poverty and the treacherous prospect of a world gone completely awry. Egg and Spoon is a beautiful reminder that fairy tales are at their best when they illuminate the precarious balance between lighthearted childhood and the darkness and danger of adulthood. -School Library Journal (starred review) An is an epic rich with references, aphorisms and advice. An ambitious, Scheherazade-ian novel, rather like a nesting-doll set of stories, that succeeds in capturing some of the complexities of both Russia and life itself. -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Like the matryoshka doll Elena carries, there are a lot of layers to Maguire's story. Rich, descriptive language will reward readers who like to sink their teeth into a meaty story. -Publishers Weekly (starred review) Maguire savors every inch of his elaborate narrative, introducing tropes from Russian folktales and giving his characters plenty of play, especially the hardboiled Baba Yaga, who seems to exist outside of time (and is akin to Maguire's other witches). The plot meanders, developing everywhere at once yet always intriguing. ... [T]here is so much in his rich and consistently surprising prose that young readers will ... enjoy the gift of his magical story. -The Horn Book (starred review) Set in Tsarist Russia, Gregory Maguire''s suspenseful story conjures the folkloric figure Baba Yaga--a hilariously acerbic old witch--and incorporates fantastic creatures such as the Firebird, an ice-dragon and a talking cat, to create a fairytale saga that will delight and challenge its readers. ... Egg & Spoon''s phrasing and vocabulary give it a classic feel that reflects its folktale roots, as does its storyteller-style narration. ... An excellent choice for younger readers who are reading at more advanced levels. Alternating and ultimately interweaving story lines add complexity to the plot, which is driven by an enticing mix of mystery, danger and magic. -Shelf Awareness Although Cat and Elena's burgeoning friendship and determination make for a heartening story, it's Maguire's Baba Yaga, full of irreverent anachronisms and a salty attitude, who steals the show... Maguire's fantastical world is filled with Russian folklore and history, particularly the growing unrest that eventually led to the October Revolution, and ... the whimsical tone and lush setting are ... plenty appealing. -Booklist A true literary gem. -San Antonio Express News A rich and layered story, full of gorgeous images and sentences, a matryoshka doll sort of tale. ... This fabulous witch of Russian folklore is a fabulously written character, funny, scary, wry, and just about everything possible in Maguire's capable hands. ... The plot is unique and complex, swirling around in highly unusual directions. It is staying with me and the more I mull it over the more I love it. ... A unique and wonderful read. -Monica Edinger, Educating Alice blog”

A classic Christmas sofa tale to be devoured in a reindeer onesie with a selection box, yet the suffering of central Russia towards the end of the tsars' regime gives it a dark underbelly and high stakes ... Layers of story emerge like a row of matryoshka dolls while humour, wordplay and narrative voice glitter as brightly as the egg, which is by Faberge. Observer A hilarious, witty novel Children's Books Ireland Recommended Read

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of "Confession

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of "Confession

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of "Confession

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of "Confession

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"; "Lost"; "Mirror, Mirror"; and the s of an Ugly Stepsister"; "Lost"; "Mirror, Mirror"; and the s of an Ugly Stepsister"; "Lost"; "Mirror, Mirror"; and the s of an Ugly Stepsister"; "Lost"; "Mirror, Mirror"; and the s of an Ugly Stepsister"; "Lost"; "Mirror, Mirror"; and the Wic

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