A whimsical, highly stylized version of an ancient tale.
By Barbara Sapienza ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 25, 2023
Elena, an orphaned teenager, is raised by a priest in the attic of the Our Lady of Sorrows church in San Francisco. She is tutored by Baba Vera, an old woman whose lessons take the form of housework. Father Al tells Elena that she is special and meant to stay with Baba until she fulfills her plan. Elena’s only companions are her doll, Kukla, and her imaginary friend, Vasilisa. Suddenly, two new people enter her life: Anya Prokioff, who claims to be Elena’s mother, and Frank Hudson, a friendly taxi driver. Sapienza’s novel has a fable-like quality, with scenes that range from dreamy to bloody. Elena is taught by Baba that “to cook, you must kill” as she butchers a duck. Although the novel is set in the modern day, the characters and their actions are more reminiscent of medieval Russia. Those looking for a contemporary novel may be confused, but fans of fairy tales may enjoy this retelling.
Pub Date: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781647425036
Page Count: 256
Publisher: She Writes Press
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2023