Egg & Spoon

Maguire, Gregory. Egg & Spoon. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2014.

This past week I read Egg & Spoon. The author also read a book that I have previously read called Wicked which is now a musical. This Gregory Maguire book is written for a younger audience and tells the story of two Russian girls. Things only seem to be going downhill for both Elena and her tiny town of Miersk. There are very few people still living in the village but there doesn’t seem to be enough food for the few of them. That’s when the train comes to town. It carries more riches than Elena could ever dream of. And it also carries Cat; a bright girl with a rich Aunt. She’s on her way to the Tsar’s ball. The two girls soon form an uncertain friendship and when Elena ends up on the train and Cat ends up off of it, the girls aren’t exactly sure what to do. As both girls struggle to survive in their new conditions, they begin to realize what the other is going through. And with Elena’s and possibly Cat’s lives at stake things could be taking a turn for the worst. Plus, due to both of the girls, Baba Yaga, and the missing Fire Bird; all of Russia could be turning bad. I absolutely loved this book and how well written it was. Gregory Maguire has a unique writing style that is beautiful and fluid. His interpretations of Russian folk lore were unique and the narration was well done. I would most certainly recommend this book.