A Wolf for a Spell

July 13, 2020
To save her wounded packmate, young wolf Zima makes a deal to temporarily swap bodies with the infamous Baba Yaga. While Baba Yaga pursues her own mysterious agenda, Zima must pretend to be the terrifying witch of the deep woods, a masquerade that leads her to the nearby castle of the intimidating Tsar Aleksander. Meanwhile, orphan Nadya, whose chosen older sister Katerina is engaged to Aleksander, also makes her way to the castle in the hopes of finding a permanent home. As paths cross and stories intertwine, an old secret unfolds, one that could either save or destroy the forest that has brought them together. Drawing on the Russian folklore of her heritage, Sutton conjures up a charming debut filled with magic and friendship, where a wolf in disguise can learn what it means to be human and a witch finds opportunity to redeem her greatest mistake. Fun and twisty, this fairy tale that evokes imperial Russia has a timeless air. Stylistic black-and-white illustrations adeptly visualize the characters. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Katie Grimm, Don Congdon Assoc.

Narrator Beata Pozniak establishes a youthful voice for Zima, a gray wolf pup who trades her body with that of the forest witch, Baba Yaga, in exchange for a spell to save her younger brother. She wants nothing more than to be a wolf again, but in the meantime she learns to live as Baba Yaga, helping a young girl, Nadya, who reaches out to her. Pozniak creates unique voices for each of the characters, including a raspy, desperate voice for Baba Yaga that brings her to life. Listeners will be intrigued by this fantasy, which draws on classic folklore characters, such as wolves and witches, and goes beneath the surface to reveal their true intentions. M.D. � AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine