Rita Brauer

In the small village of Drov in Russian there lived a widow and her two daughters. One daughter, Vasalisa was one of the most well liked and admired people in the village which made her sister Svetlana very angry and jealous. After their mother dies, they each get gifts from her. The eldest, the home that they live in as long as she promises to love Vasalisa. While Vasalisa gets a magic doll, this doll is made of a mothers love and is promised to come to her aid when she needs it the most as long as she does not show or tell anyone. Time passes and Svetlana's jealousy continues to grow despite Vasalisas effort to become unnoticeable. Svetlana is tired of being looked at differently and is done living in her younger sisters shadow, she locks her in the house so that she must be alone, little does she know Vasalisa is not alone but has a constant friend by her side. This story turns into a journey in which Vasalisa must travel to Baba Yaga to gain light for their house again. This is a trip that is scary, long, and pushes Vasalisa. Her doll is with her through it all telling her, "Do what lies before you." This story ends with Vasalisa having to get up her doll who has provided support, love, and advice over time to the Baba Yaga in return for light. Vasalisa has to understand what sacrifice is about in order to complete her journey.
I thought this was a good story about trialing times. It shows how families can act and treat one another and how this changes their relationship and dynamic. This was a story that I had never heard before but enjoyed getting to learn about.… (plus d'informations)