The graphics elevated this to a 3-star book. I wasn't wow-ed by the story - I felt that there should have been more backstory on Baba Yaga. After a Google search I discovered she is a very famous figure in Russian folklore. She seems like a fascinating character, but I couldn't really figure her out in the context of this book. I think it would have better served readers to more thoroughly introduce them to Baba Yaga beyond the little snippets Masha remembers from her grandmother's tales. 
 Beyond the creepy Baba Yaga part of the story (if kids ask for a "scary" book, this is a good one to recommend!), I was a bit confused/horrified by Masha's father. I understand he was grieving the loss of his wife and also that the author was trying to hint at the idea of the classic stepmother and step-siblings in fairy tales, but the fact that he was having dinner with this new chick and her daughter and leaving Masha at home was messed up! I think I was more upset than Masha was. Granted, this prompted her to run away into the dark woods to become Baba Yaga's assistant, so it must've struck a nerve with her. 
 Baba Yaga's Assistant is a little reminiscent of the true creepiness of original fairytales - one of Masha's tasks to become the assistant is to cook children! - but still attempts to make it light-hearted in the end. It mostly succeeds, but I was left wanting a little more out of the story that was being conveyed in the awesome illustrations by Emily Carroll.