Set in Russia in the time of the last Tsar, this novel shows the worlds of two girls colliding in an unfortunate, but life-changing accident. Elena is a young girl, living in poverty and caring for her sickly mother. Ekaterina, or Cat, is traveling from France to St. Petersburg to visit and win the affections of the Tsar’s godson. However, when Cat’s train has to stop in Elena’s village for repairs, the girls' two worlds are thrown together (literally) and forever changed.  Full of Russian folk tales, such as those of the witch Baba Yaba and the Firebird egg, this story combines history, fantasy and heroism in a wonderfully written and original story by the author of the world-renowned novel Wicked.

This novel is an interesting look into a particular period of Russia's history and is a wonderful twist on classic Russian folk tales. Both Elena and Cat are colourful, personable characters and, although they come from very different worlds, readers will quickly grow fond of them both. They are dynamic and grow in leaps and bounds throughout the novel as they discover the world outside their own. This book is also filled with wonderful secondary characters, such as the witch Baba Yaba — and her talking cat, whose hilarious banter will leave you laughing until you cry.  Egg and Spoon is told by a third-person narrator who often makes comments about the story and the way it is being told.   While this device is interesting, it can at times become annoying and usually doesn’t add to the story. Overall, however, this book is full of human emotion, magic, wit and whimsy and therefore is perfect for anyone looking for something a little different in the young adult section.  If you love this book, you might also want to read Wicked or West of the Moon by Margi Preus.