-
"I was completely charmed by the 'Hereville' series. It’s a wonderful vehicle for a
coming-of-age story with a female protagonist who’s both relatable and likable."
Rabbi Joshua Breindel
-
"Without a doubt, this is the best graphic novel of 2010 for kids. Bar none."
Elizabeth Bird, School Library Journal
-
"Unique, laugh-out-loud funny, and thoroughly engrossing. Sequel, please!"
Tanya Auger, Horn Book Magazine
-
"Mirka is the heroine that girlhood dreams are made of… Hereville is pure enchantment."
Barbara M. Moon, School Library Journal
-
"Deutsch creates a beautiful, detail-rich world with a muted, ethereal palette that
masterfully blends faith and fantasy with astounding harmony. Undoubtedly one of
the cleverest graphic novels of the year."
Kirkus Reviews
-
"This is a terrific story, told with skill and lots of heart, that readers of all ages will enjoy."
Publishers Weekly
-
"I have finally fallen in love with my first graphic novel… the perfect bat mitzvah gift."
Sonja Bolle, Los Angeles Times
-
"An elegant, subtle examination into the gender roles, deep religious roots, and everyday
cultural elements of an Orthodox Jewish society, while also being a witty,
enormously clever adventure quest... "
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
-
"Comics, and the rest of the world, for that matter, need more girl heroes like Mirka.
She will have readers cheering for her every step of the way. "
Raina Telgemeier
-
"Author/illustrator Barry Deutsch offers up a mitzvah — a graphic novel which has joy,
style, lots of Yiddishkeit, adventure, and magic."
Jane Yolen
-
"What do you get when you cross Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Isaac Bashevis Singer?"
The Washington Post
Perfect. Exactly the sort of comment a little boy would make, which will get completely misunderstood by people who want to point out inequality. Be interesting to see the responses… I sort of rolled my eyes at his black and white view of the world, personally.
Perfect. Exactly the sort of comment a little boy would make, which will get completely misunderstood by people who want to point out inequality. Be interesting to see the responses… I sort of rolled my eyes at his black and white view of the world, personally.
Two random questions…
I notice that everyone in the story so is quite thin. This is particularly notable when one has just been reading some of your other cartoons (as I have.) Is this a stylistic decision or is there a famine going on in Hereville? (The chances of there being no one around who is even plump in the absence of a famine being pretty low.)
We haven’t seen Mirka’s father yet at all. Does he show up later? I’m starting to evolve some alarming theories about him. Is he the evil patriarch? Does he ever spend any time with his kids? Did he marry Furma for the free housekeeping and childcare services? I can’t imagine Barry writing the character that one dimensionally, but his absence is starting to be troubling.
Two random questions…
I notice that everyone in the story so is quite thin. This is particularly notable when one has just been reading some of your other cartoons (as I have.) Is this a stylistic decision or is there a famine going on in Hereville? (The chances of there being no one around who is even plump in the absence of a famine being pretty low.)
We haven’t seen Mirka’s father yet at all. Does he show up later? I’m starting to evolve some alarming theories about him. Is he the evil patriarch? Does he ever spend any time with his kids? Did he marry Furma for the free housekeeping and childcare services? I can’t imagine Barry writing the character that one dimensionally, but his absence is starting to be troubling.
Dianne, what you may not realize is that I started “Hereville” years ago, and then put it down for several years. During the time that I had put “Hereville” down, I realized that I was drawing all my characters thin, and began consciously putting in some heavier characters — but when I returned to “Hereville,” I was stuck with my original character designs.
Future “Hereville” stories, and maybe a possible re-doing of this story, will include more varied body types.
Mirka’s father is not an evil patriarch at all; he loves his children and is kind to them, but he’s not the most hands-on father in the world. There are lots of people significant to Mirka — such as her six sisters! — who aren’t in this story, just because there’s not enough room. 🙂
Dianne, what you may not realize is that I started “Hereville” years ago, and then put it down for several years. During the time that I had put “Hereville” down, I realized that I was drawing all my characters thin, and began consciously putting in some heavier characters — but when I returned to “Hereville,” I was stuck with my original character designs.
Future “Hereville” stories, and maybe a possible re-doing of this story, will include more varied body types.
Mirka’s father is not an evil patriarch at all; he loves his children and is kind to them, but he’s not the most hands-on father in the world. There are lots of people significant to Mirka — such as her six sisters! — who aren’t in this story, just because there’s not enough room. 🙂
I’m afraid that you’re paying the price for this comic being really, really good: 99% of the time, I would simply have assumed that the characters’ thinness was simply an artistic convention. Because you’re a really good writer and artist, I started suspecting you of something tricky, even when it really is just a style.
BTW: I think I just made a donation to you. How do I let you know which format I want?
I’m afraid that you’re paying the price for this comic being really, really good: 99% of the time, I would simply have assumed that the characters’ thinness was simply an artistic convention. Because you’re a really good writer and artist, I started suspecting you of something tricky, even when it really is just a style.
BTW: I think I just made a donation to you. How do I let you know which format I want?
Dianne, thanks so much! I appreciate both the kind words and the donation.
For instructions on how to get your copy of “Hereville,” please see this page.
Dianne, thanks so much! I appreciate both the kind words and the donation.
For instructions on how to get your copy of “Hereville,” please see this page.