The Ohio Jewish Chronicle on Hereville: “a fully developed, complex character”

In the Ohio Jewish Chronicle, writer Pam Spence includes Hereville in a list of this year’s “great books for Chanukah gifting.”

Barry Deutsch’s graphic novel for the pre-teen set is one of the most unusual offerings we have seen recently. The heroine of this work is Mirka, an 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl who has her sights set on slaying a dragon — with a sword. Got your attention? Mirka’s stepmother, Fruma, insists that Mirka learn the “womanly arts” — like knitting — but Mirka has other ideas. Mirka’s sisters insist that Mirka curb her unruly behavior lest she compromise all of their chances of finding a suitable husband, but Mirka has other plans.

In comic book style, Deutsch has nevertheless created a fully developed, complex character in Mirka who combats fantasy dragons as well as the dragons of real life: school yard bullies, unresolved grief, and boundaries of faith and culture.

Thanks, Pam!

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