Not Just for Kids reviews “Hereville”: “This book has it all!”
Not Just For Kids reviews Hereville:
Everything I knew previously about Orthodox Judaism I learned from Chaim Potok, so I felt reasonably well-armed to absorb any cultural differences which I might encounter in the reading. But truthfully, no previous knowledge is necessary to enjoy the book, and not just because Mirka is a feisty, headstrong girl, and feisty, headstrong girls are a staple of childrens’ literature whatever the culture. Let us not underestimate the importance of Mirka’s heritage–this story works so well because she is an Orthodox Jewish girl. But while this book provides a window on Orthodox Jewish life, that’s not what it is about. Nor, despite some angsty moments, is it about a tween trying to break free from a life that everyone but an Orthodox Jew would find unusual. You could call it an adventure book because there is lots of adventure–fast-paced, hair-raising, breath-taking adventure–contained in these pages. Then again, it is also a family drama, as readers meet Mirka and her rather large blended family. Witches, trolls, and dragons are discussed with a completely straight face, so in some ways the book is a fantasy. And last, but not least, it is FUNNY!
Thanks, Kara!
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