Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword - Hardcover

Deutsch, Barry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810984229 ISBN 13: 9780810984226

Publisher: Amulet Books, 2010

Synopsis

Spunky, strong-willed eleven-year-old Mirka Herschberg isn’t interested in knitting lessons from her stepmother, or how-to-find-a-husband advice from her sister, or you-better-not warnings from her brother. There’s only one thing she does want: to fight dragons!

Granted, no dragons have been breathing fire around Hereville, the Orthodox Jewish community where Mirka lives, but that doesn’t stop the plucky girl from honing her skills. She fearlessly stands up to local bullies. She battles a very large, very menacing pig. And she boldly accepts a challenge from a mysterious witch, a challenge that could bring Mirka her heart’s desire: a dragon-slaying sword! All she has to do is find—and outwit—the giant troll who’s got it!

A delightful mix of fantasy, adventure, cultural traditions, and preteen commotion, Hereville will captivate middle-school readers with its exciting visuals and entertaining new heroine.
Accolades and Praise for Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword ·Sydney Taylor Award
·Eisner nomination
·Harvey nomination
·Ignatz nomination
·Nebula nomination
"Utterly ingenious." --Kirkus, starred review
"Withouth a doubt, the best graphic novel of 2010 for kids. Bar None."--School Library Journal, starred review
"A terrific story, told with skill and lots of heart."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Mirka is a spunky, emotionally realistic, and fun heroine."--Booklist, starred review
"Sequel, please!"--Horn Book Magazine

About this title

About the Author

Barry Deutsch attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and Portland State University. He won the national Charles M. Schulz Award for Best College Cartoonist in 2000 and was nominated for the 2008 Russ Manning Award for Promising Newcomer. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit him online at www.hereville.com.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7–To the delight of his online followers, Deutsch's popular web comic featuring “Yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl” is now available in print. Mirka is the heroine that girlhood dreams are made of: questioning and smart and willing to take on the world. She constantly battles wits with her stepmother, Fruma, whose argumentative nature and sharp nose conceal a warm and caring nature. Readers view the image of Mirka's deceased mother, who continues to play an influential role in her life. The child, stuck at home with knitting needles, longs to wield a sword and do battle with dragons. Instead she finds herself caught in a battle of wills with a talking pig. That's right: scenes of an Orthodox Jew with a pig add to the humor. The story is a captivating mixture of fantasy and a realistic look at a culture. The girl encounters both a mind-reading witch and a multilingual troll in her quest for a sword with which to fight dragons. Yiddish language and Jewish customs are an essential part of the story and provide excellent bedrock to the tale without overwhelming it. Mirka outwits the troll and obtains the sword, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion. However, there is more to tell and it is obvious that further adventures await this young heroine. The illustrations are done in a monochromatic palette, with a color change from a warm earthy orange/cream for daytime scenes to a cool lavender/blue for the night scene. With engaging characters and delightful art, Hereville is pure enchantment.–Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NYα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Amulet Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0810984229
• ISBN 13: 9780810984226
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144