How Mirka Got Her Sword
The first ever wisecracking, troll-fighting, Orthodox Jewish heroine! Mirka, a spunky, strong-willed, eleven-year-old girl, is very clear on one thing: she doesn't want to sit home knitting, she wants to go out and fight dragons! Granted, no dragons have been breathing fire around the Orthodox Jewish community she lives in, but that doesn't stop the plucky girl from honing her fighting skills (against local bullies), accepting a witch's challenge (to gain a sword), and besting a troll (when knitting does come in handy). This charming, quirky, skillfully rendered graphic novel is Buffy the Vampire Slayer for middle-grade readers.
Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2010); Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers (2011)
About the Hereville Series
Books in series order
- 1.How Mirka Got Her Sword(2010)
- 2.How Mirka Met a Meteorite(2012)
- 3.How Mirka Caught a Fish(2015)
Reading age: 8+ years
This series should be read in order.
Spunky, strong-willed, eleven-year-old Mirka Hirschberg isn’t interested in knitting lessons from her step-mother, 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 children and grown-ups alike with its exciting visuals and entertaining new heroine.