Anya and the Dragon (Anya #1)

In this charming historical fantasy set in an alternate 10th-century Kievan Rus', an 11-year-old Jewish girl seeks to save her family home from repossession by finding a fabled river dragon and collecting the czar's reward. Told to keep to herself, Anya will do whatever it takes to raise the necessary funds--even teaming up with Ivan Ivanovich and his family, a clan permitted to weave fool magic despite a general magical ban--who have recently come to the tiny, magic-infused village of Zmeyreka. But they aren't the only ones on the hunt: a cruel Viking warrior named Sigurd will stop at nothing to claim the prize first. To Anya and Ivan's surprise, the dragon turns out to be benevolent and in need of protection from its new friends. With this clever, fast-paced debut, Pasternack draws upon the myth and folklore of Kievan Rus' to deliver a delightful tale filled with supernatural creatures, including house and water spirits. Everyday details--baking bread, stirring potions, preparing for Shabbat--are as well drawn as folkloric elements, coalescing in a tale that never loses its sense of fun or wonder. Ages 10-12. Agent: Rena Rossner, the Deborah Harris Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-7-Would you help kill what might be the last dragon in the world if it saved your family from being evicted? In a 10th-century Eastern Europe where magical creatures abound but human magic is all but illegal, 13-year-old Anya has just found out that she and her family are about to lose their home, and with her father recently conscripted into the Tsar's army, there doesn't seem to be any way out. The discrimination that Anya and her family experience for being Jewish makes things even worse. When a boy named Ivan, the youngest in a rambunctious gang of brothers (all named Ivan), introduces Anya to his father, she realizes she may have a way to earn money--by helping him find an elusive dragon. And then she meets the dragon himself, who turns out to be a sweet and friendly creature--basically the draconic version of Ivan, and connected in some mysterious way to the village blacksmith, Kin. Anya and Ivan struggle to save the dragon from three enemies, the worst of which is the cold-hearted and ambitious Viking Sigurd, with help from a variety of unlikely and unusual sources. Anya is smart and feisty, with more talent and courage than she realizes. She must keep secrets and decide for herself if it is ever right to kill. There is a fair amount of violence and depictions of anti-Semitism, but the story also has humor, a quick pace, and a keen sense of place. VERDICT A strong heroine and an unusual setting make this worth adding to most crowded fantasy shelves.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Pasternack's debut is an irresistible blend of moral quandaries, magic, humor, danger, and bravery. Imaginative details bestow a fairy-tale-like quality to the story, which will effortlessly ensnare historical fantasy fans."—Booklist

"[T]ruly likable characters in [an] original setting. This delightful series opener is an exciting blend of Russian and Jewish traditions."—Kirkus 

"Pasternack eagerly depicts life in an tenth-century Russian village imbued with magic and folklore, riddled with many references to Anya's family's religion, their Jewish traditions, and the discrimination they face. The plot keeps readers on their toes with skillful pacing....Jewish readers may find kindred spirits in Anya's culture, and fans of a Russian setting won't be disappointed by this immersive novel that ends in justice."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books​