A Magical Tale for Jewish Hearts and All Hearts: Anya and the Dragon

I am always here for a good story.
There are stories that invite us to dream, and there are stories that invite us to belong.
Anya and the Dragon, an enchanting middle-grade fantasy by Sofiya Pasternack, is a very good story that expertly does both.

The world Sofiya Pasternack weaves brings together Slavic folklore, Jewish tradition, and coming-of-age magic; while at its heart, Anya and the Dragon is about courage, friendship, and justice. Threaded throughout the adventure and magic, it is also a gorgeous expression of Jewish joy — something uncommon in mainstream fantasy literature. This book sparkles while it lovingly centers a Jewish hero, giving her the full complexity, humor, strength, and heart that she deserves.

Anya and the Dragon is a wonderful fantasy novel for every middle grade reader.
For Jewish readers, especially right now, it is a celebration. 

Anya’s Character is Rooted in Jewish Identity

In Anya and the Dragon, the fantasy setting embraces Jewish culture and gives us a Jewish girl who can save a dragon and observe Shabbat in the same week. Anya’s Jewishness is woven into her courage. She is at the center of her adventure and she gives us an opportunity to not only know that she is Jewish, but also to think about the specific ways she and her family express their Jewish identities.  

Anya is 13 and living in a small village in Kievan Rus where magic is real and suspicion and prejudice are powerful. Her family is one of the few Jewish families in the village. Anya loves her Jewish mother, grandmother, and father and her non-Jewish grandfather fiercely; respects her traditions; and is wonderfully courageous in facing her own flaws. While she doesn’t always make the right choices, she does eventually make the right choices.

This is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship 

Ivan is such a person. Yes, he comes from a family of dragon hunters, and that . . . creates some conflict. However, while he is not Jewish it is clear from the very beginning that Ivan is a mensch. It makes sense that he and Anya become friends and that their complex friendship grows into one of mutual trust, understanding, respect and care. 

Ivan’s magic — water magic — is dismissed by his older brothers as “girl magic,” something soft and unworthy of a true dragon hunter. He’s teased and underestimated for it. In the end, it’s precisely by embracing who they truly are that he and Anya are able to save both themselves and the dragon. 

And Håkon (pronounced HOH-kon) is such a dragon - far from the terrifying beast the villagers imagine. He is wise, kind, and misunderstood. His friendship with Anya is a powerful symbol of moving past fear and prejudice and toward empathy and justice.

Jewish Joy

Fear and antisemitism and prejudice and discrimination are powerful forces in this book.
They are also powerful forces in our world and their voices are very, very loud.

Books like Anya and the Dragon are life-giving and joyful.
That joy becomes a kind of resistance. 

Jewish stories belong in every genre, Jewish characters deserve center stage, and Jewish joy is as powerful as any dragon.

This book is a treasure.

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Merchav’s middle grade book club, Be JEWcy, will be discussing Anya and the Dragon Sunday October 19th.
If your middle grade reader is interested in joining us, please reach out to me so I can send you the details!

Chag Sukkot Sameach.