A review by careinthelibrary
Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

3.0

Anya and the Dragon was totally enjoyable and fun. First off, I loved the blend of both Russian and Jewish folklore and culture. "There were some things more important than dragon hunting, and baking challah was one of them." With her friend Ivan, Anya hunts down a dragon to save her family from the anti-Semitic magistrate, but what she discovers is that the dragon is not the evil monster that she thought. And perhaps this is a metaphor that extends into larger themes of the book. With a cute, lighthearted story and a wonderful message of friendship, courage, diversity, and acceptance, I really recommend this.

The touches of Jewish celebration in the face of adversity and prejudice made it more than just a fun kids' novel, it had depth and dire consequences behind the adventure. And I'm glad this is the route we're moving towards in writing now. I'll check out the sequel when it's coming because this world just felt comforting and endearing but not without its very real dangers and problems.
Lastly, I love the cover. Jeff Langevin has been a favourite artist of mine for a long time and this cover is so stunning. Colourful and enticing, it really sums up the book perfectly. Also, the little chapter illustrations were cute as well! Perfect for the chapter's content and folksy whimsical. A wonderful package altogether.
Keep your eyes out for Anya this September from Versify!