Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword - Barry Deutsch

M: Julie, I was so very proud of you when you suggested that Please Don't Read This Book review Barry Deutsch's graphic novel HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD. I'm so happy that you've embraced the awesomeness that is the graphic novel genre, and HEREVILLE is a wonderful addition to the group. HEREVILLE is the story of eleven-year-old Mirka, who'd rather be a fierce dragon slayer than learn how to knit or how to attract a future husband. Unfortunately, Mirka lives in Hereville, a strict, Orthodox Jewish community, with not a single dragon to be seen (at least in the pages of this volume). But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of dangers for Mirka to face, fire-breathing or not. HEREVILLE is funny and charming and hopefully the first of many more adventures from Mirka and her family. Julie?

J: I have a confession to make. Even if I'd never read and enjoyed a single graphic novel, I would've suggested that we consider HEREVILLE. Why? Because of its tagline: "Yet Another Troll-Fighting 11-Year-Old Orthodox Jewish Girl." Who could resist that? Even my seventy-five-year-old businessman of a father--who is *never* tempted by children's literature--picked HEREVILLE up off my coffee table when he saw that tagline. And started reading. And didn't stop until he'd finished--at which point he proclaimed it marvelous! I so enjoyed that moment.

And now, another confession. I have trouble thinking about HEREVILLE without wondering what Orthodox Jews will make of it. On the one hand, Mirka certainly rejects the role Orthodoxy assigns girls and women. But she does so through fantasy--troll-fighting and the conquering of a giant, monstrous pig (surely a symbol of the non-Kosher world). Does the fantasy element make the feminist critique more palatable? Also, the presentation of the Orthodox world is so matter-of-fact, so warts-and-all, so exactly the way any eleven-year-old would present (and complain about) the world that she accepts as her own. In my view, that matter-of-factness makes the Orthodox world more comprehensible, more "normal" to the non-Orthodox reader, and therefore--counter-intuitively, *because* of all of the complaining--does more for the community than a rosier portrayal would have. Am I making any sense at all? Am I boring you to tears?

M: I think I know what you mean, Julie. I think...haha. I absolutely loved the matter-of-fact portrayal of the world, along with the whimsy of the fantasy. You’d think the two together wouldn’t make sense, since aren't they more or less the opposite? But they do! They do work together! And enhance the story.

There was one thing I wasn't a huge fan of: The story doesn't seem complete to me, but rather the start of many more volumes and tales. When I finished I kept flipping the pages back and forth, certain that I had more pages to go, worried that perhaps I had bought the first part and not the second. Did you have the same feeling?

J: I also flipped back and forth, back and forth, wondering if I'd really come to the end. So, yes, I absolutely agree. I assume this volume must be the first in a series, but it nonetheless could've used a more satisfying conclusion. Regardless, I hope there are in fact many more HEREVILLE stories in the works. One final question: What did you think of the art?

M: I think the art worked well with the story, though at times I was a bit freaked out by some of the illustrations--particularly those showing an angry Mirka.

J: Huh. Maybe that suggests they're powerful? I have to say that the more I look at the illustrations, the more they impress me. Each rendition of every character is expressive and interesting, and I love the division and placement of the panels. And the evolution of that troll is terrific! I'm looking forward to seeing more volumes.

M: And I really do hope there are more! Maybe we should contact Barry Deutsch? Just to make sure?

3 Comments

Thanks so much for this! :-)

I'm happy to say, Abrams (the publisher) has asked me to do two more Hereville graphic novels for them. And if those do well enough... well, I'd like to keep telling "Hereville" stories for many years to come.

You definitely haven't seen the last of Mirka!

Posted by: Barry Deutsch | 12/17/2010 at 03:27 AM