Picture of author.

Sofiya Pasternack

Autor(a) de Anya and the Dragon

3 Works 258 Membros 9 Reviews

About the Author

Includes the name: Sofiya Pasternack

Séries

Obras de Sofiya Pasternack

Anya and the Dragon (2019) 145 cópias
Black Bird, Blue Road (2022) 57 cópias
Anya and the Nightingale (2020) 56 cópias

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Nome padrão
Pasternack, Sofiya
Sexo
female
Nacionalidade
USA

Membros

Resenhas

This book made me cry and think about death (accepting death, fearing death, and even death as a character, which of course made me think of [b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368]). Right from the beginning, you know this book is going to be sad, but I didn't think it would make me sob. Which it did.

I'm not sure if this would be good bibliotherapy for a reader who is grieving the loss of a loved one. On the one hand, I'd say no because this book is brutal in its depiction of illness, suffering, and desperation. On the other hand, maybe yes because there is a journey that leads to peace and acceptance.

The story is told in four parts with each part introduced by a narrator whose identity isn't revealed until the end. I really liked these parts. It's sort of like what [b:The Patron Thief of Bread|39909124|The Patron Thief of Bread|Lindsay Eagar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630074755l/39909124._SY75_.jpg|61763378] did with the gargoyle, but better because of the brevity of these sections. It's also sort of like the reveal of the narrator in [b:The Ogress and the Orphans|58328436|The Ogress and the Orphans|Kelly Barnhill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644818724l/58328436._SY75_.jpg|91457082].

I also liked that this book has a message to offer readers, but it leaves some room for interpretation. What would have happened if Ziva had succeeded in stealing a magic feather and healing her brother? We'll never know. I liked that the people who live in Luz were just left there and the Milcham doesn't change. If BBBR were more didactic, I think Ziva would have given a speech intended to enlighten the residents of Luz and the Milcham. But instead, readers might ask if the Milcham is right in refusing to magically heal people. We might ask why some people are content to stay in Luz where they can't eat or read or age.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me was that there were times I felt a little lost in the narrative. Maybe if I understood history and Judaism better I would understand the whole story better. Some things seemed like important symbols but I wasn't sure of their meaning. So that's personally a 4-star book for me. Even with the glossary and afterward, I was still left feeling a little unsatisfied, e.g. the garlic (spear-leek) at the end, the significance of the ravens, and how Tengrism relates to Judaism.

Updated to add: I just got the spear-leek/garlic thing! Garlic is a powerful remedy to protect against infections of many bacteria, fungi, and viruses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/

… (mais)
 
Marcado
LibrarianDest | outras 4 resenhas | Jan 3, 2024 |
Anya helps her mother and grandparents on the farm while her father is off fighting in the tsar's army. However, they are short of money to pay this year's taxes and are about to lose the farm.

When a dragonslayer moves to the village, Anya becomes his assistant to help capture a dragon for the tsar. Her reward if they find the dragon will be enough to pay the taxes on the farm.

Set in tenth century Kievan Rus where magic and dragons exist, this is a charming fantasy adventure.
½
 
Marcado
soraki | outras 2 resenhas | Nov 3, 2023 |
I said it yesterday and I will say it today

If this does not receive any recognition at the ALA Youth Media Awards, I will be VERY surprised. Yes, I need to dive more into just what the committee looks for, but in the meantime, I think of the things that stand out to me.

1.) An amazing storyline. Where I flitted between the line of magic realism and fantasy with the realistic fiction components.
2) A different setting. I do not often see books that involve Jewish protagonists (especially in NON Holocaust/WWII texts).
3.) The LOVE between brother and sister. Ziva would do anything for Pesch, even face Death in the face. I loved the sacrificial love and bond that the both shared at different times throughout Black Bird, Blue Road. It made me teary.
4.) I found the dialogue to be very well written. I know, I know, this shouldn't stand out to me. It should be the case all the time. But let's be real. It's middle grade fiction and there is a lot of garbage out there.

Read this book, y'all. I need to process it more but right now, all I can say is wow. This story will be enjoyed by many of my patrons. It reads like an adventure novel. It would have mythology elements that appeal to fans of Percy Jackson. It is a sibling story. It's clean of content. It's a winner in my book.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
msgabbythelibrarian | outras 4 resenhas | Jun 11, 2023 |
In this sequel to her 2020 Sydney Taylor Honor book, Anya and the Dragon, Anya and her friends travel to Kiev and encounter the mythical Nightingale. Vivid descriptions of tenth-century Russia, a memorable Shabbat dinner, and an exciting rescue highlight this wonderful fantasy. (Sydney Taylor Middle Grade Honor Book)
 
Marcado
STBA | Feb 4, 2023 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
3
Membros
258
Popularidade
#88,950
Avaliação
4.2
Resenhas
9
ISBNs
29
Idiomas
1

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