Anya i Smok

The tenth-century Eastern European setting really stands out—it's not your typical fantasy backdrop, and Anya’s perspective as the daughter of the village’s only Jewish family adds a layer I haven’t seen in other middle-grade books. My son finished it in one weekend and immediately asked if there’s

My daughter tore through this in two evenings, and the tenth-century Eastern European setting with a Jewish protagonist felt refreshingly unique. The way Anya's headstrong personality drives the plot made it easy for her to connect with the story, and she keeps asking when we can read the next one.

The blend of Jewish folklore and Slavic fantasy is something I haven't seen in middle-grade books before, and my daughter couldn't put it down once Anya's village troubles started. The pacing in tenth-century Eastern Europe feels authentic without getting bogged down in history.