This lush tale of magic and dragons is a gem for any adventure-seeking middle grader and perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time . Anya and the Dragon is the story of fantasy and mayhem in tenth century Eastern Europe, where headstrong eleven-year-old Anya is a daughter of the only Jewish family in her village. When her family’s livelihood is threatened by a bigoted magistrate, Anya is lured in by a friendly family of fools, who promise her money in exchange for helping them capture the last dragon in Kievan Rus. This seems easy enough, until she finds out that the scary old dragon isn't as old—or as scary—as everyone thought. Now Anya is faced with a choice: save the dragon, or save her family. "Pasternack’s debut is an irresistible blend of moral quandaries, magic, humor, danger, and bravery. Imaginative details bestow a fairy-tale-like quality to the story, which will effortlessly ensnare historical fantasy fans." - Booklist "[T]ruly likable characters in [an] original setting. This delightful series opener is an exciting blend of Russian and Jewish traditions." - Kirkus Reviews "A strong heroine and an unusual setting make this worth adding to most crowded fantasy shelves." —School Library Journal "Pasternack eagerly depicts life in an tenth-century Russian village imbued with magic and folklore, riddled with many references to Anya’s family’s religion, their Jewish traditions, and the discrimination they face. The plot keeps readers on their toes with skillful pacing....Jewish readers may find kindred spirits in Anya’s culture, and fans of a Russian setting won’t be disappointed by this immersive novel that ends in justice." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "With this clever, fast-paced debut, Pasternack draws upon the myth and folklore of Kievan Rus’ to deliver a delightful tale.…that never loses its sense of fun or wonder.” - Publishers Weekly "Fresh, funny, sometimes scary, and always magical." - Adam Gidwitz, author of the Newbery Honoree The Inquisitor's Tale "A delicious read!" - Catherine Murdock, author of the Newbery Honoree The Book of Boy Sofiya Pasternack is a nurse whose fondest childhood memories involve her pet goats wrecking the house. When she's not at the hospital, she can be found enjoying Utah's wild places, teaching her kids to make challah, and writing whatever new story has taken up residence in her brain. She lives in Utah._____________sofiyapasternack.com Twitter: @sofipasternack Pinterest: @sofipasternack Instagram: @sofipasternack Facebook: /sofiya.pasternack.1 Tumblr: sofipasternack.tumblr.com Chapter One Anya was not a good goatherd.      The sun had barely broken over the trees as she pulled Zvezda back to the barn by his horns for the third time. The stupid goat had broken his leg two weeks earlier, and Anya's grandfather wanted him to stay in the barn and rest for at least a month. But the goat had chewed off his splint and, apparently bored with the comfort of the barn, pushed through the doors and followed Anya out to the onion fields.      Her grandfather, Dyedka, sat in the barn on a stool and milked a goat. When Anya pulled the door open, all the goats swiveled their heads toward her, and Dyedka said, 'Back already?"      She shoved Zvezda inside. "Can you make him stay?"      Dyedka shrugged. "He's not my goat."      'they're all your goats," Anya said.      He shook his head. 'that one's yours. He doesn't listen to me, either."      'But you have animal magic, Dyedka.' Zvezda nibbled on her dress, and she pushed him away. "You're a bad goat!"      Dyedka patted the goat he was done milking on her rump, and she walked away. He turned his head to Anya so he could study her with his good eye. He had lost his other eye, plus both of his legs at the knee, in a past war against the tree people'?who Anya was disappointed to find out weren't actually people made of trees but just people who lived in the forest'?before she had been born. He had wooden legs that he got around on with the help of his walking stick, which leaned against the wall nearby.      Another goat stepped in front of him and bleated, ready to be milked. Dyedka scratched the top of her head and said to Anya, 'You know no one is allowed to use magic, Annushka."      She snorted and watched the line of goats waiting patiently to be milked. "You're using magic," she said. The goats didn't behave this well for anyone but Dyedka and Papa, because both of them used animal magic.      Dyedka nodded. "Because I'm old and missing too many things. The tsar makes his laws in Kiev, but they don't always apply to us out here away from the cities."      Anya quoted a sentiment she'd heard a lot in the village when people decided to break the law: ''God is far up high, and the tsar is far away'?"      'Exactly.' Dyedka milked the goat. "Besides, magic won't solve all your problems."      She wouldn't know. Anya still didn't have the ability to see the threads