Mirka is a normal Orthodox Jewish girl who dreams of fighting dragons. She constantly battles wits with her stepmother, Fruma, whose argumentative nature and sharp nose conceal a warm and caring nature. Mirka is stuck going to school, cleaning and has to learn how to knit, yet longs to wield a sword and do battle with dragons.
One day on her way to school she takes a wrong turn and discovers a magical house where a witch lives. She brings her siblings there to prove she isn't just making it up. She takes one grape and finds herself caught in a battle of wills with a talking pig. The girl encounters both a mind-reading witch and a multilingual troll in her quest for a sword with which to fight dragons. Yiddish language and Jewish customs are an essential part of the story and provide window to another way of life.
The scene where Mirka outwits the troll and obtains the sword is hysterical as she is challenged to a race of knitting the perfect sweater. What makes this graphic novel endearing is the relationships that Mirka has with her stepmother and her opinionated brothers and sisters. We see how life is in an Orthodox Jewish village as Mirka has to deal with life and yet dreams outside her ordinary life. Interestingly enough the father never has a voice and is in the background while the stepmother is the one who teaches Mirka how to live life including how to fight trolls. A fun yet thought provoking graphic novel.
