Anastasia Krupnik

Reviewed by: Bernie Alie - Kennebunk Free Library, Kennebunk ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 20, 2015

Review

Reprint of the 1979 novel.

Ten year old Anastasia keeps lists in her green notebook of things she loves and hates. It changes over the course of time as she struggles with the changes that come with growing up. She doesn't like her teacher, the man at the drugstore intimidates her, her elderly grandmother doesn't remember her, and her parents announce that they are going to have a baby--her first sibling. She also experiences the highs and lows of her first crush.

Anastasia's feelings have a timeless quality. She is a realistic character with the mood swings and shifting allegiances of a typical 10 year old girl. Many children will recognize aspects of themselves in Anastasia.

A new cover modernizes and maintains the appeal of this 1979 title. By avoiding mention of specific cultural icons/signposts, the book remains relevant to a new generation of readers. An introduction by the author alerts readers to the fact that Anastasia lives in a time before computers and cell phones but the story stands even without these modern trappings. Most modern readers will not recognize the significance of Mr. Belden's small town drug store, so different from the chain stores of today. This may be more significant than the lack of computers in the home, but does not detract from the story in any way. If alerted to the copyright date, new readers might recognize similarities they share with generations that came before them.

First book in the Anastasia Krupnik series.

Overall Book Score: good