This is a great series for middle grades to get a taste of historical fiction and to maybe become interested in history. The diary format is usually easy to read and gives information in small doses with a personal feel to them. This one seemed choppier than others I had read in the series. I have read other fiction and non-fiction books about the Romanovs so I was familiar with the story. I'm not certain that someone completely unfamiliar with the story would have been able to follow the storyline. The epilogue did wrap things up nicely and summarize the events and legends though. ( )

I know this is a series for young girls, but as someone with a strong interest in Russian history and in the last of the Romanovs, this book seemed very...tepid. The character of Anastasia just never really came alive, and the circumstances around the royal family is not made very interesting. Compared to Karen Lasky's fictional diary of Marie Antoinette, I would say this one is a dude. ( )

This tells the story of Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra of Russia. It is told in diary format and starts in January 1914. At the beginning of the book, Anastasia is a carefree rich 12-year old, with not too much to worry about. As time goes on, her diary covers Rasputin, World War I, and her family's imprisonment. There is then an epilogue to cover the end of her story and a historical note that, in a short version, covers much of Russia's history

I really enjoyed this YA telling of the Romanovs' story from Anastasia's point of view. It's definitely an interesting way, especially for someone young, to learn about that history. ( )

I really liked this book more than the last one I read in the series, though I could definitely tell this book was written for a younger audience, which once again, made me wish I had known about these books when I was in the proper age group, but such is life. The story line is good, I connected with Anastasia and her family and there was a part of me that grew upset during the epilogue even though I knew it was coming. I learned a lot as well. It was worth the read. 4.5 out of 5 stars. ( )

I really liked this book more than the last one I read in the series, though I could definitely tell this book was written for a younger audience, which once again, made me wish I had known about these books when I was in the proper age group, but such is life. The story line is good, I connected with Anastasia and her family and there was a part of me that grew upset during the epilogue even though I knew it was coming. I learned a lot as well. It was worth the read. 4.5 out of 5 stars. ( )