Anastasia and Her Sisters by Carolyn Meyer - ADVISABLE

Meyer, Carolyn Anastasia and Her Sisters, 308 pgs. Simon & Schuster, 2015. $17.99. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: PG Violence: PG 

Anastasia's father, once known as the Emperor of Russia, along with her mother and one of her sisters, has been taken to Moscow to stand trial by those who have seized power.  Anastasia and her other siblings wait in Siberia for news of the trial, afraid for their father and unsure about the future.  While waiting, Anastasia recounts through her diary and her older sister's diary the years that led up to the revolution.  Years that included the end of her childhood, her education, parties, friends, her family’s house arrest, sickness, and ultimately the war that changed Russia.  

I enjoy and appreciate Carolyn Meyer's attention to detail in bringing Anastasia to life and making her seem real.  There are a few moments that are a bit dry but Anastasia’s humor lightens things up a bit, and I especially like it when she discovers her older sister's "real" diary and reads how she truly feels about many things.  It gives the reader insights to what is actually happening during those years that a young Anastasia may not have completely understood.  As I neared the end of the book, I was surprised at how much I would have liked a different ending to her story.  

MS/HS - ADVISABLE Reviewer:  RB