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librarygirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
Anastasia is just as awesome as I remember. In this, one of the later installments in the Anastasia Krupnick series, 13-year-old Anastasia tries to climb the rope in gym class, tries to fix-up her very recently widowed uncle, and realizes it's okay to have a crush on her fabulous female gym teacher! I loved this series as a kid and it's good to know they hold up.
erinmp's review against another edition
4.0
Anastasia is still thirteen and has more problems than ever. She can't, just can't make it up the rope in gym class--it's horribly embarassing, especially since she's in love with her (female) gym teacher. Daphne's parents are getting divorced; and Anatasia's aunt has died, thanks to Sal Monella. One the bright side, she has decided that she will become a journalist and she knows just the right questions to ask to get the perfect answers.
I still think that the earlier Anastasia books were the funniest, although this had some good moments (I cracked up everytime she mentioned Sal Monella). Anastasia's adventures are always entertaining, and this is no exception.
I still think that the earlier Anastasia books were the funniest, although this had some good moments (I cracked up everytime she mentioned Sal Monella). Anastasia's adventures are always entertaining, and this is no exception.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
Perfect short reads with a realistic family, realistic tween problems, but a quirky spin. I like the illustrated covers better, more appealing to the actual audience I think.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still laughing thinking about Anastasia's poetry recital at the top of the gym rope. These books never fail to make me laugh. I also love how quick they are - Lowry doesn't waste space or pad the stories, which I admire when I unpack box after box of thick novels.
crowyhead's review against another edition
4.0
This was probably my favorite Anastasia book when I was a kid.
bradlyofmartin's review against another edition
3.0
Fun lil story about doing your best though the kids didn’t love it they were entertained enough.
erine's review against another edition
3.0
The grief plotline: Anastasia's poor Uncle George has just experienced a presumably heavy loss. At the beginning of the story, Anastasia's parents are planning to fly out for Aunt Rose's funeral and the discussion is fairly serious. Until the cause of death is discussed, and then deceased Aunt Rose is mercilessly needled because she died from salmonella poisoning; Anastasia is outlandishly insensitive about this point. Sam is also fairly insensitive, but he's what, four? He continually reenacts the funeral, which I felt was a realistic reaction.
The singles romance plotline: Uncle George, devastating loss aside, must now be looking for a lady, and Anastasia has a number of them in mind. Her senior neighbor, Gertrude Stein, is given the right of first refusal. Her friend's recently divorced mother is the next offering, but she's not really in the mood for a set-up. And finally, Anastasia's gym teacher gets the suggestive side-eye, although nothing immediately comes of it. Anastasia herself has a minor interlude after realizing she has a "crush" on her gym teacher. Anastasia and her mother have a conversation about how perfectly normal it is to have a crush on an adult woman, but it is pretty thoroughly dismissed as a idolization kind of moment, and not as though there might be actual romantic potential between two women. Yes, this was published in 1986, but reading it 25 years later there was an awkwardly missed opportunity here.
The rope-climbing plotline: Hands-down, most relatable. I, too, remember gym class in which the chosen activity was one I wasn't terribly good at, sparking all kinds of anxiety. In the end, Anastasia works with her mother and practices, and manages to improve. The foreign educational figures element of this plotline seemed out of place and unrealistic, and just a setup for the missed opportunity to recite poetry and therefore the renewed determination to show off the rope climbing.
Overall, not my favorite Anastasia, but the redeeming parts (Sam's perpetual funerals and Anastasia's rope climbing anxiety) are still worthwhile bits.
The singles romance plotline: Uncle George, devastating loss aside, must now be looking for a lady, and Anastasia has a number of them in mind. Her senior neighbor, Gertrude Stein, is given the right of first refusal. Her friend's recently divorced mother is the next offering, but she's not really in the mood for a set-up. And finally, Anastasia's gym teacher gets the suggestive side-eye, although nothing immediately comes of it. Anastasia herself has a minor interlude after realizing she has a "crush" on her gym teacher. Anastasia and her mother have a conversation about how perfectly normal it is to have a crush on an adult woman, but it is pretty thoroughly dismissed as a idolization kind of moment, and not as though there might be actual romantic potential between two women. Yes, this was published in 1986, but reading it 25 years later there was an awkwardly missed opportunity here.
The rope-climbing plotline: Hands-down, most relatable. I, too, remember gym class in which the chosen activity was one I wasn't terribly good at, sparking all kinds of anxiety. In the end, Anastasia works with her mother and practices, and manages to improve. The foreign educational figures element of this plotline seemed out of place and unrealistic, and just a setup for the missed opportunity to recite poetry and therefore the renewed determination to show off the rope climbing.
Overall, not my favorite Anastasia, but the redeeming parts (Sam's perpetual funerals and Anastasia's rope climbing anxiety) are still worthwhile bits.