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tsundokued's review against another edition
4.0
Last book in the series...
That feeling when you finish a really good series and wonder what you're going to do for the rest of your life...
Ah, well, there's still that series about her brother!
That feeling when you finish a really good series and wonder what you're going to do for the rest of your life...
Ah, well, there's still that series about her brother!
erinmp's review against another edition
3.0
Anastasia is finally a year older, but with age comes so many more problems. She's done the unthinkable--committed a federal offense by tampering with the mail! Of course it was an accident, but Anastasia doesn't know if the authorities will see it that way. Then there's that annoying problem with her Values class in school--too many scenarios and too many possibilities. Maybe she is wishy-washy after all!
The last in the Anastasia series was a bit disappointing. The ploit wasn't that great and it wasn't as funny as most of the books. I'd almost rather Lowry stopped with Anastasia at This Address. No matter, I still adore Anastasia, even if she does have an "off-book."
The last in the Anastasia series was a bit disappointing. The ploit wasn't that great and it wasn't as funny as most of the books. I'd almost rather Lowry stopped with Anastasia at This Address. No matter, I still adore Anastasia, even if she does have an "off-book."
oregon_small_fry's review against another edition
4.0
I remember when Aunt Kathy (Sarah and Lisa's mom) got this book autographed for my birthday!!!!
sarabaggins's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Anastasia was as hilarious as usual. This book held some particularly funny moments, and was better than some of the others in the series. Also, Anastasia's parents are amazing!
Anastasia was as hilarious as usual. This book held some particularly funny moments, and was better than some of the others in the series. Also, Anastasia's parents are amazing!
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
this one didn't come out until late middle school for me, so it doesn't bring back those warm fuzzy feelings of nostalgia...maybe that's why i didn't like it that much.
also, it seems strangely preachy for an anastasia book. "always do the right thing" and you might end up a hero!
and why did the spelling of sonya suddenly change to sonja? and what happened to steve harvey? and isn't it pretty sick that one of anastasia's teachers tells her he hates to see such a pretty girl looking so sad?
also, it seems strangely preachy for an anastasia book. "always do the right thing" and you might end up a hero!
and why did the spelling of sonya suddenly change to sonja? and what happened to steve harvey? and isn't it pretty sick that one of anastasia's teachers tells her he hates to see such a pretty girl looking so sad?
katrinky's review against another edition
3.0
ok several notes here -- this one, prob by nature of being written in 1995 instead of 1979, had some truly weird stuff about feminism. The mother of one of Anastasia's friends was recently left by her husband, a minister who started dating the lead soprano of the church choir. The mom responds by attending law school "to become a feminist lawyer," declaring all men pigs, cutting her hair, "dressing in genderless clothing," and stopping the use of deodorant "and always smelling sort of unpleasant."
Girl, same. But the book clearly treats it as a joke. There was also a passing reference to Anastasia's dad as "the master of the house" that made my face pucker. ALSO, what is this weird romantic tension between Anastasia and her teacher!?!?!?
Anyway, the lesson I learned is that Anastasia Krupnik outside the 70s is not the Anastasia Krupnik for me.
Girl, same. But the book clearly treats it as a joke. There was also a passing reference to Anastasia's dad as "the master of the house" that made my face pucker. ALSO, what is this weird romantic tension between Anastasia and her teacher!?!?!?
Anyway, the lesson I learned is that Anastasia Krupnik outside the 70s is not the Anastasia Krupnik for me.
lauralynnwalsh's review against another edition
4.0
I love the innocence and normality of the Anastasia books. Of course, they are somewhat fluff, but there are many times when that is exactly what I want - and, more importantly, what kids want.
erine's review against another edition
3.0
This one is new to me: I had probably barely aged out of this series when this one was published. Revisiting it now, it still has all the hallmarks of a book I would have loved in my tweenage years, especially the anguish over ridiculous situations.
It seems odd to say it, but there are distinct Importance of Being Earnest vibes here. There’s a bit of Cecily’s melodrama. But what struck me was the Miss Prism element that I have so often experienced myself. Not a baby/manuscript mixup, but a dog poo/illustrations mixup. In the mail. So there’s a good amount of humor here, plus some interesting ethical questions.
A solid story, with brief outdated references to transvestism.
It seems odd to say it, but there are distinct Importance of Being Earnest vibes here. There’s a bit of Cecily’s melodrama. But what struck me was the Miss Prism element that I have so often experienced myself. Not a baby/manuscript mixup, but a dog poo/illustrations mixup. In the mail. So there’s a good amount of humor here, plus some interesting ethical questions.
A solid story, with brief outdated references to transvestism.
mrskatiefitz's review
4.0
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
Though there are still two books about the Krupnik family left after this one, Anastasia Absolutely is the last book of the series to star Anastasia as its main character. Anastasia now has a new dog for whom she is primarily responsible. One day, while walking the dog, she is meant to mail a package for her mother, but instead accidentally mails a small bag of dog waste. When she realizes what she has done, Anastasia becomes convinced that she has committed a felony and spends days agonizing over whether to turn herself in, and how she will avoid severe punishment.
Though many of Anastasia’s experiences have been a bit on the silly side, this one is probably the least believable. I just had trouble buying that an intelligent middle schooler could mail a bag of poop without instantly realizing it, or that she would truly believe an accident like that could result in her going to jail. For me, this all made the plot seem rather thin as compared with other books.
What does work nicely is Lowry’s inclusion of Anastasia’s essays for her values class at the end of each chapter. These “what would you do” scenarios give insight into Anastasia’s character, but also provide opportunities for the reader to reflect on his or her own opinions. Lowry has included a document component like this in every Anastasia book, and it has worked successfully each and every time, right up to the end.
Sixteen years passed between the publication of Anastasia Krupnik (1979) and Anastasia Absolutely (1995), and this last book really feels like a relic of the past when compared with other 90s middle grade novels. By the time of this final story’s publication, it seems as though Anastasia would be out of step with the technology, interests, and worldview of the readers in her target audience. For this reason, it is probably wise that Lowry concluded her series here. Also strange is the way Anastasia’s teacher talks to her. He keeps talking about how pretty she is in a way that raises definite red flags in light of contemporary concerns over child sexual abuse, even though no such incident occurs in the story.
Though there are still two books about the Krupnik family left after this one, Anastasia Absolutely is the last book of the series to star Anastasia as its main character. Anastasia now has a new dog for whom she is primarily responsible. One day, while walking the dog, she is meant to mail a package for her mother, but instead accidentally mails a small bag of dog waste. When she realizes what she has done, Anastasia becomes convinced that she has committed a felony and spends days agonizing over whether to turn herself in, and how she will avoid severe punishment.
Though many of Anastasia’s experiences have been a bit on the silly side, this one is probably the least believable. I just had trouble buying that an intelligent middle schooler could mail a bag of poop without instantly realizing it, or that she would truly believe an accident like that could result in her going to jail. For me, this all made the plot seem rather thin as compared with other books.
What does work nicely is Lowry’s inclusion of Anastasia’s essays for her values class at the end of each chapter. These “what would you do” scenarios give insight into Anastasia’s character, but also provide opportunities for the reader to reflect on his or her own opinions. Lowry has included a document component like this in every Anastasia book, and it has worked successfully each and every time, right up to the end.
Sixteen years passed between the publication of Anastasia Krupnik (1979) and Anastasia Absolutely (1995), and this last book really feels like a relic of the past when compared with other 90s middle grade novels. By the time of this final story’s publication, it seems as though Anastasia would be out of step with the technology, interests, and worldview of the readers in her target audience. For this reason, it is probably wise that Lowry concluded her series here. Also strange is the way Anastasia’s teacher talks to her. He keeps talking about how pretty she is in a way that raises definite red flags in light of contemporary concerns over child sexual abuse, even though no such incident occurs in the story.