Anastasia's Secret

February 8, 2010
Anastasia Romanov lives a charmed childhood—her father is the czar of Russia and she is one of its grand duchesses. She grows up among the aristocracy, and elaborate palaces are her and her many siblings’ playgrounds. However, those familiar with Russian history also know that her family is quickly heading toward its demise. Dunlap (The Musician’s Daughter
) steps boldly into this famous historical narrative, envisioning another possible future for Anastasia—one that includes a handsome suitor-soldier named Sasha, who falls in love with Anastasia and hopes to save her from the doom awaiting her family. The author’s prose is heavy on telling, largely because she packs it with an impressive amount of Romanov and Russian history. The romantic dimension of this novel sparkles when it appears and Dunlap’s treatment of Anastasia’s family is full and tender, but as the years pass and revolution appears on the horizon, the story grows expectedly bleak. Dunlap persuasively inhabits the thoughts and emotions of her embattled protagonist; her magnetic reimagining of Anastasia’s story has the potential to reach a broad audience. Ages 12–up.

March 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Dunlap's novel combines life in imperial Russia during World War I and young love. Anastasia encounters an adolescent royal guard named Sasha, and the two become friends and lovers. The guard educates her on life outside of the palace walls, and, through Anastasia, Sasha sees the humanity of the royal family. The writing is quite atmospheric, providing a sense of the physical, political, and historical environment at the time. It also conveys an incredible amount of detail about the Romanovs' daily lives before and during their captivity, humanizing even the tsar and tsarista. The author articulates the emotions of the characters well, and Anastasia grows from a naive duchess to a young woman attuned to the social and political situation of the day. The romantic relationship, which is consummated and continues while the family is under house arrest, is less believable given the security surrounding the royals. A list of the family members, primary servants, and head guards precedes the story. Dunlap also provides an epilogue that details the conclusion of the Romanov dynasty."Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY"

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