For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from ...
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Jan 15, 2012
Inkbitten
rated it: 
Judged by The Cover:...
Okay look at the cover, now read chapter 7, now look at the cover again. Anastasia takes a few paragraphs in that chapter (and throughout the rest of the novel) to tell the reader how ugly she is compared to her older sisters -a dying man asks for her older sister to read to him instead of Anastasia because he wants the last face he sees to beautiful-. I am for a fact aware that a character's, especially since this novel takes place over many years, appearance More...
Okay look at the cover, now read chapter 7, now look at the cover again. Anastasia takes a few paragraphs in that chapter (and throughout the rest of the novel) to tell the reader how ugly she is compared to her older sisters -a dying man asks for her older sister to read to him instead of Anastasia because he wants the last face he sees to beautiful-. I am for a fact aware that a character's, especially since this novel takes place over many years, appearance More...
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Aug 22, 2011
Annie
rated it: 
I loved reading this book. I’ve studied some Russian history in the past, so I suppose that might have drawn me into this book faster than most readers, but I still feel that this was a very easy and appealing read.
Anastasia’s narration was honest, complicated and very accessible. You could relate easily to this character somehow, despite the time difference, the cultural factors, the social factors. Somehow Ms Dunlap makes it ever so easy to listen to Anastasia.
The book, w More...
Anastasia’s narration was honest, complicated and very accessible. You could relate easily to this character somehow, despite the time difference, the cultural factors, the social factors. Somehow Ms Dunlap makes it ever so easy to listen to Anastasia.
The book, w More...
Jul 31, 2011
Jana
rated it: 
When I first finished this book I was going to give it two stars, but the more I thought about it, the more I was bothered by this book. First, the good. It was a very well researched book and I learned a lot about the Romanov family, which I really liked. Now the bad (yes, that is the only good thing I have to say about the book). The "romance" was very unbelievable. The only times they are together, he is either condescending or bitter, yet she falls madly in love with him. In
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Jun 06, 2011
Enjoli
rated it:
I'm really not a fan of historical fiction, but this book was really good. Susanne Dunlap has her facts straight so it's like her fiction mixes in perfectly with the history.
The story is about the life of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova and the rest of the Imperial family. It follows the life of the youngest daughter in the Imperial family and her secret friendship with a solider boy named Sasha. He is Anastasia's connection to the normal world, and her only true friend. More...
The story is about the life of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova and the rest of the Imperial family. It follows the life of the youngest daughter in the Imperial family and her secret friendship with a solider boy named Sasha. He is Anastasia's connection to the normal world, and her only true friend. More...
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Dec 12, 2010
See full review here.
In a sentence: A gorgeous, intricately rich book that I devoured to the very last page.
compelling, fascinating,
Anastasia's Secret is a stunningly accurate recreation of the teenage years, also the final years, of the life of Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the last princess of Russia. The novel begins with a detailed Cast of Characters, highlighting the main players and providing some background information with a list of nicknames, a useful reference More...
In a sentence: A gorgeous, intricately rich book that I devoured to the very last page.
compelling, fascinating,
Anastasia's Secret is a stunningly accurate recreation of the teenage years, also the final years, of the life of Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the last princess of Russia. The novel begins with a detailed Cast of Characters, highlighting the main players and providing some background information with a list of nicknames, a useful reference More...
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Oct 20, 2010
ALPHAreader
rated it:
In his preface to ‘Leaves of Grace’, Walt Whitman wrote: “As soon as histories are properly told there is no more need of romances. . .” a beautiful sentiment, perfectly captured in Susanne Dunlap’s historical young adult novel, ‘Anastasia’s Secret’.
The Russian revolution fascinates for many reasons, but especially for being a case of history sadly repeating itself - echoing the bloody French Revolution, particularly in the role that the imperial family played in unfolding the future More...
The Russian revolution fascinates for many reasons, but especially for being a case of history sadly repeating itself - echoing the bloody French Revolution, particularly in the role that the imperial family played in unfolding the future More...
Oct 09, 2010
Tania
rated it: 
Anastasia Romonova has always been somewhat of a mystery. The youngest daughter of the last Tsar of Russia and a descendant of Queen Victoria, Anastasia lived a sheltered life with her older sisters and sickly younger brother. History paints her as the joke maker of the family and the one who was in charge of keeping spirits up. Until recently, there had been speculation as to whether or not the Russian princess could have survived her family's slaughter and there have been many theories.
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Jun 19, 2010
Margo
rated it:
Susanne Dunlap has written a wonderfully romantic and tragic novel about the final days of Anastasia Romanova, more formally known as the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova, the youngest daughter of the last czar of Russia. Told in the first person by Anastasia herself, the self-appointed fun-loving practical joker of the Romanov children, the novel starts at the time of the outbreak of World War I, when Anastasia's idyllic childhood begins to change forever. Dunlap intersects into Ana
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Feb 16, 2010
Arya
rated it: 
Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap 2 of 5 stars.
The life of a Russian princess rests in the hands of her secret love
For Anastasia Romanov, life as the daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the violence of revolution. Ousted from the Imperial Palace when the Bolsheviks seized control, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia as the rebels determine their future. But even while their captivity stretches out and the threat to their lives grows more me More...
The life of a Russian princess rests in the hands of her secret love
For Anastasia Romanov, life as the daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the violence of revolution. Ousted from the Imperial Palace when the Bolsheviks seized control, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia as the rebels determine their future. But even while their captivity stretches out and the threat to their lives grows more me More...
Nov 21, 2009
Corinne
rated it:
At the heart of this novel is a girl and her family - bonded together by love and by circumstance - and an ages old empire on the brink of extinction.
As the youngest grand duchess in the family of Nicholas II Romanov, Anastasia has spent her insulated life among her older sisters and sickly younger brother. She's always ready for a prank, safe within a cocoon of wealth and privilege. Unfortunately, rumbles of unrest among her father's people begin to reach her ears through a boy she More...
As the youngest grand duchess in the family of Nicholas II Romanov, Anastasia has spent her insulated life among her older sisters and sickly younger brother. She's always ready for a prank, safe within a cocoon of wealth and privilege. Unfortunately, rumbles of unrest among her father's people begin to reach her ears through a boy she More...
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Mar 16, 2010
Cindy
rated it:
I love anything to do with Anastasia. I guess at this moment I will have to change that statement.
Susanne Dunlap has an extreme amount of talent but I don't know if this should have been her debut book. She seemed a little apprehensive to build such a great historical character, and so therefor stuck to what the world knows of Anastasia which is sadly not much.
There is no action, no catching the readers attention, no romance. It's just a bunch of words describing really More...
Susanne Dunlap has an extreme amount of talent but I don't know if this should have been her debut book. She seemed a little apprehensive to build such a great historical character, and so therefor stuck to what the world knows of Anastasia which is sadly not much.
There is no action, no catching the readers attention, no romance. It's just a bunch of words describing really More...
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Mar 07, 2010
Cari
rated it:
Anastasia’s Secret is a tragically beautiful story that everyone must read. Susanne Dunlap takes the historical figure Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova and tells her story from age twelve to seventeen. The story begins when Anastasia befriends Sasha, a young soldier who would not be considered suitable by her family. Sasha does not shelter Anastasia but instead speaks honestly to her and even shows her what life outside the palace walls is like. With war, revolutions, and the fa
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Jul 12, 2011
Erika
rated it:
Anastasia’s Secret begins in 1913 when the Tsar of Russia and his family are in power and enjoying their lives amidst palaces, balls, and parties. The four daughters and one son live a life of comfort and ease surrounded by tutors, servants, family, and friends, with only Alexei’s hemophilia to trouble them. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest daughter, Anastasia, and when we meet her she befriends a soldier playing the guitar in her garden. She is not supposed to converse wit
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Jun 27, 2010
Thebookhour
rated it:
5/5 STARS
I loved reading this book. I’ve studied some Russian history in the past, so I suppose that might have drawn me into this book faster than most readers, but I still feel that this was a very easy and appealing read.
Anastasia’s narration was honest, complicated and very accessible. You could relate easily to this character somehow, despite the time difference, the cultural factors, the social factors. Somehow Ms Dunlap makes it ever so easy to listen to Anastasia.
More...
I loved reading this book. I’ve studied some Russian history in the past, so I suppose that might have drawn me into this book faster than most readers, but I still feel that this was a very easy and appealing read.
Anastasia’s narration was honest, complicated and very accessible. You could relate easily to this character somehow, despite the time difference, the cultural factors, the social factors. Somehow Ms Dunlap makes it ever so easy to listen to Anastasia.
More...
Jan 14, 2011
Falling Off The Shelf
rated it:
This review was originally posted on my review blog : http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com
The story of Anastasia Romanov has always been a huge interest for me. At a young age I was introduced to the animated presentation of Anastasia from 20th Century Fox, and I fell in love. Even to this day, it is one of my favorite movies to watch. For the longest time I thought that was exactly how Anastasia's life had been, and then I grew up and learned the horrible truth of the things he More...
The story of Anastasia Romanov has always been a huge interest for me. At a young age I was introduced to the animated presentation of Anastasia from 20th Century Fox, and I fell in love. Even to this day, it is one of my favorite movies to watch. For the longest time I thought that was exactly how Anastasia's life had been, and then I grew up and learned the horrible truth of the things he More...
Jun 07, 2010
John
rated it:
Title: Anastasia's Secret
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Publisher: Bloomsbury
I make no jokes when I say I am obsessed with the historical figure that is Anastasia Nicholavna Romanov. I grew up with Don Bluth's animated retelling of the tale. While it was historically skewed, it made me fall in love with the idea of a princess so bent on spunk and ingenuity, and with the classic tale of self-discovery. Ever since then, I have devoured any young adult offerings abo More...
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Publisher: Bloomsbury
I make no jokes when I say I am obsessed with the historical figure that is Anastasia Nicholavna Romanov. I grew up with Don Bluth's animated retelling of the tale. While it was historically skewed, it made me fall in love with the idea of a princess so bent on spunk and ingenuity, and with the classic tale of self-discovery. Ever since then, I have devoured any young adult offerings abo More...
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Jun 04, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
Review by Margo Tanenbaum:
Susanne Dunlap has written a wonderfully romantic and tragic novel about the final days of Anastasia Romanova, more formally known as the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova, the youngest daughter of the last czar of Russia. Told in the first person by Anastasia herself, the self-appointed fun-loving practical joker of the Romanov children, the novel starts at the time of the outbreak of World War I, when Anastasia's idyllic childhood begins to chan More...
Susanne Dunlap has written a wonderfully romantic and tragic novel about the final days of Anastasia Romanova, more formally known as the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova, the youngest daughter of the last czar of Russia. Told in the first person by Anastasia herself, the self-appointed fun-loving practical joker of the Romanov children, the novel starts at the time of the outbreak of World War I, when Anastasia's idyllic childhood begins to chan More...
May 03, 2010
Christina (Reading Extensively)
rated it:
Anastasia's Secret is the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanova, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II. In this fictionalized retelling, Anastasia falls in love with Sasha, a young man who becomes a soldier and then a guard during her family's captivity. The story starts in 1913 when Anastasia and Sasha first meet and details the years afterward during World War I and the coup that topples her father from his throne. With Sasha's help Anastasia may be able to escape the terrible fate the
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Nov 25, 2011
Ange
rated it:
This was a beautiful historical fiction novel of hope, love, friendship and devastation. Anastasia’s Secret follows the story of Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of the last Russian Tsar. Dunlap mixes fiction with true historical facts to bring us this compelling, heart-breaking, intense and beautiful story.
I always love reading historical fiction especially when some true historical facts are intertwined with it and this is what Anastasia’s Secret was. Have you ever wondere More...
I always love reading historical fiction especially when some true historical facts are intertwined with it and this is what Anastasia’s Secret was. Have you ever wondere More...
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Mar 28, 2011
Katja
rated it:
Awesome book!
I love things that have something to do with the last tsar of Russia and the Romanov family. This is ya-book about Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas, told in first person view. It tells about the imprisonment time of the Romanov family and the romance of Anastasia and young guard called Sasha. While most of the events are historically accurate, the romance is fictious.
There wasn't boring time in the book, I was always waiting for the next meet More...
I love things that have something to do with the last tsar of Russia and the Romanov family. This is ya-book about Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas, told in first person view. It tells about the imprisonment time of the Romanov family and the romance of Anastasia and young guard called Sasha. While most of the events are historically accurate, the romance is fictious.
There wasn't boring time in the book, I was always waiting for the next meet More...
Nov 16, 2011
Bookworm
rated it:
The good: overall, the book was well researched and not that bad. It described the situation of the Romanov family excellently. It was pretty interesting, most of the time.
The bad: sweet baby Jesus, I hate, hate HATE the romance in this book. First of all, Sasha. He was just PMSing for most of the book. I swear. How could Anastasia feel so attracted to a guy who is constantly teasing her on her ignorance and calling her a child? Also, if the place is guarded so awesomely, how do they find t More...
The bad: sweet baby Jesus, I hate, hate HATE the romance in this book. First of all, Sasha. He was just PMSing for most of the book. I swear. How could Anastasia feel so attracted to a guy who is constantly teasing her on her ignorance and calling her a child? Also, if the place is guarded so awesomely, how do they find t More...
Apr 29, 2011
Reading Vacation's Mom
rated it:
Perfect timing! We just finished our unit on Russian history at school, so I couldn’t wait to jump into Anastasia’s Secret. I have been interested in her story since I watched the animated Anastasia movie.
I love every single thing about Anastasia’s Secret. All of it!
The historical references are accurate and complete with detailed descriptions. The perfect amount of background information (including how to understand the elaborate Russian names) is included at the beginni More...
I love every single thing about Anastasia’s Secret. All of it!
The historical references are accurate and complete with detailed descriptions. The perfect amount of background information (including how to understand the elaborate Russian names) is included at the beginni More...
Feb 27, 2011
Aimee
rated it:
Well, first off I have to say that I took notes to really review this book but I think I accidentally threw them away! Oopsy. So, I put this book aside hoping to find my notes, but nope. They are really gone.
There is so much tragedy surrounding Anastasia and her family. There are so many books written about them and I always appreciate people trying to give Anastasia a happy ending where there probably was not such a thing.
This wasn't my favorite book, I admit. I thin More...
There is so much tragedy surrounding Anastasia and her family. There are so many books written about them and I always appreciate people trying to give Anastasia a happy ending where there probably was not such a thing.
This wasn't my favorite book, I admit. I thin More...
Nov 28, 2011
Mara
rated it:
I am having trouble, even now, after several weeks since reading this book, in formulating my thoughts about this story. On the one hand, it is very interesting - what book isn't, when it concerns Anastasia Romanov? But on the other hand, it was massively disappointing. The majority of the first half is good - Susanne Dunlap presents the Reader with her usual rich descriptions and complex characters. But I quickly became frustrated with Anastasia's lack of political knowledge (though this is pro
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Jan 14, 2011
Amy
rated it:
meeehhhh... I really wanted to like this one, and I think I would have been able to like it much more if the author had left some scenes out. Not that they were terribly graphic, but it just seemed sad to me that she had done so much research into the family and their lives and written an interesting account of what those last days might have been like, and then completely invented a fictional romance that wasn't really all that great. I mean, I never really felt like I could trust Sasha, and
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Jun 20, 2010
Jenben8426
rated it:
In Dunlap's historical novel she takes a close look at the Romanov's family just prior to the Revolution. The writing is done very well although I never really felt lost in story. It was written more as a very intriguing text book. I enjoyed learning about the family and it is clear that Dunlap spent considerable time researching before she attempted to write the book. I wish she would have taken a little more creative liberty and worked more on the fiction part of the novel. I liked the st
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Nov 24, 2011
Anne
rated it:
Anastasia has a secret.
The boy, Sasha, who tells her the truth about how the people live and what they believe, and gives Anastasia his balalaika to keep when he goes off to war.
One. Secret. In a palace filled with hundreds of servants, soldiers, guards, a snoopy younger brother, three older princesses, and Anastasia’s parents, the tsar and tsarina of all Russia.
How important can one secret be?
In a revolution, a secret may be all important.
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The boy, Sasha, who tells her the truth about how the people live and what they believe, and gives Anastasia his balalaika to keep when he goes off to war.
One. Secret. In a palace filled with hundreds of servants, soldiers, guards, a snoopy younger brother, three older princesses, and Anastasia’s parents, the tsar and tsarina of all Russia.
How important can one secret be?
In a revolution, a secret may be all important.
More...
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Mar 17, 2010
Jenn
rated it:
Anastasia's Secret is a beautiful, historic tale of a young girl growing up and dealing with love and loss. The only difference is that, in this case, the young girl is the Grand Duchess of the Soviet Union, who's increasingly exiled as the rebels take over the Soviet Union. But despite Anastasia's lofty position, Susanne Dunlap makes her feel like any other girl: lonely, confused, a little lost, insecure, and yearning for love and family.
As revealed in her earlier guest post, Susann More...
As revealed in her earlier guest post, Susann More...
Jun 17, 2010
Emily
rated it:
The fate of Anastasia Romanov is one that many writers and filmmakers have taken many liberties with. My dad asked for a book about the Romanov's a few years back after reading a news story that documented DNA testing done by scientists on a grave near where the Romanov family was executed. It was found to be Anastasia. I guess that took a little of the mystery out of the story for me, but I still enjoy reading stories about this family and the history behind the Russian Revolution and its eve
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Jul 06, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This book was so good I devoured it without stopping in 2 days. Novels are so much better when they're completely historically accurate and when you open up a novel that has a historical guide at the beginning you know it's going to be a wonderful journey. This is perhaps the best historical romance novel I've ever read. The reality of the revolution, the journey and the naivety of Anastasia are beautiful to look at through this. It is a way to get into the head of one of history's most famous c
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