Review Detail

What I liked:
Anastasia historical fiction is a special kind of magic all its own, as we have the story of a princess steeped in mystery and tragic loss. Each tale takes the basic idea and puts its twist on it, along with a variety of historical information to support the theory that is being floated in the story, to the point where you think you are reading fact, not fiction. The plethora of historical components excerpts from journals written by Anatasia lends itself well to you believing the story you are reading. Jess grows a lot throughout her dive into her family history, from a girl who tries to mold herself into various people's images into a young lady who takes bold steps to assert who she is and wants to be to her family and friends.
Final Verdict:
Historical fiction at its best, supporting documents, characters that feel real, and an everyday situation that all teens can identify with as they follow the clues that Jess unravels. Jess is a likable character who acts like a natural teen trying to figure out who she is, separate from her parent's and friends' ideas. I like the romance between her and the translator. It was a sweet addition to the story. Williams does an excellent job with her descriptions and expansion of her historical research; you can tell how much research she poured into this story.