I don't remember reading the Anastasia series when I was in my teens, but I decided to give this a try upon my 9-year-old's recommendation. I am glad I did. The lines are whipsmart and funny; there is a reasonably eventful plot; and I found Anastasia a likeable character (though a bit opinionated - the curse of the precocious!?). The story of Anastasia learning to accept life changes (in this case, moving from the house she has lived in all her life) is still fresh and relevant. I am glad this is back in print, although I wonder if young readers will notice the tiny clues that point to an earlier era (references to communal phones, black and white tv, and no mention of e-devices)?

The one where she moves to the suburbs, meets Steve and Gertrude Stein, and writes a hysterical romance novel.

After re-reading all of Beverly Cleary’s books, I realized I really missed reading my favorite books from childhood. The second book in the Anastasia series is a little less interesting than the first. The big move is kind of glossed over and the second half of the book doesn’t have much going on.

Love everything about this book, especially the way Katherine responds to Anastasia's Robert Giannini crisis

If you haven't read an Anastasia book you are truly missing out. This is pre-Judy Blume, pre-Alice McKinley. What great female characters are made of. She has spunk, a good heart, she loves to write, and she wants to make sure she fits in some explicit sex in the mystery novel she is writing. (Oh, and Nancy Drew bores her because it's not subtle enough.) Her dad is a professor/poet; her mom is a painter; her brother Sam is a pip. He acts like the oldest 2-year-old I have ever met. There is also the added pleasure of reading an early 80s novel where it was okay for kids to drink the foam off their dad's beer. It's sort of liberal, hippy and even more entertaining. Lois Lowry rules. I hope I have a kid just like Anastasia, and I raise her to be an intelligent, creative girl who speaks her mind. No matter how over-the-top it is. (I also hope I don't lose that in myself.)

I will never outgrow these books!

This book takes me back because my dad bought me these books as a kid. I was so into reading them and wanted to be just like Anastasia. She even reinforced my love and want of wearing glasses.

I saw a lot of myself in Anastasia as a kid. I loved books, I wanted to be a writer, and I was insanely curious and knew too much for my age. Haha I am glad that this book holds up.

Not every aspect of this holds up (if you're an adult reading it, you'll know exactly what parts I mean), but it was also just such a delight. I missed Anastasia Krupnik!

Another good one for nostalgia but nothing beats the first.