What do You think about Anastasia's Chosen Career (1988)?
Anastasia, thirteen still, has to choose a career for a school assignment. She has decided to become a model, but her father thinks she wants to be a bookstore owner. Anastasia comprimises and goes to modeling school and interviews a bookstore owner. She meets a new best friend and is confronted by someone from her past. The only question is, what will she decide to do?This Anastasia was as amusing as the early books. I laughed and laughed and enjoyed Anastasia's entertaining adventures. Great book and a great heroine.
—george
Although I still think of this as one of my favorite Anastasias--I reread it several times as a kid--I was disappointed to find that it didn't hold up as well when I read it a couple of years ago. (Anastasia On Her Own does, though, and of course the first two.) I wonder if it's the dated thing, or just that it seemed funnier when I was younger.Don't miss All About Sam, if it isn't already on your radar.
—Melody
Anastasia was always a sort of nerdy, intellectual girl, so it surprises everyone--even, sort of, herself--when she's assigned to cover "My Chosen Career" and decides maybe she just might want to be a model. She takes a modeling course and learns about poise and dressing properly and becoming presentable, but this really isn't a career path that comes naturally to her (much to her dismay). Another girl in the class--an unassuming teenage girl who doesn't know how beautiful she is, really--is the clear star of the show, and Anastasia befriends her. Also joining the modeling class is Anastasia's good old "friend" Robert, which I thought was pretty hilarious. Watching her get her hair cut and "hoping for exquisite ears" was so much fun. I love the thoughts that go through Anastasia's head, and how she is prone to little flights of fancy in her imagination. Her everyday life may be commonplace, but it's more than enough to carry a book.
—Julie Decker
