Anastasia Krupnik

Ten-year-old Anastasia Krupnik is the daughter of a literature professor (her father) and an artist (her mother). In addition to teaching, her father also writes poetry, and his four poetry books, among many others, sit on the shelves of their home. His most recent book was dedicated to Anastasia, which makes “her feel awed, unique, and proud” (4). These three words, among others, are in Anastasia’s green notebook, a book in which she writes down special words, private information, and the beginnings of her own poems.

So far, Anastasia’s notebook lists that she’s 10 years old, got her first wart, and the name of her schoolteacher—Mrs. Westvessel, whom Anastasia doesn’t like. Anastasia makes a list in her notebook to figure out why she dislikes Mrs. Westvessel, which involves writing down potential reasons and then crossing out the false ones because she doesn’t like to lie. One reason she gives is that Mrs. Westvessel is old and reminds Anastasia of the nursing home where her grandmother lives. However, Anastasia quickly realizes Mrs. Westvessel doesn’t act old, and so she crosses out this reason. Anastasia finally concludes the reason for her dislike is that she makes Anastasia feel “dumb” because “sometimes—too many times—I don’t feel the same way about things that everybody else feels” (7).