Published: 2022
Author: Kathryn Williams
Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Retellings
Audience (Grade Levels): Middle School, High School; Grades 7-12
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Storyteller
Triggers: Assassination/execution references, death of a family member, emotional repression
Review By: Sara Tripp
Publisher’s Summary:
This story follows a teenage girl’s quest to uncover the truth behind her secretive great aunt Anna, who just might be the long lost Russian princess Anastasia.
It’s not every day you discover you might be related to Anastasia…or that the tragic princess actually survived her assassination attempt and has been living as the woman you know as Aunt Anna.
For Jess Morgan, who is growing tired of living her life to please everyone else, discovering her late aunt’s diaries shows her she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. But was her aunt truly a Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax? With the help of a supremely dorky, but undeniably cute, local college student named Evan, Jess digs into the century-old mystery. But soon Jess realizes there’s another, bigger truth waiting to be revealed: Jess Morgan. Because if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.
Review:
I found myself wanting to research and know more about Anastasia Romanov while reading this book. Her spunky bold spirit is really brought to life in this book. I felt connected to Jess Morgan on her quest to find out more about her late aunt, I wanted to know more too! Even if you already know what happens with Anastasia Romanov this is still a story with suspense and a mystery worth solving! I enjoyed the dual timeline, learning about Anastasia and Jess Morgan’s personally journey as well. I thought the growth that Jess Morgan the main character showed as she learned her family history was a very relatable story for any young adult. This book is worth the read for the history or the mystery!
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies / World History (The Romanov Dynasty & Historical Rumors): Williams’ novel serves as an excellent anchor for teaching students about the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov family. Educators can use Jess’s journey to contrast real historical documentation of Anastasia Romanov with the numerous high-profile survival myths and hoaxes that persisted throughout the 20th century.
- English Language Arts / Literature (Dual Timelines & Narrative Structure): The book is a fantastic resource for studying dual timelines and epistolary storytelling. Teachers can analyze how the author weaves Great Aunt Anna’s historical diaries together with Jess’s modern-day, first-person quest to build suspense and draw thematic parallels between two different eras.
- Social-Emotional Learning (People-Pleasing vs. Personal Agency): Centering on Jess’s realization that she is tired of living to please others, this story offers clear SEL pathways. Students can discuss the psychological toll of hiding one’s true identity, the process of finding self-worth, and the book’s ultimate lesson: the power to actively write your own life story.
- “Fact-Checking the Princess” Inquiry Lab: Mirroring the reviewer’s immediate urge to research Anastasia Romanov, host an inquiry lab in the school library. Students will research primary historical sources, archival photos, and forensic records regarding the Romanov execution to separate historical reality from the creative mythology explored in the novel.
Diversity & Representation:
The Storyteller supports diverse collections by centering on immigrant displacement and the quiet trauma of hiding one’s authentic cultural heritage. Through the character of Aunt Anna, the story explores the profound emotional burden of survival, assimilation, and the complex choices made by marginalized individuals seeking safety under assumed identities, offering teenagers a unique window into generational secrecy and the preservation of personal truth.
Readalikes
- The Debutante by Kathryn Williams
- The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
- I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
