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Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl

By Anne Frank, B.M. Mooyaart (Translator), Eleanor Roosevelt (Preface)

(325)

| Paperback | 9780553296983

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Book Description

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic -- a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl andContinue

Critics

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander: review

With its titular hi-there to Raymond Carver and its jacket jammed with encomia from the A-list of American letters — Chabon, Egan, Eggers, Franzen, Foer et al — it’s slightly surprising that ’s third book is so free from self-congratulation. Light on ... (read full critics)

telegraph.co.uk published on Thu, 29 Mar 2012

Book review: ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank,’ by Nathan Englander

“The Reader,” one of the stories in Nathan Englander’s new collection, tells the story of a woeful book tour by an author he calls “Author.” Though he once drew standing-room-only crowds, Author is now “a man surviving on memory and the fumes of pres ... (read full critics)

dallasnews published on Fri, 24 Feb 2012

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12 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

Its a Very moving book.

The only book that got me, anything close to crying.

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Gaurav Chaturvedi said on Sep 5, 2007 | 1 feedback

1 person find this helpful

I bought this book after visiting Anne's hideout in Amsterdam. The trip generated enough curiousity for me to read about her.
The read gave me a mix of feeling which is difficult to put in words. A sense of innocent and amusement but shadowed by fear and confusion. It's hard to imagine what sh ... (continue)

I bought this book after visiting Anne's hideout in Amsterdam. The trip generated enough curiousity for me to read about her.
The read gave me a mix of feeling which is difficult to put in words. A sense of innocent and amusement but shadowed by fear and confusion. It's hard to imagine what she must've been through...

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Joop said on Aug 8, 2007 | Add your feedback

To do a review of such a diary as this would be wrong and an injustice to the author. I am merely offering my thoughts on reading this book for a second time. I first read the diary in school but although I remember much from the diary, I do not remember her deepest secrets shared about puberty an ... (continue)

To do a review of such a diary as this would be wrong and an injustice to the author. I am merely offering my thoughts on reading this book for a second time. I first read the diary in school but although I remember much from the diary, I do not remember her deepest secrets shared about puberty and sexuality. Of course, what I read was not a definitive version which was originally published in 1995.
How can we (I mean 'we' as those in living in present day Britain) imagine the conditions that Anne was exposed to. To be hidden away for two years of your life, important years aged 13-15. Having to share with strangers or people who were not close friends in such confined quarters. Sharing a bedroom with a male stranger, only being able to wash and use the kitchen at certain times, living in blackout. Is it any wonder that Anne was able to internalise and transcribe her deepest thoughts and observations on paper, the diary 'Kitty' being her only 'friend'. The reader is drawn to the change as Anne 'grows up' in those two years from a child to a young woman. Although her relationship with her mother does not improve per se, they reach a level of tolerance. Anne becomes friends with her sister, of whom I felt she was a little jealous and also Peter van Daan. Her relationship with Peter borders on more than just friendship but you note after the talk with her father, Anne withdraws slightly to ensure that she and Peter remain close friends and nothing more. The Franks made the most of their difficult circumstances, food was scarce and what was bought was mainly black market with generous help from sympathising friends. They had to sell most of their possessions to be able to survive - what an adjustment - to go from being quite wealthy to living hand to mouth.
They were luckier than many, they had good friends and despite burglaries at the warehouse they managed to remain undiscovered for 2 years until the Nazi's were tipped off. This made me question just how many of our countrymen and kin would have done the same? I would like to think not, but who knows what pressure the Dutch people must have been under even if they were not out and out Nazi supporters. Those who hid Jews and were sympathetic to the cause were unbelievable brave. To perform such generous acts of kindness knowing what the outcome could be for them, these people are truly wonderful.
I challenge anyone who didn't cry on reading the afterword. Otto Frank was very lucky to remain alive and very sadly he was the only one. I suppose the fact that Anne and Margot died of typhus makes us feel a little better that at least they weren't gassed, but of course, this should never have happened. This book should be read by all, surely this should challenge beliefs!

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Booketta said on Sep 1, 2011 | Add your feedback

The DIary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank

In my opinion, this is an incredible history that teaches you the power of the hope and optimism in difficult situations. The reason that makes Anne’s diary so advisable is the different point of view of the Second World War that offers you. Anne’s point of view is full of optimism even her situatio ... (continue)

In my opinion, this is an incredible history that teaches you the power of the hope and optimism in difficult situations. The reason that makes Anne’s diary so advisable is the different point of view of the Second World War that offers you. Anne’s point of view is full of optimism even her situation is so hard. Anne explains to her diary his live in the hiding-place and that offers you two opposite views of the situation. From one hand, the difficulties and troubles that the residents of the hiding-place have. From the other hand Anne tells us that, despite her situation, good and important things happens to her.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to another level 4 student. Is a pleasant history with an easy style of writing (the style of a thirteen girl) and it uses a lot of vocabulary of personality that we learned in class.

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Rosemary Thwaite said on Dec 31, 2010 | Add your feedback

Critical introduction/comment(s):

Edited by Christopher Martin.
In a drab suite of rooms in Amsterdam, two Jewish families hid from the Nazi terror for more than two years. There, aged thirteen, Anne Frank began the diary that has become one of the most powerful personal accounts of the century. This edition also has background ... (continue)

Edited by Christopher Martin.
In a drab suite of rooms in Amsterdam, two Jewish families hid from the Nazi terror for more than two years. There, aged thirteen, Anne Frank began the diary that has become one of the most powerful personal accounts of the century. This edition also has background material and photographs.

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Your Sources said on Sep 14, 2010 | Add your feedback

Young Women should read this book

I believe most of us have reflected and even read The Diary of Anne Frank some time in the junior high years. It was required reading for me, yet I ended up reading it over and over again, eventually buying my own copy so the library could have its copy back. This book is enjoyable to read and I wo ... (continue)

I believe most of us have reflected and even read The Diary of Anne Frank some time in the junior high years. It was required reading for me, yet I ended up reading it over and over again, eventually buying my own copy so the library could have its copy back. This book is enjoyable to read and I would recommend it for any twelve year old girl, it shows that even when life is at it's worst (WWII) there is always hope and happiness to be found.
If you haven't read it, go out and get it, though it is sad in the end, the courage and strength of this family shines through.

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Elicia Clegg said on Jul 28, 2010 | Add your feedback