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AllReviews |
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Chicago Tribune (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
The new edition reveals a new depth to Anne's dreams, irritations, hardship, and passions… There may be no better way to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II than to reread The Diary of a Young Girl, a testament to an indestructivle nobility of spirit in the face of pure evil. |
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Publishers Weekly (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
This startling new edition of Dutch Jewish teenager Anne Frank's classic diary written in an Amsterdam warehouse, where for two years she hid from the Nazis with her family and friends contains approximately 30% more material than the original 1947 edition. It completely revises our understanding of one of the most moving and eloquent documents of the Holocaust. The Anne we meet here is much more sarcastic, rebellious and vulnerable than the sensitive diarist beloved by millions. She rages at her mother, Edith, smolders with jealous resentment toward her sister, Margot, and unleashes acid comments at her roommates. Expanded entries provide a fuller picture of the tensions and quarrels among the eight people in hiding. Anne, who died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in March 1945, three months before her 16th birthday, candidly discusses her awakening sexuality in entries that were omitted from the 1947 edition by her father, Otto, the only one of the eight to survive the death camps. He died in 1980. This crisp, stunning translation provides an unvarnished picture of life in the "secret annex." In the end, Anne's teen angst pales beside her profound insights, her self-discovery and her unbroken faith in good triumphing over evil. |
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Victoria (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
This book explains the life of a Jewish girl who goes into hiding with her family during the Holocaust. This book is Anne Frank's diary which explains everything that went on while her family was in hiding. She addresses each of her letters to a friend named Kitty who is not even a real person. Every girl or young women should reads this book so that they may see what it was like for a young woman during World War II. Anne, father, mother, and sister Margot live in the small attic above her father's office. One of Mr. Frank's good friend's family joins the Franks. Mr. VanDann, Mrs. VanDann, Peter, and his cat live with the Franks as the outside world is being ripped apart by the Nazis who kill each Jew that they see or send them to concentration camps. Anne explains her everyday life which includes reading, studies, and listening to the radio. This book is heartwarming and very studious for a young girl for just thirteen. Anne keeps a great attitude it's as if she was living a normal life. This book keeps reading into the stories and the days for which she lives, you world have never known that she could have much to say for never being able to go out. |
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A kid's review (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
After Anne Frank turned 13, her world was turned upside-down. It was 1942 and the Germans had taken over Holland. They had started taking Jews away to concentration camps, so Anne's father Otto decided that it would be best if they went into hiding from the Nazi's. The Frank family along with the van Daan family, and Albert Dussel go into hiding in a somewhat "Secret" annex above Otto's former office. Anne can only bring mos needed items such as clothing, toiletries, and her diary. Anne writes in her diary almost every day about things happening in the annex and what she heard on the radio about the rest of the world. Sometimes, she writes about things any ordinary teenage girl would write about. Other times she would write about things very few people in the world would ever experience. Her diary geos from June 1942 to August 1944 when she was captured by the Nazi's. Anne wanted to publish her stories that she wrote in the annex including her diary. After the war Anne's father fulfilled her life long dream and published her diary.
I think this is a four star book because World war two is one of my favorite topics. It is particularly cool to learn about it from a girl who experienced it all at my age. Since she is Jewish I learned what it was like for them too. But this book is not just historical, it teaches people what girls were like, and what they thought about back in the 1940's.
I recommend this book to girls 13-16 because this is how old Anne was when she wrote in her diary. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
When reading someone's diary, one probably shouldn't expect a story, but Anne Frank's diary is certainly a very well structured story. Of course it doesn't include the end, but the end is already known... in a sense, the spoiler is what is necessary to understand to feel the sort of tragedy that this book gives off from a generally inquisitive and happier narrator.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is how early on Anne says, "I'd like to learn about psychology since I don't know much about it," but her experiences in a sort of abnormal sociological situation presents a lot more truth and depth to her understandings of the workings of human thought than I've ever seen described by a psychologist. Honestly, something about the forced quietness and the lack of physical freedom creates a level of introspection that is a lot more observational than typical day-to-day life. In short, Anne Frank became very wise in the two years or so she was writing this diary, so much that she is actually much more wise than the typical person living today.
So we have a narrative, and we have very well-written psychological observation, and we have a tragic end. It's a set-up to a great classic, basically.
Many people say that it's a real shame Anne Frank didn't live to be a great writer. Well, in a sense, it's a bit too late to overly worry about it; I'd take this book as it is. If anybody's interested in more works by Anne Frank, there's a publication called "Stories from the Secret Annex" that you can look into that detail some of her writings she did as gifts and time-killers while in hiding. There is a lot more out there to expand upon and explore beyond this little document, but this document is a very good starting place. |
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Daniel (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
What happens when you are a care free child, enjoying the world around you, and suddenly you are in hidding from the Nazi's? Anne Frank's diary is one of the most famous books in the whole world and has sold over 10 million copies! Anne Frank may only be 13 at the begging of the diary, and 15 at the end but she was wise beyound her year. She has mastered the depth of each person to profection, including herself! People may thing "Why would I want to read a dairy?" but this book is more than a diary, it is a master pice. Anne Frank sadly didn't surive the concintration camps, she died 1 week before liberation at the young age of 15! Her spirt reminds the world forever what had taken place through her diary. Her diary is filled with all the emotions teens go through, from fights with her parents to falling in lovee with a boy who is in hidding with her named Peter. This book is truely for everone! And yes, it is THAT GOOD! |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
I have to admit that when I first read this book, maybe about five years ago, I thought it was probably the most boring book ever. Language probably had something to do with it, as I read it in a language I'm not truly comfortable reading in. Now, after re-reading it, I've realized what a wonderful classic this book is - not only it describes a young Jew's life during the Holocaust (in an extraordinary situation) but also it tells about the most intimate feelings a person can feel. Sometimes I even feel guilty that so many people got to read Anne's deepest thoughts, for I'm sure this was never meant to come out to the public.
Are readers likely to like Anne after reading the book? Of course not! If people had access to my deepest, darkest secrets, I'd probably be a very hate-able person. In fact, I think it was disgusting how Anne talked about her mother and how selfish she was sometimes. But you have to remind yourselves, however, that Anne was just 13-15 and was suffering like none of us ever have. She was just a teenager, growing and struggling to find her true self!
Another interesting thing is how good of a writer Anne was at such a young age. It's sad to think about all those "what she could've been." At least a few of her writings came out to the open, somehow, but it's not the same.
This diary will not only offer very interesting accounts of a "life in hiding," but also some very philosophical questions and ideas. Obviously, Anne was a pretty smart girl...she was just very hard to understand, like any other girl her age will be.
I highly recommend this book to anyone for it's a very important classic to read. If you haven't read it, you're truly missing out on something that will definitely teach a lesson to humanity.
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Lena (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
The diary of Anne Frank is the most inspiring book I have ever read in my life, coming from a 13 year old girl who has been reading novels since she was 6. Anne Frank, no matter what anybody says, is the most real, true, teenager ever and will always be remembered. Her diary is an honest-to-goodness count of the horrible time period that she and her family and family's friends suffered through. The definitive edition is much more revealing, but the regular one is good too. I would have never given this book a chance unless I had had my eighth grade reading teacher, Donesa Walker, who inspired me to read this book. For anyone, male or female, who is having doubts about themselves or thinks there is not enough goodness in the world, read this book and I guarantee you will think otherwise when finished. I am touched by her humor and therefore, God Bless Anne Frank, and God Bless everyone else, too. |
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Lauren (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
Ever feel like there's no way out, that you're trapped inside a world that you can't escape? Well if so, then you might be able to relate to the book The Diary of Anne Frank.
In her diary Anne spills about everyday needs, problems, scares and even encounters with love itself; until her whole world changes. In this dramatic and riveting diary Anne tells how her world turned upside down. It's June 1942, in Amsterdam, the Frank family is living in a very nice and quaint home every one is peaceful and content and unaware of the fate that was in store for them. All but one family member was oblivious to what was happening around them, that one was Mr. Otto Frank himself; taking clues he found here and there he pieced things together and quickly decided to give personal belongings to trustful friends and neighbors and moves his family into safe hiding. One thing led to another and the Franks find themselves living in a secret annex atop of Mr. Frank's old work place. Going about day to day chores and taking care of the necessities, Anne describes her life in hiding. She also tells how it is living not only with her mother, father and sister Margret but also living with the Van Daan's, and Mr. Dussel. Talk about being crowded. With daily quarrels and constant fighting the 8 of them find it difficult to contain themselves. Although it seems like no big deal, it truly is, having to keep quiet 24/7, not being allowed to bath for weeks on end and not even being allowed to look outside the window, let alone all of the other ruthless, brutal and cruel tasks they had to do. Their lives were filled with hardships and most of all it is filled with the secrets and emotions of this 13 year old girl, dreading the thought that haunted her every minute of everyday; getting caught. In this diary Anne explains it all, all there is left to do for these unfortunate 8 is to sit and wait to see what fait has in store for them.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who's 12 years of age or up, due to some mature material discussed in this book I advise a more mature audience reads this book. There are many complex topics that are discussed in this book that really require you to think sincerely about. The Diary of Anne Frank is truly and extraordinary book, teaching lessons and morals around the world, you will not be disappointed, it will touch the hearts of millions. I know it touched mine. |
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J. Mack (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
What is remarkable about Anne Frank's diary, more than that it has survived for an audience of readers, is Anne Frank's mature outlook on life and the world. It is often hard to believe that this is the writing of a 14 year old girl. Thousands of books are available that view World War II through the eyes of an adult. Yet this book is one of the few that gives us a view of a Jewish child in Europe during World War II.
The Diary of Anne Frank is written largely as a series of letters to an imaginary friend named Kitty. All of Anne's frustrations, fears, and musings are confessed in her diary. She is an adolescent female undergoing the same feelings of most adolescent females in unusual circumstances. Not only is Anne worried about Hitler and the Jewish concentration camps, but she is trying to break from her parents at a time when leaving her home is a risk to her life. Co-habiting with another family, she also has the privilage of finding love as a teenager. This creates some peculiar scenarios for Anne.
The great misfortune of this book is that the book ends when it seems Anne is on the verge of a major epiphany. She seems to be on the cusp of making a major self discovery, only to be hauled away from her family to her death. This is only one of the reasons that this book is so heartbreaking. Yet this is one of the elements that makes it one of the most important books written in the 20th Century. |
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