RATING: 5 STARS

Summary:

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. 

In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.

Review:

This is the real diary of Anne Frank. For those who don’t know who Anne Frank is, she’s a teenage Jewish girl that lived during the 2nd world war.

The first entry is written on Anne’s 13th birthday (12 June 1942) after she was given the diary as a gift. Throughout the entries, the diary documents Anne’s life during the 2nd world war. At first, Anne introduces us to her life and her friends. We get a picture of her normal life and the changes that the Germans implemented, such as Jews not being allowed to ride bicycles.

Unfortunately, her family is forced to go into hiding. They escape to Amsterdam where 8 people in total had to share their secret living space. Life in hiding isn’t ideal since they had to be quiet, were unable to leave the house and occupy their time like everybody else. Fortunately, they had people who helped them during that time but life was still very hard.

I was very surprised to learn just how opinionated Anne Frank was. She was stubborn, vocal and while flawed, her words held meaning. Despite not knowing her in real life or being able to relate to her hardships, her writing made me empathize with her. I grew very fond of her and her character.

I loved that she was her own person and while others often criticized her, she didn’t become submissive but rather tried to figure out a way to argument her opinions in a clearer manner. She always tried to better herself rather than let herself be afraid. She even made plans for the future after the war was over.

The diary ends on August 1st 1944. Her family was discovered 3 days later, after which men and women were separated. Anne later passed away during an outbreak of Typhus epidemic. Her sister and mother also died. The only person to survive was Anne’s father.

I don’t regret reading her diary at all. It is very clear that this diary eased some of her pain and was her shoulder to cry on during the hard times.

The book itself has many messages. One thing I’ve learned is that powerful women shouldn’t be silenced.  Anne’s story and the story should be enough for us to raise our voice in times of injustice and not blindly follow people in power. It should be a reminder that we must not let history repeat itself. People, no matter their religion, race, sexuality and anything that makes them stand out, have the right to their freedom.