Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

I read Anne Frank's diary in middle school, and the unedited version a few years ago, but for some reason this Usborne title had much more of an impact on me emotionally. Perhaps it's because it's shorter and everything changes so quickly for Anne and her family. Usborne's version was written with the advice of Anne's stepsister, a concentration camp survivor, and author of Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.

The book opens with Anne as happy and lively as any other child her age, then gives the reader the background of what's been happening in Europe, as Hitler and the Nazis invade and begin persecuting Jewish men, women and children. The entire book is riveting -- photos throughout, Anne's thoughts as they are forced to hide for two years, her family's capture and the horror of the camps; this book is intense, sad, and provoking. It's hard to imagine the evil that prevailed at that time. Please use caution in deciding what age to allow kids to read it, and follow up with discussion. I found myself wondering why I have it so good, and feeling very grateful for the freedoms we have.

The "Quicklinks" explained at the front of the book are a must for this title-- You can read the story of Miep, who hid the Frank family, see close-ups of Anne's diary in her own handwriting, and view movie clips of her house and hiding place. There are also links to organizations that "work to educate young people to reject prejudice and injustice, in memory of Anne Frank." I was encouraged to read that good has come out of the tragedies of that time period.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers