ebooks The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank in History

Review

133 of 136 people found the following review helpful. Review of New Version on KindleBy JDI first read this book (the edited down version) when I was nine years old; I received the book as a gift; and again when I was twelve for school. I recently re-read the book (the new un-edited version) and coming from an entirely different perspective now that I am a thirty year old mother.First; I want to say that I absolutely believe that this book should still be included in school curriculum. The only thing 'new' about it is that pages and passages were added. Nothing was taken out and the translation was not changed. Reports that the book is so different that it's nothing like the original are false. Reports that the story is different are false.There is no reason for the edited version to still be used because children read Anne Frank's diary around ages 11-14 years old which was around age when Anne herself was writing the diary. Anything that could be seen as supposedly "inappropriate" can be seen on daytime television with a PG or maybe PG-13 rating. Especially these days; there's definitely nothing in there that is beyond the norm for the average tween-teen. I think that continuing to use an edited version is insulting to Anne Frank's memory. Not only that; but it provides valuable information about the time period and gives more relateability to the diary.The passages which are included in the new version are not anything that the average 8-12 year old girl does not already know about her own body and the "birds and the bees"; and are so few and short that they comprise a tiny percentage of the work itself. The romance between herself and Peter is very chaste and nothing untoward happens in the story. (Spoiler: they hold hands and a kiss a few times. that's it.) The passages that some see as inappropriate are not at all titillating; a medical textbook is more erotic. Coming from a mom's point of view; I would definitely allow my daughter to read the unedited book.I think this should stay on school book lists because some kids these days see the Holocaust as something that happened a long time ago that is meaningless now; without realizing that genocides and racial motivated violence still happens every day. I think it seems to them like just another thing they have to learn about along with The Hundred Years War and the Crusades.Anne Frank's diary gives kids perspective and helps makes the tragic loss of life during WWII a tangible thing they can understand. The diary is so relate-able and reflects so many feelings that all teens have had; that she becomes three dimensional to them and no longer a just some person that died a long time ago. This sensitivity towards the loss of a life is what we need now in the times we live in.As we read the diary we see how much potential was lost not only in Anne but in her entire family. Anne Frank was an intelligent and well-read young woman who studied multiple languages and had an analytical mind. I believe we lost a shining beacon of women's intelligence when she died. She was an emerging feminist; activist; and writer! I think she would have been an amazing woman who would have gone on to do great things. All that potential was lost millions of times over during WWII; and this is what we feel deep in our hearts upon closing the book.Most of the book is about the privations and hardship of living hidden away in the "annex". There is very little coverage of the violence of the times or much that is going on in the outside world because they had little knowledge of it since they were hidden. I think this is partly why some schoolchildren report the diary is boring. It does get repetitive at times; which reflects the feelings of those living in hiding. They had to wait and wait in fear; not knowing what the next day would bring.There are many self-reflective passages where Anne laments being picked on by the adults in the annex; wondering if she will live up to the expectations they have for her; hoping she can reach her goals. There is a thread of hope apparent even in her most depressing writings. I think these are the parts I think teens find most relate-able because all teens want to achieve things; please their parents; and find hope in their moments of despair.Toward the end of the diary we see just how difficult things have become for the family which is not always accurately represented in the movie versions of the diary. They were starving; never full at meals; and having to exist off moldy and tasteless food. There was one bathroom for eight people and at times the toilet could not be flushed. They had threadbare; holey clothing which was too small. The cat used the bathroom wherever it wanted towards the end; and their helpers came less and less frequently as circumstances got worse and worse. Their conditions deteriorated in ways that children living in the comfort of the 21st century could never imagine. It's so important for kids to read about these conditions and contrast them with their own in order to not only feel grateful but to feel sympathy for those who lived in these terrible times.The Kindle version had fairly large print and worked just fine on my phone and tablet with no issues. The new version has a new introduction and I believe the epilogue has changed a bit as well. I enjoyed the footnotes feature which allows you to touch the number which takes you to the footnotes page; then when you touch the number again it takes you back to the page you were originally on. I had no problems purchasing or downloading.If you want to know more about what happened to Anne Frank after the diary; there is a book called "The Last Seven Months of Anne Frank" by Willy Lindwer which includes stories from people who met her in the camps.Another recommendation is the author Eva Schloss who was Anne Frank's stepsister; who wrote about surviving Auschwitz.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Incredibly movingBy Kindle CustomerYou share Anne's troubles and triumphs; hopes and dreams; and loves and hates. You feel as if you are living in the Secret Annex with Anne yourself. You'll smile at such moments like when Anne and Peter kiss. You'll laugh at Mrs. van Daan's pet peeves. But you'll especially cry. Especially when you read after the actual diary that Anne and the members of the Secret Annex were taken away. Only 1 member survived; Anne's father. You'll cry knowing that poor; young Anne was taken away from her parents and sent to a concentration camp. She died just a little while before the camp was liberated. Peter died just a few days before his camp was liberated. You'll be left thinking "Why couldn't she have lived just a few more days? Why?".What makes her story so sad is the fact that she had so much to offer; had she lived to maturity. One can almost be certain that she would have had much more to contribute to literature; to history. As it is; we have only this brilliant diary; and what a piece of work it is.This book is truly a must read0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Classic for Generations to ComeBy LaurieI read this book when I was a little girl and it has always been one of my favorites. When asked in school who my favorite historical figure was I always stated immediately and definitely: Anne Frank.I would recommend this book to readers of all ages and genders. Not only does it tell the moving and emotional journey of Anne's experiences hiding from the Nazis in such a small space with so many people - but it tells the story of what was going on during the war. While reading this amazing account you can feel this young girl's bravery and patience with so much fear and fighting going on between the family members living together. For such a young and innocent girl to persevere with so much insight and fortitude in the face of adversity such as she lived through is astounding. Anne's writing reveals a young lady who is wise so far beyond her age. When I think of her writing her story in her diary - never having a clue that so many people would ultimately read it and that she would be remembered and admired - it breaks my heart that this unique and amazing girl had to endure what she did and end up the way she did. I think if I ever have the chance to visit that house where she and her family hid I would cry. Through it all she still believed that people were still good at heart. I wish that I had the faith in humanity that she did...A final thought: this is the unedited version of the diary that some schools wanted to ban because it had some personal observations from Anne on her body and the changes that she noticed as she became a young lady. They are so innocent and so much a part of the story - the part that reminds us that she never got to experience being a woman. Anyone who would want to ban this book for that reason is ignorant and should choose a different career.