Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Summary: 
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 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, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" 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 amusing, 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.

Genre: Memoir
The story is all grounded in facts. The author is well developed and there is a unifying theme.


Activities: 
Create your own diary and record the daily events of your life.

Create a timeline of the Jewish restrictions and regulations of the Third Reich.

Discussion Questions: 

It was dangerous to be a Jew during Hitler's Third Reich. What were some of the dangers Jews faced? How did Hitler limit the freedom of the Jewish population?
Discuss how Otto Frank quietly prepared for the worse and made arrangements to ensure the safety of his family.
What finally prompted Otto Frank to take the family into hiding?
The Frank family, along with another family and a dentist, hid for over two years. Discuss the problems the inhabitants of the "secret annex" faced during their hiding.
Anne Frank revised her diary. Why did she do this?

About the Author: 
Annelies "Anne" Marie Frank was one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her diary has been the basis for several plays and film

Personal Response: 
I believe every single student should read this diary at some point in their life. Anne Frank is insightful and way past her years in a time where the world was a very dark place.

Citation: 
Frank, A. (1993). Anne frank, the diary of a young girl. (Expanded ed. ed.). New York: Bantam.