The Diary of a Young Girl

By Anne Frank

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank

What's it about?: On her 13th birthday, a young Jewish girl living in Amsterdam received a diary as a gift. A few short weeks later, she was writing entries in her diary from the "secret annex" where her family, along with another family and a middle-aged man were forced into hiding from the Nazis. The Diary of a Young Girl , by Anne Frank, written over the course of the 25 months her family spent in hiding, is one of the most touching, dramatic first-hand descriptions of the hope and horror Jews faced during the German occupation. Anne writes about the cramped living conditions, conflicts with the others in the annex, and her fears and hopes regarding rescue from the Nazis. But, remarkably, Anne also discusses issues that all young teens face, such as love, identity, familial feuds and even sexuality. And throughout it all Anne clings firmly to her ideals, remarkably refusing to believe in the dark side of humanity.

Why your child should read it: For the iPOD generation, it's likely difficult to comprehend that Anne's diary is as real as the concentration camp she and her family were eventually sent to. And while Anne, in her early to mid-teens, experienced more fear than many experience in a lifetime, she also had very real, typical teenage concerns. This diary allows readers to meet and understand Anne intimately and see that, despite her situation, she was still a young girl with questions and insecurities like any other. And for younger readers, reading Anne's diary may put into perspective the hardships they face in their own lives, as well as help them to realize that if she, in her situation, can hold strong to her convictions, so can they.

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