For the child grappling with big historical events or seeking stories of courage, this biography introduces Anne Frank's enduring spirit amidst unimaginable challenges.
A parent might reach for this book when their child begins asking difficult questions about world history, injustice, or the Holocaust. This DK biography introduces Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who documented her life while hiding from the Nazis during World War II. It accessibly explains the historical context of her story, from her happy childhood to the two years spent in the Secret Annex and her tragic death. The book navigates themes of resilience, fear, and profound sadness, but focuses on Anne's enduring spirit and humanity. It is an excellent, visually supported entry point for older elementary and middle school readers to a complex and essential piece of history, sparking conversations about empathy and courage.
The protagonist and most of her family die. Their deaths in concentration camps are described.
ViolenceModerate
Mentions of war, arrests, and the inhumane conditions of concentration camps are present.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the Holocaust, which includes state-sanctioned racism, persecution, war, and genocide. The deaths of Anne, her sister, and her mother are stated as historical facts, with brief but direct descriptions of the horrific conditions in the concentration camps. The approach is secular and historical, focusing on the persecution of Jewish people. The resolution is tragic concerning Anne's life but ends on a hopeful note about the power and legacy of her words.
Ideal Reader
This book is for a 9 to 12-year-old who is ready for a factual introduction to the Holocaust. It's for the child who is starting to grasp abstract concepts of justice and history and can handle a story with a tragic, real-world ending. It is a good preparatory book before a child reads Anne's actual diary.
Parent Prep
Parents must preview the final chapters (Chapter 9 onwards) which detail the arrest, the journey to the camps, and the deaths. The book needs to be framed with a conversation before and after reading. A parent should be prepared to discuss the reality of prejudice, genocide, and war, and to process their child's sad or angry feelings. This is not a book to be read alone or without support. The parent's trigger is likely a question from their child: "What was the Holocaust?" or "Who was Anne Frank?" after hearing about her in school. It could also be a proactive decision by a parent to introduce this vital historical subject in a structured, age-appropriate way.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely connect most with the personal story: the injustice of Anne having to hide, her fights with her family, and the sadness of her death. An older reader (10-12) will better understand the larger political and historical context. They can grasp the scale of the Holocaust and reflect more deeply on the themes of prejudice, resistance, and the moral choices of those who helped and those who did not.
What Makes It Special
Unlike the diary itself, which is pure first-person narrative, this DK book excels at providing context. Its use of photographs, maps, timelines, and explanatory sidebars makes the history tangible. It bridges the gap between a personal story and a historical event, making it a more comprehensive and accessible starting point for a young reader than the primary source alone.
Read plot summary
This biography chronicles the life of Anne Frank. It begins with her early childhood in Germany and Amsterdam, outlines the rise of the Nazi party and increasing anti-Semitic laws, and then details her family's two years in hiding in the Secret Annex. The narrative draws heavily on her diary entries to describe life, relationships, and her inner world during confinement. The book concludes with the family's betrayal and arrest, their deportation to concentration camps, and the deaths of all but her father, Otto Frank, who later published her diary.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Anne gave her diary the name 'Kitty' and wrote to it like a friend. Why do you think writing down her feelings was so important to her, especially while she was in hiding?
2
The people who helped the Franks, like Miep Gies, risked their own lives. What qualities do you think a person needs to be an 'upstander' and help others in a dangerous situation?
3
Anne wrote, 'I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.' After reading about what happened, what do you think she meant by this?
4
The book uses many real photographs from Anne's life and from the war. How did seeing the actual pictures of Anne, her family, and the annex change your experience of reading the story?
5
Before they went into hiding, the Nazis created many rules that only applied to Jewish people. What were some of those rules, and how did they affect Anne's daily life?
