  | When we flew away : a novel of Anne Frank, before the diary Author: Hoffman, Alice | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
In May 1940, Anne Frank is a young girl not quite eleven with all the ordinary problems of a little sister, but Amsterdam is about to be invaded by Nazis and after that everything changes.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 6.10 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 551126 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/24)
School Library Journal (+) (00/09/24)
Booklist (09/01/24)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2024 Readers of Diary of a Young Girl may wonder about Anne Frank’s life before she moved to the Annex; this fictional account of Anne’s years prior to going into hiding offers some clues. Hoffman mostly confines herself to amplifying references found within the diary (Anne’s complicated relationship with her mother, her desire to grow up and move to California, her jealousy that older sister Margot is “perfect”) or explaining historical events, such as the 1940 German invasion of the Netherlands and the repercussions that followed for Jews. The result is a novel that is respectful and historically accurate but less than compelling for most middle-graders. Obscure metaphors (black moths—possibly representing Nazis—swarm Anne’s window; various birds embody the longed-for ability to fly away), repeated reminders that Anne is her father’s favorite, and persistent foreshadowing of Anne’s death (“this would be her last gift from Omi”) make for a sombre and somewhat slow-moving narrative. This may appeal to those with a special interest in Frank, but most will want to wait to read Anne’s own words. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
