Reading log #1
Text title: The diary of Anne Frank
This diary was written by Anne herself in 1942 and was later made into a well known book in 1947 named "The Diary of a Young Girl." Born in Frankfurt,Germany in 1929. Anne was a typical school student. She was very bright and eager to learn. Anne attended Montessori school in Amsterdam, but in the year of 1941 things quickly change and Nazi's demanded that Jews and non-Jews cannot attend the same school. After the summer holidays, Anne starts going to the Jewish High School. Growing up, Anne wanted to be an actress but unfortunately it wasn't possible for her at the time. Being Jewish, Anne could not enter the movie theaters. She was forbidden to do many things. Having received a diary from her father Otto on her 13th birthday, Anne developed a passion for reading/writing. I remember reading about Anne's mother Edith, and how she felt too afraid to leave their house to attend church one morning, which I find very upsetting. Edith thought she'd be putting her life at risk if she were to leave. On July 5, 1942, Anne's older sister Margot received a letter which required her to report to a Nazi camp. Having received this, the Franks immediately pack their things and escape to where they would hide in a sealed-off upper room at Otto's company building. A day before Anne received her report card from school is when the Franks escape. Having to leave your home, where you were raised to escape and go into hiding is something that I can't even describe. I can't imagine how Anne was feeling during this horrifying time.
As we all know, Hitler intensely disliked the Jewish ethnicity and did portray them in many negative ways. Reading this book, I do believe that Anne was the complete opposite. I was amazed as to how strong and brave Anne was throughout the hiding, her family had to be extremely quite during their hiding just in case anyone were to hear them. Also, she was told not to open her curtains because people would see her. Not being able to go outside did upset Anne. Anne said that she was terrified that their hiding spot would be discovered and they'll be shot. I think not being able to speak very much did result into Anne continuously writing in her diary, maybe she felt that writing was the only way she could express how she was really feeling at the time. I can relate to this too because sometimes I write when I feel like I can't express my feelings. Anne would always start her diary as "Dear kitty", she thinks of her diary as a friend, which is understandable because she wouldn't really have friends during this time. She decides to name this friend 'kitty'. Anne mentions a boy named Peter Van Pels a lot throughout her diary, who is the son of Otto's business partner. She refers to Peter as "a lazy, obnoxious dope" as much of a disappointment Peter did sound like, Anne still cared for him very much.
Sadly, on the 4th of August in 1944 Anne and her family are discovered by Nazi's and are deported to Westerbork transit camp, and then on to Auschwitz. It is possible that someone may have betrayed the Franks. Anne's father, Otto Frank was the only person from their hiding to survive in the concentration camps. After reading this book, it made me feel grateful. Grateful for the changes that have been made in the world today and for the world that we have. Anne was just a teenage girl who did not deserve anything she went through. Anne died with her sister Margot in March 1945. Even though she was going through such a rough time she still managed to be such a cheerful and happy girl, which really inspired me.
There are a lot of powerful and important messages in this book, one being that you shouldn't treat others differently just because of their race/religion and to treat people with respect no matter who they are or where they come from. If Anne has taught me anything throughout reading this, it's that you should appreciate what you have and to cherish your moments with friends or loved ones. Because you never know when it'll all suddenly come to an end.
