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The Diary of a Young Girl


Synopsis


The Diary of a Young Girl abridged for younger readers and published in memory of Anne Frank, who died 70 years ago, just weeks before the end of World War II. Sensitively edited and with a connecting commentary by editor, Mirjam Pressler, the abridged edition of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank gives younger readers their first introduction to the extraordinary diary of an ordinary girl who has long become a household name. This abridged edition has a short prologue written by the editor, Mirjam Pressler, as well as a connecting commentary. There are beautiful line drawings, family photographs, and an Afterword to explain why the Diary ends so abruptly. This shorter edition is suitable for younger children who want to read Anne's diary for themselves.

Anne Frank (author), Mirjam Pressler (editor), Harry Brockway (illustrator), Susan Massotty (translator)

Summary

Chapter 1: Kitty, My Dearest Kitty (June 12-July 1, 1942)

* Anne introduces her diary, Kitty, explaining that she feels lonely and has no real friends.
* She describes her family and their hiding place in the secret annex of her father's business in Amsterdam.
* She shares her excitement about the upcoming school year and her dreams of becoming a writer.

Chapter 2: The First Month (July 6-August 4, 1942)

* Anne describes the challenges of adjusting to life in hiding, such as limited space and food.
* She writes about her friendship with Peter van Daan, another teenager living in the annex.
* She expresses her frustration with her mother and sister, whom she often clashes with.

Example: "Yesterday Mother and I had a dreadful quarrel. I was furious with her. She is always telling me what to do."

Chapter 3: Autumn Holidays (August 23-October 3, 1942)

* Anne enjoys a few weeks of vacation from school, reading, writing, and socializing with Peter.
* She shares her thoughts on religion, philosophy, and anti-Semitism.
* She describes the arrival of the Van Pels family, who also go into hiding in the annex.

Example: "I have always thought that God was an extraordinary Being, but I never went further than that thought. Nowadays I think about it differently. Now I see that it is a beautiful and marvellous thing to think that everything is possible."

Chapter 4: The Secret Annex Grows (October 9, 1942-May 6, 1944)

* Anne's diary entries cover a period of over a year, during which the number of people in hiding in the annex increases.
* She writes about her experiences with the other hideaways, including Mr. Frank, Mr. and Mrs. van Pels, and their son Peter.
* She shares her thoughts on the war, the Holocaust, and the meaning of freedom.

Example: "We are living in a time of great upheaval. The war is going badly for us, but we still hope for a better future. We try to make the best of our situation, but it is difficult. We are very isolated and we have to be careful not to make any noise."

Chapter 5: Betrayal and Discovery (August 4, 1944)

* On August 4, 1944, the secret annex is raided by German soldiers.
* Anne and the other hideaways are arrested and taken to a concentration camp.
* The diary ends abruptly with Anne's final entry, written on August 1, 1944.

Example: "I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. It's Anne Frank who wrote that. And even after all that happened to her, she still believed in the goodness of humanity."