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Name: Annie+Albert
January 06, 2012 12:34 AM | Location:
Cupertino, CA Response:
I read The Diary of Anne Frank several times, the first time as a young and naive fourth grader. The Diary that I had enjoyed back then was in a colorful and bright comic book format. Perhaps it was the fact that I skipped over the thought bubbles and text boxes that seemed boring, or that my interest was focused on the vivid pictures. The Diary did not make a momentous impact on my life; it was just another way to pass time, another book I could add to the endless list of literature I had read.
We read a play version of the Diary of Anne Frank in class again this year. It's been four years since I first picked up the Diary, and after reading it for the second time, I am absolutely mystified as to how the Diary used to seem so funny and cute to me. I decided that I must've been pretty immature as a child. The Diary is an account of the hardships a young girl had to endure during a terrible and tragic time in history.
As I'm writing this comment, I am thinking back to my observations while reading the Diary in fourth grade and comparing it to my thoughts now. I'm wondering if it's possible for both opinions to be right. There is no doubt that the events of the Holocaust were violent and cruel and unforgivable, and that the suffering the Franks had to go through was dreadful. But Anne Frank smiled through it all, never giving up hope, believing that everyone was good at heart. The human spirit can triumph over the most difficult circumstances, and Anne Frank proved this over and over during her lifetime and proves it again and again to us readers who pick up her diary 70 years later. | Name: Skrillex Rusko
January 06, 2012 12:34 AM | Location:
Kennedy Middle School, Cupertino, CA Response:
The Diary of Anne Frank is a haunting, but touching account of the thoughts and events taking place throughout the world of an ordinary Jew during the holocaust. Anne's descriptively written diary not only focuses on the effect that World War II had on the world, but focuses on complex topics such as human growth, sharing experiences with others, and learning lessons through pain. Reading Anne's diary allowed me to scratch at the surface of her world, giving me a glimpse of everything taking place around her and how she reacted to events while she was going through changes on her path to becoming a woman. She described the many hardships that she faced such as always being hungry, the mental frustration caused by the war, having to be still and silent for half a day every day, and knowing that you might be caught any minute. Anne's amazing style of writing brought the intense emotions of the story to life, such as tensions, growing bonds, and compassion between each character. While reading, you realize that Anne is truly an amazing person, or an ordinary person yet a hero. She believes everyone has kindness inside, is never afraid to express her thoughts, and always makes herself useful by occasionally putting others in front of herself. Anne's diary revealed the true horrors of the holocaust and World War II in the eyes of the persecuted, and her diary along with events such as Holocaust Memorial Day, ensure that nothing as appalling as the Holocaust will ever happen again.
Ihr Tagebuch hat dazu beigetragen, viele erkennen, die Schäden der Unterdrückung. Lassen Sie es nie wieder geschehen. | Name: Blake Connors
January 06, 2012 12:28 AM | Location:
United States Response:
I'm 13 and I really think that the Diary of Anne Frank is a treasure to read and really an inspiration. This story really tells of the bravery that Anne had to last all that time in the secret annex and not die of boredom or anything. Also, I think that Anne really must have gotten smart after reading all of those books in hiding and gained a lot of knowledge. I really am surprised by how little time that the concentration camps in which Anne and Margot lived in was liberated from German control from when both she and Margot passed away. It's really sad that had Margot held on for a few more weeks and Anne for a few more days, they could have gone on after the camps and lived happily and raised a family. I think that it really is a shame. I really believe that had Anne survived the camps, she could definitely have went on and wrote many more books like sequels to her diary about life after the war. I think that I really have gained respect for Anne as well as many of the people in the world today, and though she may not know it, she will most definitely be remembered in our hearts as a Jewish girl who went in hiding during World War Two and definitely braved one of the most gruesome time periods in history. | Name: Will H.
January 06, 2012 12:25 AM | Location:
Cupertino, CA Response:
Anne Frank-
Our eighth grade class has just finished your diary of the Holocaust (the play version). I think we all agree that your tragic and inspiring story has moved us all.
Before I read your book, I had heard about the Holocaust, but understandably, the traumatizing event was often avoided, and I knew nothing about the extreme suffering the Jews were forced through.
From the first word of your diary, my class was hooked. We smiled for your accomplishments and mourned for your troubles. Your book was an extension of our lives. Although your illustrious writing painted a picture of seclusion and loneliness, we were there, in the Annex, taken there through your writing. My favorite part must have been your sharing of Hanukah gifts. That small act of kindness convinced me-- and the others in the Annex-- that hiding did not have to be synonymous with suffering and deprivation.
Then, the unthinkable happened, and you were found. The Nazis whisked you away to the camps. We felt your pain and sorrow, clinging to your every word.
Clearly, your diary has opened the doors to hundreds of other Holocaust stories and made us all a little more grateful for our plentiful lives. You cannot grasp the impact your story had (and still has!) on the world. Even if you are not with us anymore, your poetic writing will keep you alive forever.
You are more than a movie star. | Name: E.zhang
January 05, 2012 11:57 PM | Location:
cupertino,ca Response:
Anne shows so much strength throughout her diary, she is no doubt the spirit of the Jews in hiding, the hope that someday they may be free. I was surprised by her courage to fight typhus to keep nursing her sister. Her diary is one of the most influential pieces of literature ever to be written. I suppose her wish to be a famous author someday is fulfilled today, although maybe not in the way she was expecting. | Name: slong
January 05, 2012 11:38 PM | Location:
Cupertino, California Response:
I feel that The Diary of Anne Frank was definitely one of the most touching books that I have ever had the pleasure to read, as much as the other Holocaust accounts I have read, such as The Book Thief. Like The Book Thief, what made this story so deep and touching was it's truth value. I feel that the story behind everyone during the Holocaust, especially Anne Frank's, resonates with unfair oppression. However, Anne's story so successfully captured and revealed the true atrocity during the second world war. It showed how, even under the pressure of such a tremendous threat, Anne Frank still blossomed into a truly magnificent mind. By writing this diary, Anne proved that nobody could control your growing thoughts, even when your body was being imprisoned. | Name: Unicorn
January 05, 2012 11:37 PM | Location:
Kennedy Middle, Cupertino Response:
The Diary of Anne Frank was a touching story to me. I am amazed that Anne could remain sane after such harsh conditions. Most people would go crazy after starvation, isolation, and hear about her dying friends. I wish Anne could have survived just a little longer. Anne was so good hearted, for example, she gave everyone a present on Hanukkah. Even though I only read the play version of her diary, I feel that she really reveals the dark truths about the Holocaust and the Nazis. I feel really sorry about what Anne, her family and friends, and what Jews had to go through. | Name: Amy Rose
January 05, 2012 10:59 PM | Location:
cupertino Response:
The impact on me from this diary really changed my interpretations. I used to think of the Holocaust as something bad but not enough to really change my thoughts. Anne's words were touching to me and made me really reconsider what the holocaust was really about. Little did I know that it was also people with little imperfections that also were forced into concentration camps. After reading the play and watching the movies do I now know how big this event was. Many people suffered through pain and families were forced apart. Now I know why so many people take precautions so that this does not happen a second time. | Name: Milo
January 05, 2012 10:18 PM | Location:
Cupertino, Ca Response:
Dear Anne,
I am so sorry to hear about the horrors that you were forced to endure. I understand that it was horrible to not only face cruelty, but to also see everything that you once knew be destroyed. I am deeply inspired by the way that you believed that people were good at heart despite all that happened to you. While you have left, your struggle still lives on through your diary, and people around the world continue to read the diary today. The diary reminds us that there exist unimaginable horrors that can sprout from prejudice. Your struggle shall be remembered, and it will remind us to prevent the Holocaust from repeating itself.
Sincerely,
Milo | Name: Kram
January 05, 2012 09:01 PM | Location:
Kennedy Middle School Response:
Anne Frank's diary is this truly touching novel of a girl my age (13)and her family and friends going into hiding. It is very interesting and inspiring since it sends a strong message to the readers: "Anything can be accomplished."I have learned so much about the Holocaust through Anne's diary, even though we read the play. She is a tough girl who was always strong, happy, and optimistic. She knew how to deal with the people around her, especially Peter and her father. Some parts were quite entertaining and informational as I read it. Our class in Kennedy read the story by having different people play the different characters. I played the mean, uncaring father of Peter, Mr. Van Daan, and as being a character, it made me feel like I was in the Annex with those poor people and having all those arguments with them. After reading this, you can understand that you can do anything, and age is clearly not a factor. |
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