Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation

Gr 8 Up—Authorized by the Anne Frank Foundation, this volume beautifully brings to life the inhabitants of the Secret Annex. Although this account has not been adapted verbatim, owing to length, Folman and Polonsky effectively convey the material, and the visuals capture the heartbreak of families in prolonged hiding. Many illustrations are fanciful, evocative of Anne's intense daydreaming. At the heart of her diary is Anne herself: self-aware, gutsy, and unpretentious. Readers see her mature over the years. A particularly arresting passage portrays her internal struggle in the form of "two Annes": the everyday girl and the serene paragon she strives to be—a compelling theme that emerges throughout the work. Frank's diary has long been an important work for children and adults alike; this graphic adaptation adds even more meaning for newer generations' introduction to Holocaust literature.