Marian's 2015 Reads - 'The Diary of a Young Girl'

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Title: 'The Diary of a Young Girl'
Author: Anne Frank
Publisher: Contact Publishing
Publication date: 1947
Pages: 339 (includes afterword)

In English, we were given a selected range of books to study. The novels ranged from 'Holes' by Louis Sachar to 'Goodnight Mister Tom' by Michelle Magorian. I chose 'The Diary of a Young Girl' because my English teacher especially recommended my classmate to read it at least "once in your life," and because I've never read material written during an era of war.

This novel is in the form of diary entries written by a Jewish teenage girl named Anne Frank. Her diary entries began a few weeks before her and her family went into hiding and concluded three days before they were captured in 1944 by policemen. The novel begins in an untroubled note on the 12th of June, 1942 when Anne writes:

"I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support."

When I read this passage I suddenly found out that Anne never had a true friend. It's as if she were a deaf person who never learned sign language and had to keep her innermost thoughts crammed inside.

My English teacher instructed us to think and write about the main protagonist's strengths and weaknesses. This is what I wrote:
"I enjoyed discovering Anne's creative flair when she writes her diary entries. She describes her outrages and content moments in such descriptive expressions. She is resilient - when being criticized by her peers, she wasn't afraid to reveal her feelings to Kitty. She is knowledgeable about the Roman and Greek empires and their mythical gods. There was a part in the novel where she writes about what the Annexe residents' favourite subjects are, and when hers was mentioned Anne included 'Greek Mythology'. There are also various times when she has mentioned these passions. 

"Some of the observations I've made of Anne is that she was ignorant and rude. She opened the curtains at some times when her peers told her not to since it would reveal that they were in hiding, and her irresponsible connection with Peter seemed obnoxious for two youthful people. I didn't like it when her and her mother quarrelled over Anne's petty complaints.

Anne's exasperation against her appearances was difficult to read about in the book. Early in the novel she writes about whether she has a fair complexion or straight teeth. This part made me more vexed about myself, especially in physical aspects."

I recommend this diary for teenagers who seem to struggle with insecurities or who are contempt. I strongly believe that Anne can get you back up on two firm feet.

- M ★