The Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank
Key Details
- Genre: nonfiction
- Sub-Genres: personal diary
- Publication Date: 1947
- Pages: 256
- Themes: World War II, hope, coming-of-age, isolation
- Accolades: translated into more than 70 languages and has sold over 35 million copies, making it one of the most widely read books in the world.
My Rating
The Diary of a Young Girl is one of the most influential of all 1,000+ books I’ve read. In her most intimate writings, this extraordinary teen shows wisdom far beyond her years that transcends time, even amid the worst of circumstances.
When I, too, was a child, her young voice made me feel present with her in learning about history. She didn’t feel like a fact from a faraway time and place, but rather someone quite like me. And, of course, her words resonated more deeply than a textbook.
Later, as an adult, I was blown away by how her circumstances shaped her worldview. I used to have this “quote of the day” calendar you tear off, and Anne’s perspective (cited above) is one of only two I saved and kept on my desk for years to come. I thought, if Anne could view such a dark world with so much hope, then so, too, can I. She “[didn’t] think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” Sometimes, this is what we have.
It’s emotional, philosophical, tender, tragic, and actually lifechanging.
Gilmore Girls Episodes
Learn where this book on the Gilmore Girls reading list was referenced:
| Season 4, Episode 1 (“Ballrooms and Biscotti”) | Sookie asks if Lorelai and Rory visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam on their European trip. |
Best Quote
“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
Book Review
Description
The Diary of a Young Girl is the true account of a Jewish teenage girl who hides with her family and a few others in a secret annex in Amsterdam during World War II to escape Nazi persecution. Through her diary, Anne records her fears, hopes, and daily life in hiding.
Why It Matters on Gilmore Girls
The women on Gilmore Girls are smart. The both learn about history and want to live it in real life.
Who It’s Best For
The Diary of a Young Girl is best for every single human age 12+. It is, maybe, the number one book that literally everyone should read. We can all learn many invaluable lessons from Anne Frank, who prophetically said, “I wish to go on living even after my death.” In her words, she does.
Reading Tips
- There are numerous ways to consume this content: the text, the audiobook narrated by actress Selma Blair, the Pulitzer Prize winning play, or the Academy Award winning movie (based on the play, linked below). As a child, I consumed the play and movie in school. As an adult, I listened to the audiobook. I also maintain a copy of the text for easy reference.
- Know that Anne calls her diary “Kitty,” and so it’s written like correspondence.
- Tourists can visit the “Anne Frank House” both in Amsterdam and online, in video, 3D, and even VR. I tried several of these options and found them to be extremely interesting and helpful. I have linked one of their video tours of a day in Anne’s life below, but I also recommend trying some more interactive options.
- Know that the suspect who likely outed the Frank family’s hiding spot was just identified in 2022: “A team including an ex-FBI agent said Arnold van den Bergh, a Jewish figure in Amsterdam, probably ‘gave up’ the Franks to save his own family.”
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