Alison Leslie Gold

3.5 stars

Hannah Goslar was Anne Frank’s best friend before the Holocaust. This book includes some of her memories of Anne, in addition to her own memories of that time. She and her family remained in Amsterdam (not in hiding) much longer than Anne, but her family also ended up in a couple of concentration camps. In fact, Hannah and Anne did see each other (through a barbed wire fence) at Bergen-Belsen. The book was a result of the author’s interviews with Hannah.

It’s written quite simply and it’s short, so it is a fast read; I believe it is meant as YA. There were even some photographs of Hannah’s (that she managed to hold on to through and after the war) that included Hannah, her family, and photos with Anne. There wasn’t as much about Anne, specifically as I’d hoped, but that’s ok. What was there was interesting, as well as learning about Hannah and her family’s experiences.… (mais)

I have read everything about Anne Frank that I could get my hands on. She has been a hero of mine for a very long time. Another hero is Miep Gies. When I finally had a chance to read her version of the German occupation and her time caring for the Franks, I jumped on it. Throughout the story, I learned things about Miep and Jan (her husband), which I never knew and which further made me realize what amazing people they were. Miep also gets into what happened on the day the Frank family was taken into custody and what was happening downstairs. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and believe it is essential reading for those who are interested in World War II from the perspective of those who were on the outside of looking in.… (mais)

A childhood friend of Anne Frank, Hannah Goslar, recounts their childhood together as well as her own personal hell in a Nazi concentration camp. Hannah goes through her & Anne's history including schooling, parties, & their ping pong club called "The Little Dipper Minus Two" which was based on the constellation except they did not realize the Dipper had 7 stars and there were only 5 ping pong club members. Hannah also shares the moment where she learned her friend had not survived - information she learned from Otto Frank.

I will read anything about Anne Frank that I can get my hands on as she has been my idol for a very long time. Learning intimate details of her life growing up made me better understand Anne as a person. Hearing the details of Hannah's time in the concentration camps made me better understand the conditions that people underwent while the Frank family was in hiding for 25 months. This is a book I will be adding to my personal library.
… (mais)