My Friend Anne Frank
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Average rating5
THE LONG-AWAITED, MOVING MEMOIR OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR HANNAH PICK-GOSLAR. 'Heartbreaking and life-affirming' - Edith Eger, bestselling author of The Choice 'An extraordinary story of love, loss and the power of friendship in the darkest time.' - Jack Fairweather, Costa prizewinning author of The Volunteer When five-year-old Hannah Pick-Goslar and her family fled Nazi Germany to live in Amsterdam, she soon struck up a friendship with a precocious, outspoken and fun-loving girl named Anne Frank. For several blissful years, the girls were inseparable, enjoying carefree childhood games and sleepovers in their neighbourhood of Rivierenbuurt. Then, one day in 1942, two best friends' lives were about to change for ever. As the Nazi occupation intensified, Anne and the Frank family vanished. As Anne puzzled over the fate of her friend, hoping she was safe, her own family's fate began to unfold- they were captured and taken to Westerbork transit camp, before being transported to Bergen-Belsen. Amid horrific conditions and surrounded by death, Hannah heard astonishing news about her dear friend and risked her life to help her. 'As a girl I witnessed the world I loved crumble and vanish, destroyed by senseless hatred, and with it, my best friend Anne.' In an incredible memoir of hope, strength and defiance, Hannah's story of survival is testament to the enduring power of friendship, love and remembering.
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“My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds” is a powerful and moving memoir by Holocaust survivor Hannah Pick-Goslar. The book offers an intimate look into her life and enduring friendship with Anne Frank, both before and after they went into hiding.
The narrative begins in 1933 when Hannah and her family fled Nazi Germany for Amsterdam, where she formed a close bond with Anne, her next-door neighbor. The two girls enjoyed a carefree childhood until the Nazi occupation changed their lives in 1942. Anne and her family disappeared, leaving behind unanswered questions for Hannah.
The memoir chronicles Hannah's experiences during the Holocaust, from the introduction of anti-Jewish laws in Amsterdam to her family's imprisonment in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The story provides a searing look at the hardships endured by children under the Nazi regime and offers a never-before-seen portrait of Anne Frank.
Hannah's firsthand account is hailed as the missing piece to Anne's story, offering a complete picture of their friendship. The book underscores the importance of reading primary accounts from Holocaust survivors, particularly as their numbers dwindle. The belief that the Franks had escaped to Switzerland gave Hannah hope, but grappling with Anne's disappearance without a word was a challenging experience.
My Friend Anne Frank is a truly moving account of the author's life and friendship with Anne. The friendship between Hannah and Anne, forged during such a dark and dangerous time, is highlighted as something beautiful. The book is recommended for those seeking to learn more about Anne Frank, Germany, and Holland during WWII, the Jewish community in Holland, the concentration camps, and life after the war.
In essence, Hannah Pick-Goslar's memoir is described as both heartbreaking and life-affirming, providing an essential perspective on one of the darkest periods in history.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this great opportunity to read and review the arc copy.
