Anne Frank and Me

by Cherie Bennett, Jeff Gottesfeld

In one moment Nicole Burns's life changes forever. The sound of gunfire at an Anne Frank exhibit, the panic, the crowd, and Nicole is no longer Nicole. Whiplashed through time and space, she wakes to find herself a privileged Jewish girl living in German-occupied Paris during World War II. No more Internet diaries and boy troubles for Nicole - now she's a carefree Jewish girl, with wonderful friends and a charming boyfriend. But when the Nazi death grip tightens over France, Nicole is forced into hiding, and begins a struggle for survival that brings her face to face with Anne Frank.

"This is a powerful and affecting story." (KLIATT)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Holocaust, Time Travel, Fiction, World War II, Historical

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

A popular novelist, playwright, and newspaper columnist, Cherie moves effortlessly from genre to genre, writing powerful and entertaining work, whether in literary hardcover teen fiction, mass market paperback fiction, for the stage, film and television, and for her nationally-syndicated teen advice column.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

************************************************************************

Ok. Just adding some extra stars there. I mean, five is just NOT enough.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after The Devil's Arithmetic, and Anne Frank. This is what I would recommend so that you can understand all of the plot points and references to these other books.
It is a fresh (if not similar to Devil's Arithmetic) view on the horrors of the Holocaust. Great for kids who are interested in this part of history, but would rather read fiction than textbooks.

It’s more historical fiction, with a twist. and it deals with the subject of the Holocaust and World War II. It is very similar to The Devil’s Arithmetic, which is even mentioned in the novel a few times, and, of course, The Diary of Anne Frank. It is a book that ties into both of these, so it really works well if you have read both of them before reading this one. However, you don’t really need to; it can stand alone.

This novel is about a teenage girl named Nicole whose life is filled with the usual teenage stuff; shopping, dancing, high-school, and, of course, sighing over boys. Especially Jack, who does not even really seem to see she exists. However, on a field trip, Jack breaks her heart a little more, and she is thrust into the past; and it will change her life forever. After all, she is in the middle of the war.

What I liked about this novel was the way that it was written. The idea was executed well, and they used historical facts to really enhance the book (one would hope they did anyway…). The character was believable, and how she lived was also believable. Which is nice, becuase you have to be able to relate to the characters, or else they seems to very distant.

What I did not like was the fact that is was so similar to the The Devil’s Arithmetic. The idea was extremely close, and some of the story line echoed Yolen’s novel. I also do not like that the beginning is more memorable than the ending. Sometimes I even forget the ending altogether, becuase it ends so mistily.

Overall, though, a great novel.

Nicole Burns is an average 10th grader in a normal high school where life is crazy. She hates school, but loves to dance, shop, and fantasize over Jack…who seems oblivious to her very existence.

But Nicole’s world get turned upside down when they go to the Anne Frank Museum as a field trip. There is a crack of gunshots, and suddenly, life changes.

Because Nicole is no longer Nicole Burns. She is Nicole Bernhardt, of Paris, France. And she is living in the middle of World War II.

Filled with historical facts and the emotions of those trapped by War, Anne Frank and Me is a novel to remember.

[Aurora Shele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally a play turned into book, Anne Frank and me is a small powerful book about the French Jewish children of the Holocaust. I wish I could see the play, but the book is pretty good in itself.
The writing style could be better and the cover is probably one of the worst covers I've seen in my life, but it was the 90s I guess so I won't be too harsh on it.
Wish the ending was longer. How did Nicole's relationship with her existing friends changed? Will she give David a chance? Did Jacques ended up marrying Suzanne in the past that's why he likes her now? How did her relationship with Mimi changed?
Overall a page turner so if you have a chance, give it a go.

[K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: war, Holocaust, antisemitism, Holocaust denial, violence, death of a friend.

2.5 stars.

So here's the thing: the part set in the 1940s was actually quite readable and fast-paced. But the early stages of the story, from the cringy blog entries to the Holocaust denial, was a serious struggle. I honestly would have preferred if it had JUST been the historical part of the story, although I appreciate the attempt at making it relevant to 21st century teens.

Not convinced the meeting-Anne-Frank part was at all necessary and it was honestly a little 😬 for me tbh because Anne Frank is such a well known historical figure. Then again, this book is now 20 years old, so maybe things were different when it was first published...

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was 18 when I read this and it already felt a little too 'young' for me. Bear in mind, this book was written in the 90s so it has not aged well. At all. Nicole's character feels extremely dated. The author's heart is in the right place though, and for the most part she succeeds. However, Bennett is attempting to tell a serious story about why the holocaust should never be forgotten. That message is undermined by the book's tone: it feels like a cheesy after-school special. If you need to introduce the holocaust to younger readers, Anne Frank and Me is perfectly serviceable. But it doesn't have much to offer older teens or adults.

[Krista Stevens · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this might be a nice companion for The Diary of Anne Frank. Nicole is a tenth grader, but I felt that she and her friends acted and spoke more like middle school students. Way too much sexual references etc. for MS. This book followed the plot of "The Devil's Arithmetic" with the main character suffering a concussion and going back in time. It took a long time to get to that point and by then, I was mostly skimming and skipping large sections. Unsatisfied with the ending. Doom scenario much too shallow and what happens to him in the end?

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

it teaches us about the horrors of world war 2, and makes us hope it will never happen again

[Christina Blahovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book challenged my inner child to be a bit more grown up and understand why everything doesn't always end happily ever after.

[Anne Gasior · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this in middle/high school. There were scenes that have always stuck out in my mind like the girl on her period during the imprisonment at the sports arena or the conversation with Anne in the cattle car. I went through a long period of reading only WW2/Holocaust historical fiction and nonfiction.

Reading it again now, I was a little less impressed. I think the story line is great and very original, but the writing itself seems a bit juvenile now. It’s almost as if it was written as a school assignment at times.

[L. Sevilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most books with content and perspective such as this one don't usually interest me. But the connection the sisters shared at the end the emotions nearly broke my heart at the end. A rare story and a must-read, whether the holocaust has importance or not to you.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

a rather moving time travel book, that doesn't hold back on the horror of the Holocaust. rounded it up to four stars because it held my interest enough to read it in a single sitting staying up past my bedtime.

[Nicole Soucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book will be nice

[Elyse Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of an 'updated' Devil's Arithmetic, but still really great. The final scene in the gas chamber really stuck with me even years later. Definitely recommended for teens learning about the Holocaust.

[Jillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

- 1000 stars!!! If you are looking to read this book don’t waist your time! There are so many great books on the 2 world war read those! Please save your time

We where forced to read this book in school and even the teacher who taught it hated it!

The book was filled with snotty rich people who think learning about the holocaust is a wast of time. The love story was so one noted and terrible you hate the carecters.
One ene page she was close to r@ped then the next page she wants to be in a sexual relationship with her boyfriend. In reality she would be petrified.
This book tries to relate to youth but then she magically travels back in time as you do every day it also makes all teenage girls seem like boy obsessed fools.
So in conclusion don’t wast your time read a better book!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
In one moment Nicole Burns's life changes forever. The sound of gunfire at an Anne Frank exhibit, the panic, the crowd, and Nicole is no longer Nicole. Whiplashed through time and space, she wakes to find herself a privileged Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. No more Internet diaries and boy troubles for Nicole-now she's a carefree Jewish girl, with wonderful friends and a charming boyfriend. But when the Nazi death grip tightens over France, Nicole is forced into hiding, and begins a struggle for survival that brings her face to face with Anne Frank.

My thoughts:

While this may seem a bit far fetched-- in a dream sequence, Nicole is whisked away to 1945's France as a Jewish teen, the story becomes so real that you forget that Nicole was even a "teen today" at the beginning.

While all Holocaust novels are heartbreaking, this one explored several different events-- all heartbreaking-- and really made me want to research the events a bit more. The characters felt so real and I wanted more and more of each of them.

I think the "middle" of the novel, when Nicole is in the 1940's, could have stood as a stand alone novel-- even been expanded on-- but it was nice to have the "connection" to how the events and people of the Holocaust can effect and be relevant to teens today who feel that it's just "boring history."

If you're into history-- especially Holocaust history-- pick this novel up. It's one that I come back to again and again.

[Cristela T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when I was a teenager and loving it. I decided to re-read it now as an adult and was not disappointed. The book is compelling, entertaining, gut-wrenching and heartbreaking all in one. I can see why I liked it so much when I was younger. I think would rate it 3.5 if Goodreads allowed half ratings but I'm rounding it to 4 due to nostalgia but also due to how important the topic is. This is a great way to present the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II to young people.

[Daniela]

Daniela Medina
Book: Anne Frannk And Me
Athuor/s: Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gittesfeld
Review #4
Pages 352

This was a pretty good book over all I really liked the concept of the book but i was really confused like i couldnt figure out they were speaking or if they were narrating.
I would recommend this book for people who are interested with historical fiction or with WW1 historical fiction. Im still kind of wondering why is it called
Anne Frank and Me if Anne Frank was only in two parts maybe three. Im not going to lie i didnt really like the first forty pages because it was kinda boring
but it got interesting when she hit her head and travled back in time I guess you can say.
i think I was a bit apprehensive about this book because it didnt really look interesting, im going to be honest I only started to reading this book because i needed to read a historical fiction book for this class, But it wasnt what I expected I was a very pleased with this book, but like I said in the beginning i was quite confused although I would definitely still recommend this book but I kind of do wish that Anne Frank was more involved.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎'People go to death row for crimes they didn't commit; politicians that we elect lie to us. It's important for you to be an independent thinker. Get all the facts, then make up your mind.'- Dr. Bridgeman (Anne Frank and Me, by Bennett and Gottesfeld)


Anne Frank and Me is one of those special books which allows you to travel back in time. It give you a vivid description of what it is like to live and exist in the middle of a war.

I also love the parts where the author gave emphasis to family life, most especially to the relationship of Nicole Bernhardt to her younger sister Liz-beth. A typical family relationship- where the two siblings can't get along well, but in the end, still love each other and will do everything and sacrifice anything for the sake of each other's welfare. This specific part is one with which a lot of us can relate to.

Lastly, as I have said earlier, this book gives you the opportunity to travel back in time, and at the same time teaches you about an important part of our history.

Definitely a must read. I recommend this to readers of all ages.

[Justyce Nelson]

i love this book because it teaches yew not to be so selfish about life because yew never know what your grandparents or even your parents had 2 do 2 get yew where yew are now. that is what this book taught meeh and if i had a chance i would read this book again and again, and i recommend other ppl to read this book 2. i love this book. i love this book. i love this book. this book is the best book i have ever read and i had to read this book for my book club at skool for a grade and at first i thought it was going to be boring because ms. troyer picked it out for us and wen i opened the book it took meeh right wit the charter nicole because i felt wat she was feeling and at sometimes in my room wen she cryed i cryed.lol. sounds cheesy huh? but any way for the 5th time though this whole thang. i love this book!

[iparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read woven with historical facts. The book takes you into the perspective of Nicole, a teenage girl. Like many other teenagers Nicole only worries about boyfriends and clothes. One day a visitor appears in Nicole's classroom to talk about the holocaust. When Nicole stays behind to talk to a boy she gets a feeling that she has known this visitor. More confused than ever Nicole goes with her classmates to a holocaust exhibit with some boy troubles along the way. These troubles soon turn to nothing as cracks sound appearing to be gunfire. Nicole gets a blow to her head and finds herself in France with similar people from her real time except they are all different characters in this time. Nicole learns she is a Jewish girl in the Holocaust and realizes that it was no joke and she and her new family might be in more trouble than it seems.

[Leeknowscatsitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! When I first bought this book at a used book sale for one dollar, I thought it would be a waste of my time. My good friend, DJ, had said it was her favorite book...in 5th grade. So you see why I had my doubts. But this book was very well told and woven with a lot of historical facts about the Holocaust. Nicole Burns doesn't care about history or the Holocaust; all she cares about is getting the boy of her dreams to finally fall in love with her. But when she goes to an Anne Frank exhibit at the local muesum, she is sent back in time where she is a girl living through the Holocaust. What she will experience will change her life and give her a chance to see what people went through many years ago.

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read The Devil's Arithmetic at my first reading of Anne Frank and Me. I had read Anne Frank's diary for the first time. I read this when I was fairly young and all the innuendo went over my head.
Kind of like reading Zel at seven.
I couldn't remember much of this book years later when I was assigned Diary of a Young Girl for English so I decided I would reread it after Anne again. But unlike the first time, I reread Number the Stars and read The Book Thief and The Devil's Arithmetic. I had read Maus only a year or two earlier and that's not a duo you forget. Actually remembering the second read was much better. One of the best books I've ever found.

[Bev]

This book is an absolutely amazing book. And for those of you, who believe Anne Frank and other Holocaust victims are a Hoax, you're wrong! She was a real person! Others were too. Others died. Murdered. Some survived. Listen to the survivors. Learn something. If you read this book, it can truly take you back in time. I love this book, and I wish for many of you to read it. I am considering starting my own Notes From Girl X site. This book is...



indescribable.
READ IT.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mass shooter, Anne Frank, you would not think these things go together, but Cherie Bennett weaves these storylines, putting a girl from the modern world back in the time of Anne Frank. She learns the hard way what it is to be Jewish during WWII in Paris, and comes close enough to death to be forever affected by it.

Powerful, gripping story, but the Anne Frank parts felt forced. Hardly there. I think this story would have been better if she'd just gone to Paris and left Anne out of the story entirely. It took too much away from what was there.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish we would have been asked to read this book as a class when I was in high school. It is by far the most captivating piece about WWII I have read.

[Sammethhess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grass sin't always greener on the other side.

[Cornelius Excelsior · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can summarize the plot of this book in two words, Holocaust Isekai.

This book is dreadful to read. The main character, after getting trampled into a coma, is sent to live in the shoes of a Jewish girl living in France during World War II. The whole book just feels like it’s romanticizing the time period and the atrocities that Jewish people had to live through during WWII. I distinctly remember there being a plot point where the main character and her German boyfriend, who is part of the resistance against the Nazis, discuss that before she has to go into hiding, they NEED to have sex before that happens. But later he gets mad for some reason and decides to rat out to the Nazis about where they are hiding. So Ms. WWII OC is taken to the train to be taken to the concentration camp. On this train she meets ANNE FRANK, and they have a conversation. You know, ANNE FRANK. A real ass person who went through these real atrocities has a conversation with the FICTIONAL character. Anyway, then the OC dies in the camp, wakes up from her coma, and now has a deeper appreciation for life and has more respect for the people who went through the holocaust. She also gets over her crush on buddy balls or something.

Anyway, horrible book. I’d give it 0 stars if I could.

[Lela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of the story is people should appreciate the life they have and not wish for a new reality. Nicole was struggling to secure her crush as a boyfriend and felt so insecure she called herself girl x. From the beginning, she disowns herself, "I'm just there... I'll be the one you don't remember." (pg. 1) When she hooks up with her crush, her underpants are showing, and her little sister embarrasses her. After a trip to a museum, strange things start to happen and she is back in time, to the era of World War II. She might be privileged, but she is Jewish and she is forced to go into hiding. Her friend witnesses the murder of her father, and her boyfriend may be partially responsible. She starts to realize how fortunate she was; she had a house, her parents were alive and employed, and she had at least one friend. When she returns to her own time she holds her mother in an embrace, something she has never wanted to do. By the end, she was content with her average life. It says, "One more thing. My name is Nicole." (pg. 279) She was able to reveal her own name after realizing being Girl X was stupid. She appreciated her family and her life.

[Rylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole is Girl X, an anonymous teenage blogger who is madly in love with J, a boy who barely know she exists. While on a school field trip to an Anne Frank exhibit, Nicole and her best friend Mimi are injured in an apparent shoot-out and Nicole faints. When she wakes up, she's a Jewish girl in France in 1942, her teacher and principal are her parents, and J is her boyfriend! Living under Nazi administration is definitely no walk in the park, but Nicole isn't completely miserable at first. Soon, she starts to believe that her American life in the future is all a dream. But then the anti-Jewish laws get stricter and her life is put in danger.

What I like about Anne Frank and Me is that Nicole learns more than she knew she didn't know about the Holocaust. She discovers her inner strength as she struggles to stay happy in a society that wants her dead. She realizes that her little sister and her annoying teacher aren't all that bad, and that it's better to die standing up than laying down. While there's romance, it's actually not the main plot. One thing readers know for sure: her life will never be the same.

*amnesia, memory loss
*death
*executions
*genocide
*hallucinations (possible)
*refugee crisis
*starvation
*terrorism
*trauma
*violence
*war

[Jamie Sayen]

In the book, Anne Frank and Me by Cherrie Benette Nicole hits her head and wakes up in a totally different body. This all starts when she and her class takes a field trip to the Anne Frank exhibit. Something terrible happens and she hears gunshots while they are there and she passes out. While she is passed out she has a dream that she is now in the time of World War II. She and her new family have to go through what any jew at this time had to do. She and her family were forced into hiding and put into life or death situations. Overall this book is very suspenseful and filled with action. It is one of those books where you don’t want to put it down. Some parts make you scared or nervous for her, like when she wakes up in the new body and doesn’t know who anyone is.