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Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation
The first ever graphic adaptation of one of the world's most loved books
'June, 1942: 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.'
In Amsterdam, in the summer of 1942, the Nazis forced teenager Anne Frank and her family into hiding. For over two years, they, another family and a German dentist lived in a 'secret annexe', fearing discovery. All that time, Anne kept a diary. The Diary of a Young Girl is an inspiring and tragic account of an ordinary life lived in extraordinary circumstances that has enthralled readers for generations. Published in graphic format for the first time, The Graphic Diary of Anne Frank is a stunning new adaptation of one of the greatest books of the last century.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2017
696 people are currently reading
17708 people want to read
About the author
Ari Folman
6 books127 followersAri Folman is an Israeli film director, screenwriter and film score composer.
He witnessed the aftermath of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre as a 19 year old Israeli soldier. This would serve as the basis of Waltz with Bashir. The film follows his attempt to regain his memories of the war through therapy as well as conversations with old friends and other Israelis that were present in Beirut around the time of the massacre.
Since 2006 he has been the head writer of the Hot 3 drama series Parashat Hashavua.
He witnessed the aftermath of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre as a 19 year old Israeli soldier. This would serve as the basis of Waltz with Bashir. The film follows his attempt to regain his memories of the war through therapy as well as conversations with old friends and other Israelis that were present in Beirut around the time of the massacre.
Since 2006 he has been the head writer of the Hot 3 drama series Parashat Hashavua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,642 reviews
October 7, 2022
This graphic adaptation tells the story of Anne Frank and her family when they had to go into hiding during the second world war.
Anne Frank’s diary is one of my favorite books. The illustrator has done an excellent job in this book. I loved this graphic adaptation so much that I have gifted a few copies of it to the kids in my family.
Even though I have read Anne Frank’s diary multiple times in my life, I cherished reading this book as it gave me a different reading experience. If you are looking for an amazing book to gift your children during a special occasion, this book will be a great choice.
Anne Frank’s diary is one of my favorite books. The illustrator has done an excellent job in this book. I loved this graphic adaptation so much that I have gifted a few copies of it to the kids in my family.
Even though I have read Anne Frank’s diary multiple times in my life, I cherished reading this book as it gave me a different reading experience. If you are looking for an amazing book to gift your children during a special occasion, this book will be a great choice.
August 1, 2018
The only graphic novelization of Anne Frank’s diary that has been authorized by the Anne Frank Foundation and that uses text from the diary–it will introduce a new generation of young readers to this classic of Holocaust literature.
This one isn't an easy one to quickly wrap my mind (or words) around. There's so much to be said and done that it all sits so heavy on my heart. I'll begin by mentioning that I received the opportunity to read the original Hebrew version of this book, courtesy of a lovely librarian at my local library.
And I'll go on to admit that I struggled quite a lot with the start of this graphic diary. In particular, I had trouble with Anne Frank's hurtful depiction of the eight people surrounding her, from those forced into hiding with her, as well as the disrespect targeted at her own family members. I was particularly struck when I read the page declaring, quite bluntly so, that she considered the relationship with her mother so unstable that she wouldn’t care if her mother died. It was one of the cruelest sayings, especially under their utterly dire circumstance. And then it rolled on to her nonstop ridicule of Mrs. Van Daan... And I couldn't stand by idly reading about all the above, knowing that these are real people that died the most horrendous of deaths and cannot defend their honor; all that remains of them are these jarring depictions of their behavior under the most inhumane circumstances, and it was painful to read.
So I was relieved when Anne Frank acknowledged in later journey entries that her previous uncompromising points of view on her family was less than unfair. Empathy is key in familial discourse.
It's true, she didn't understand me, but I didn't understand her either.
With that admission in mind, the book did a turning point for me, where I could finally feel myself growing more attached to Anne as a person, from finding a loyal companion in the blank pages of her notebook to seeing herself as an aspiring writer to capturing her rightful hate towards Nazi Germans (that depicts my own), assessing her self-awareness, which had me so enraptured while reading that it deserves to be shared:
In everything I do, I can watch myself as if I were a stranger. I can stand across from the everyday Anne and, without being biased or making excuses, watch what she’s doing, both the good and the bad. This self-awareness never leaves me, and every time I open my mouth, I think, ‘You should have said that differently’ or ‘That’s fine the way it is.’ I condemn myself in so many ways that I’m beginning to realize the truth of my Father’s adage: ‘Every child has to raise itself.’ Parents can only advise their children or point them in the right direction. Ultimately, people shape their own characters.
As well as her line on trying to do and be better: I know exactly how I'd like to be, how I am . . . on the inside. But unfortunately I'm only like that with myself.
There's so much more to be said, but I'll just share the pages that got it all right:
Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Diary, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
This one isn't an easy one to quickly wrap my mind (or words) around. There's so much to be said and done that it all sits so heavy on my heart. I'll begin by mentioning that I received the opportunity to read the original Hebrew version of this book, courtesy of a lovely librarian at my local library.
And I'll go on to admit that I struggled quite a lot with the start of this graphic diary. In particular, I had trouble with Anne Frank's hurtful depiction of the eight people surrounding her, from those forced into hiding with her, as well as the disrespect targeted at her own family members. I was particularly struck when I read the page declaring, quite bluntly so, that she considered the relationship with her mother so unstable that she wouldn’t care if her mother died. It was one of the cruelest sayings, especially under their utterly dire circumstance. And then it rolled on to her nonstop ridicule of Mrs. Van Daan... And I couldn't stand by idly reading about all the above, knowing that these are real people that died the most horrendous of deaths and cannot defend their honor; all that remains of them are these jarring depictions of their behavior under the most inhumane circumstances, and it was painful to read.
So I was relieved when Anne Frank acknowledged in later journey entries that her previous uncompromising points of view on her family was less than unfair. Empathy is key in familial discourse.
It's true, she didn't understand me, but I didn't understand her either.
With that admission in mind, the book did a turning point for me, where I could finally feel myself growing more attached to Anne as a person, from finding a loyal companion in the blank pages of her notebook to seeing herself as an aspiring writer to capturing her rightful hate towards Nazi Germans (that depicts my own), assessing her self-awareness, which had me so enraptured while reading that it deserves to be shared:
In everything I do, I can watch myself as if I were a stranger. I can stand across from the everyday Anne and, without being biased or making excuses, watch what she’s doing, both the good and the bad. This self-awareness never leaves me, and every time I open my mouth, I think, ‘You should have said that differently’ or ‘That’s fine the way it is.’ I condemn myself in so many ways that I’m beginning to realize the truth of my Father’s adage: ‘Every child has to raise itself.’ Parents can only advise their children or point them in the right direction. Ultimately, people shape their own characters.
As well as her line on trying to do and be better: I know exactly how I'd like to be, how I am . . . on the inside. But unfortunately I'm only like that with myself.
There's so much more to be said, but I'll just share the pages that got it all right:
Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Diary, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
November 1, 2017
Conocía la historia a rasgos principales, pero jamás leí El diario.
Este primer acercamiento a la historia original ha sido diferente, y en parte, quería que fuera así. Ha sido una versión increíble. La manera en la que David Polonsky consigue presentar la historia con increíble detalle, expresando las emociones con unos dibujos espectaculares. Había momentos donde me quedaba minutos contemplando las ilustraciones de David -que ojalá pudiera enseñaros aquí. De verdad, era ver las imágenes y entender exactamente los sentimientos de Anne.
La historia, como comento, la conocía a rasgos generales. Sin embargo, he encontrado un montón de cosas que desconocía: desde la convivencia de tantas personas y tan diferentes en la Casa de Atrás a la bisexualidad de nuestra protagonista (algo que fue silenciado en una primera versión del original por su padre Otto, pero que vio la luz varias décadas después en una versión sin censura). No sé, estoy bastante sorprendido con la novela.
Recomiendo un montón que si no queréis leer el libro como tal, os hagáis con la novela gráfica. Hay páginas enteras que son extractos literales del diario, con alguna ilustración. De hecho, tengo la sensación de haber leído el libro original. Hay muchísimos extractos o párrafos largos que hacen que no sea una adaptación para nada libre, sino otra expresión de la misma historia (aunque, obviamente, se toman alguna licencia).
Este primer acercamiento a la historia original ha sido diferente, y en parte, quería que fuera así. Ha sido una versión increíble. La manera en la que David Polonsky consigue presentar la historia con increíble detalle, expresando las emociones con unos dibujos espectaculares. Había momentos donde me quedaba minutos contemplando las ilustraciones de David -que ojalá pudiera enseñaros aquí. De verdad, era ver las imágenes y entender exactamente los sentimientos de Anne.
La historia, como comento, la conocía a rasgos generales. Sin embargo, he encontrado un montón de cosas que desconocía: desde la convivencia de tantas personas y tan diferentes en la Casa de Atrás a la bisexualidad de nuestra protagonista (algo que fue silenciado en una primera versión del original por su padre Otto, pero que vio la luz varias décadas después en una versión sin censura). No sé, estoy bastante sorprendido con la novela.
Recomiendo un montón que si no queréis leer el libro como tal, os hagáis con la novela gráfica. Hay páginas enteras que son extractos literales del diario, con alguna ilustración. De hecho, tengo la sensación de haber leído el libro original. Hay muchísimos extractos o párrafos largos que hacen que no sea una adaptación para nada libre, sino otra expresión de la misma historia (aunque, obviamente, se toman alguna licencia).
August 27, 2024
4/16/23 Update: Florida's Vero Beach High School (high school!) banned this graphic adaptation of Anne Frank's Diary on the basis of a challenge by conservative advocacy group, Moms for Liberty. Book lovers and anti-Holocaust readers (not everyone, apparently) and librarians alert for book bannings/burnings that are in keeping with Hitler's program of book banning/burning. Freedom to burn books! This book is mentioned in August 27 2024 news about how Ron DeSantis's choices for right wing/Moms for Liberty rep on Florida school boards isn't quite working out as he planned, but this is the link to the 2023 article:
https://apnews.com/article/censorship...
Original review, 12/16/18: Of course read the latest, updated version of The Diary of Anne Frank (I mean the one that restores more of her original writing, and not that one that millions are still reading, the one that was edited by her father in his favor and to his tastes). But as with any dramatic or filmic rendition of the text, a comics version of this text--authorized by the Anne Frank Foundation, adapted by Ari Folman and beautifully and playfully illustrated by David Polonsky using all the resources of sequential storytelling available to him--is welcome indeed.
What do we gain by this supplement to the familiar story we know through the text-only Diary? We get a real sense of Anne as a real teenage girl and not a saint, a feisty, saucy Anne we can find in her (original) diary, too. In addition to including several key passages from the Diary itself, we are able to visualize the space in which the Franks and Van Daans lived in their time in hiding in Amsterdam. We get montages of Anne's imagined escapes from the annex, and we get a sad view of the bright future Anne might have had as a writer. It's really a surprisingly energized addition to the Frank canon, moving and fun and sad and of course horrific but also inspiring.
I suggest you take a look at it even if you--like me--have read Frank's Diary many many times and think you know all about this story. This will be a useful addition to any community or school library and a supplement for teaching the Diary, of course.
One minute video preview of this (which is to say, there are others) comics version of the story :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-TJl...
https://apnews.com/article/censorship...
Original review, 12/16/18: Of course read the latest, updated version of The Diary of Anne Frank (I mean the one that restores more of her original writing, and not that one that millions are still reading, the one that was edited by her father in his favor and to his tastes). But as with any dramatic or filmic rendition of the text, a comics version of this text--authorized by the Anne Frank Foundation, adapted by Ari Folman and beautifully and playfully illustrated by David Polonsky using all the resources of sequential storytelling available to him--is welcome indeed.
What do we gain by this supplement to the familiar story we know through the text-only Diary? We get a real sense of Anne as a real teenage girl and not a saint, a feisty, saucy Anne we can find in her (original) diary, too. In addition to including several key passages from the Diary itself, we are able to visualize the space in which the Franks and Van Daans lived in their time in hiding in Amsterdam. We get montages of Anne's imagined escapes from the annex, and we get a sad view of the bright future Anne might have had as a writer. It's really a surprisingly energized addition to the Frank canon, moving and fun and sad and of course horrific but also inspiring.
I suggest you take a look at it even if you--like me--have read Frank's Diary many many times and think you know all about this story. This will be a useful addition to any community or school library and a supplement for teaching the Diary, of course.
One minute video preview of this (which is to say, there are others) comics version of the story :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-TJl...
March 3, 2019
Israeli movie director - screen writer Ari Folman and illustrator - art director David Polonsky aren’t amateurs and it shows. This is a gorgeous, brilliant adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary and I’m in awe of the result.
I have to say that I’m unable to compare it with the original diary, because I couldn’t finish it when I tried to read it as a young girl myself, and I’ve always been reluctant to try it again. At the time, I had no interest whatsoever in reading the writings of a teenage girl who seemed to be incessantly whining about boys, her parents and just about everyone else in her life. Obviously, I simply wasn’t ready for this book.
Anne still whines a great deal in this adaptation, but at least I now have a better understanding of the menacing situation and the distressing conditions she continuously found herself in for almost two years. And the authors did an amazing job in making Anne and the other 7 people with whom she lived together in hiding, come alive. There’s a surprisingly large amount of humor to be found in the illustrations which made the often depressing diary entries considerably more digestible. The humor is supposed to represent Anne’s own sarcasm and there seems to be no lack of that in her diary!
Understandably, not all diary entries were included, but several long passages of them were reproduced in their entirety. I thought this added value and authenticity to this already marvelous graphic adaptation.
The authors are currently working on the animated feature film ‘Where is Anne Frank?’, which will be released in 2020, and if you’re familiar with their previous, award-winning movie ‘Waltz with Bashir’ (and ‘The Congress’ which I haven’t watched yet), you know it will be equally excellent.
I have to say that I’m unable to compare it with the original diary, because I couldn’t finish it when I tried to read it as a young girl myself, and I’ve always been reluctant to try it again. At the time, I had no interest whatsoever in reading the writings of a teenage girl who seemed to be incessantly whining about boys, her parents and just about everyone else in her life. Obviously, I simply wasn’t ready for this book.
Anne still whines a great deal in this adaptation, but at least I now have a better understanding of the menacing situation and the distressing conditions she continuously found herself in for almost two years. And the authors did an amazing job in making Anne and the other 7 people with whom she lived together in hiding, come alive. There’s a surprisingly large amount of humor to be found in the illustrations which made the often depressing diary entries considerably more digestible. The humor is supposed to represent Anne’s own sarcasm and there seems to be no lack of that in her diary!
Understandably, not all diary entries were included, but several long passages of them were reproduced in their entirety. I thought this added value and authenticity to this already marvelous graphic adaptation.
The authors are currently working on the animated feature film ‘Where is Anne Frank?’, which will be released in 2020, and if you’re familiar with their previous, award-winning movie ‘Waltz with Bashir’ (and ‘The Congress’ which I haven’t watched yet), you know it will be equally excellent.
September 4, 2018
La historia de Anne Frank es terriblemente desgarradora t triste, es increíble como Anna escribió tantas entradas en su diario con una prosa tan poética, tan madura y tan cruda de su realidad.
Blog: https://www.bastvilard.com/2018/09/el...
Blog: https://www.bastvilard.com/2018/09/el...
June 7, 2019
I had doubts that a graphic novel version could in any way live up to Anne Frank's original wonderful account of her life in hiding but this was amazing and comes endorsed by the Anne Frank Foundation and when goodreads friend Lisa Vegan recommended it I knew it would be good. I loved reading Anne's diary as a teenager and feel that reading a version that didn't do the original justice would be insulting to Anne's memory.
I loved the artwork, the faces, expressions and depictions the illustrator has used are brilliant, I love the way they have got across emotions so well. There's a series of drawings of Anne next to Margot, Margot looking patient and saintly next to Anne in various poses of despair to steam coming out of her ears that really seemed to portray beautifully how Anne felt about her personality compared with her sister whom she was always comparing herself to and being compared to unfavorably. Despite being sad and disturbing, this book also shows Anne's great humour, the illustrations do a wonderful job of getting this across. The scene at the table where they turn into animals is so skilfully shown, they still look like their characters physical appearance whilst looking like an animal and displaying their personality traits, brilliant!
The way this book has taken parts of Anne's diary and illustrated what is happening really conveyed the situation well, although this has lots of illustrations there is also a lot of text and I think the team creating this have done an excellent job getting across these peoples plight, their daily lives and Anne's personal thoughts, struggles and philosophies without feeling that they have missed out or added to the original story.
The afterword takes you through what happened after liberation and life for those who survived after the war. It is obvious to say the death of Anne and her sister is all the more tragic whenever I look at the dates they managed to hide until and the last days of their lives were only around 4 weeks before the camp they were in was liberated. Reading Anne's words again made me realise again how wonderful Anne's writing and thinking was for a girl of her age, how wonderful we have her story to remember her by and how heartbreaking she (and obviously others) didn't live to see the end of the war, see her diary in print and go on to write more. I think Anne would have loved this book.
I loved the artwork, the faces, expressions and depictions the illustrator has used are brilliant, I love the way they have got across emotions so well. There's a series of drawings of Anne next to Margot, Margot looking patient and saintly next to Anne in various poses of despair to steam coming out of her ears that really seemed to portray beautifully how Anne felt about her personality compared with her sister whom she was always comparing herself to and being compared to unfavorably. Despite being sad and disturbing, this book also shows Anne's great humour, the illustrations do a wonderful job of getting this across. The scene at the table where they turn into animals is so skilfully shown, they still look like their characters physical appearance whilst looking like an animal and displaying their personality traits, brilliant!
The way this book has taken parts of Anne's diary and illustrated what is happening really conveyed the situation well, although this has lots of illustrations there is also a lot of text and I think the team creating this have done an excellent job getting across these peoples plight, their daily lives and Anne's personal thoughts, struggles and philosophies without feeling that they have missed out or added to the original story.
The afterword takes you through what happened after liberation and life for those who survived after the war. It is obvious to say the death of Anne and her sister is all the more tragic whenever I look at the dates they managed to hide until and the last days of their lives were only around 4 weeks before the camp they were in was liberated. Reading Anne's words again made me realise again how wonderful Anne's writing and thinking was for a girl of her age, how wonderful we have her story to remember her by and how heartbreaking she (and obviously others) didn't live to see the end of the war, see her diary in print and go on to write more. I think Anne would have loved this book.
July 19, 2020
I recently listened to The Diary of Anne Frank. A co-worker suggested to me, since she knew I also like graphic novels, that I also try out this version of the story. I am glad that I decided to read it so soon after listening so I was easily able to compare the two.
While I would always recommend the original material first, I think this version did a great job using the graphic novel format. Also, maybe someone who would never take the time to read the diary directly in Anne's words might be willing to try it out as a graphic novel. I think this is a great thing as it means a wider audience will learn this important story.
Story wise, it is very close to the original diary. If you know it in Anne's words, you will not find it too much different. The main thing is some entries in the diary might be summarized in one page/one image. Other parts might have been edited out to promote the flow of the graphic novel. But, I don't feel like any content or meaning was lost. Also, sometimes something described by Anne without much detail may have been reimagined by the artist with a new, creative twist (example: at one point the Nazis are depicted as Egyptians watching over Jewish slaves building pyramids - Anne never said anything like this specifically in her Diary)
Speaking of artwork - I think the artist did a great job of creating eye catching images while remaining respectful to the source material. A lot of dialogue from the diary was kept in tact and integrated well with the imagery. In fact, if you frequently read graphic novels, you will find a lot more words within the art than normal.
This is an important story and everyone should read it. If the full diary is not for you, but this sounds interesting, give it a go. If you enjoyed the diary and gave thought about revisiting it, this is not a bad way to do so.
February 8, 2022
I would highly suggest you to pick up the original book first before reading the graphic novel.
This graphic novel is well adapted considering that it includes the very basic information and some of the whole Kitty diary entries.
The character presentation seems accurate and it's a whole new world different from the experience of reading the original book.
More pronounced in this adaptation are the vivid illustrations of their living conditions during those days, the characters and Anne's fears and feelings towards different people around her. Her difficult relationship with her mother, her closeness with her father and the difficulties she had to deal with which the adults didn't seem to understand.
Living with anxiety and depression everyday with difficult people around, Anne seemed to struggle a lot specially when she had questions which she needed. The pangs and the curiousity of growing up, parts of this book show about her sexuality and love interests.
The book ends abruptly as was the diary entries. There's an afterword which helps.
But I wanted to read more.
I love this graphic novel adaptation. The illustrations are so good!
This graphic novel is well adapted considering that it includes the very basic information and some of the whole Kitty diary entries.
The character presentation seems accurate and it's a whole new world different from the experience of reading the original book.
More pronounced in this adaptation are the vivid illustrations of their living conditions during those days, the characters and Anne's fears and feelings towards different people around her. Her difficult relationship with her mother, her closeness with her father and the difficulties she had to deal with which the adults didn't seem to understand.
Living with anxiety and depression everyday with difficult people around, Anne seemed to struggle a lot specially when she had questions which she needed. The pangs and the curiousity of growing up, parts of this book show about her sexuality and love interests.
The book ends abruptly as was the diary entries. There's an afterword which helps.
But I wanted to read more.
I love this graphic novel adaptation. The illustrations are so good!
November 12, 2017
Para empezar, desearía que El diario de Anne Frank no fuese lectura obligatoria en los colegios. Leí este libro hará más de 15 años, y no lo recordaba con odio, pero tampoco con especial cariño; simplemente no lo recordaba, y es una historia para recordar. Creo que es un testimonio tan valioso por tantísimas razones, (y ya no por el tema de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, que en principio es el principal en esta historia) sino por cómo ve Anne el mundo de los jóvenes, cómo se enfrenta a sus sentimientos y a los cambios propios de una adolescente, cómo se da cuenta de que la mujer es tratada como un ser inferior al hombre, cómo descubre el amor... Cómo piensa, cómo siente, solo por esto merece la pena leer su relato.
Es una historia con la guerra de fondo, sí, pero Anne no teme a la guerra, teme lo que teme un adolescente que está hecho un lío. Y aún así, a pesar de las pesadillas, de los bombardeos y el hambre, Anne tiene esperanza y aprende, y obligatoriamente se convierte en una mujer de 14 años.
Me gusta haber encontrado esta novela gráfica a los 30 años porque he redescubierto una historia que pasó por mi vida sin pena ni gloria. Además creo que este formato aporta muchísimo al original, lo hace mucho más ameno y llega de una manera igual de directa. Sigue conservando fragmentos originales del diario, sumado a viñetas a veces graciosas, otras terriblemente dolorosas, pero siempre reales.
Por último, esta novela gráfica ha sido autorizada por la Fundación Anne Frank, y parte de sus beneficios van destinados a UNICEF. Me parece un regalo perfecto para Navidad, o para ti mism@.
Es una historia con la guerra de fondo, sí, pero Anne no teme a la guerra, teme lo que teme un adolescente que está hecho un lío. Y aún así, a pesar de las pesadillas, de los bombardeos y el hambre, Anne tiene esperanza y aprende, y obligatoriamente se convierte en una mujer de 14 años.
Me gusta haber encontrado esta novela gráfica a los 30 años porque he redescubierto una historia que pasó por mi vida sin pena ni gloria. Además creo que este formato aporta muchísimo al original, lo hace mucho más ameno y llega de una manera igual de directa. Sigue conservando fragmentos originales del diario, sumado a viñetas a veces graciosas, otras terriblemente dolorosas, pero siempre reales.
Por último, esta novela gráfica ha sido autorizada por la Fundación Anne Frank, y parte de sus beneficios van destinados a UNICEF. Me parece un regalo perfecto para Navidad, o para ti mism@.
July 27, 2021
Anne Frank may be the face of the Holocaust, and this graphic novel, by adapter Ari Folman and illustrator David Polonsky, is a beautiful adaptation of her famous diary. Adapting Frank's diary couldn't have been easy--and, as Folman and Polonsky explain in the end notes, the pressure was on to do the diary justice--but they did it with great skill. Folman chose select entries to highlight and worked closely with Polonsky to bring those to life. For entries that seemed to beg to be included in total, Folman did just that. It's an inspired take that should please all who’ve read the source material.
The illustrations are detailed and expressive, but most of all, they’re some of the most inventive I've seen in a graphic novel. I was so impressed by how Polonsky tackled the daunting task of taking Frank's wise-beyond-her-years observations and thoughts and translating them into a concrete depiction. He did it perfectly. Adapter and illustrator worked very well as a team, and it’s obvious that this graphic novel was a labor of love that they were determined to get right.
Folman and Polonsky emphasized just how human Frank was. What comes across over and over is that Frank was remarkably astute for her age; there’s a predestined feel to her diary, as if her pen was guided by a future that knew her diary would eventually become one of the best-selling books of all time. But Frank was also very much a typical adolescent, and her adolescent, mundane musings live alongside her mature, wiser ones. Her early entries express outrage over the--as she saw it--unrelenting criticism she received from the adults around her. She struggled to relate to her mom and felt closer to her dad. She was sometimes jealous of the positive attention Margot got and annoyed by suggestions that she emulate her. She thought about Peter van Daan and their budding romance. Later entries have a slightly different tone and focus, hinting that Frank resolved many of her past grievances.
This graphic novel isn’t solely about Frank, however, and Folman and Polonsky didn’t sugar-coat life in the attic. They showed boring, difficult life in hiding: meager food rations, lack of privacy, and general tension that comes with living in close quarters. Zooming out, they also highlighted the frequent bombings, precariousness of the living situation, terrifying close calls, and so much else.
The source material contains a lot, and as good as this graphic adaptation is, it’s very abridged. The adapter couldn't include everything in Frank’s diary, and he didn’t quote most parts in their entirety. It also has a loose chronology that may confuse those who haven't read the diary. Most importantly, it doesn’t deliver quite the same gut-punch that the diary does at the end, when it abruptly stops after the reader has gotten to know Frank so intimately. It is, however, an exceptional companion work. I also recommend the moving Anne Frank: Her life in words and pictures from the archives of The Anne Frank House, which contains lots of photos of the Frank family and succeeds in really humanizing them as a regular, normal family doing regular, normal things. These two, read alongside the diary, will provide a complete, satisfying portrait.
(Note: An animated Anne Frank movie is now available: https://forward.com/culture/472841/a-... )
The illustrations are detailed and expressive, but most of all, they’re some of the most inventive I've seen in a graphic novel. I was so impressed by how Polonsky tackled the daunting task of taking Frank's wise-beyond-her-years observations and thoughts and translating them into a concrete depiction. He did it perfectly. Adapter and illustrator worked very well as a team, and it’s obvious that this graphic novel was a labor of love that they were determined to get right.
Folman and Polonsky emphasized just how human Frank was. What comes across over and over is that Frank was remarkably astute for her age; there’s a predestined feel to her diary, as if her pen was guided by a future that knew her diary would eventually become one of the best-selling books of all time. But Frank was also very much a typical adolescent, and her adolescent, mundane musings live alongside her mature, wiser ones. Her early entries express outrage over the--as she saw it--unrelenting criticism she received from the adults around her. She struggled to relate to her mom and felt closer to her dad. She was sometimes jealous of the positive attention Margot got and annoyed by suggestions that she emulate her. She thought about Peter van Daan and their budding romance. Later entries have a slightly different tone and focus, hinting that Frank resolved many of her past grievances.
This graphic novel isn’t solely about Frank, however, and Folman and Polonsky didn’t sugar-coat life in the attic. They showed boring, difficult life in hiding: meager food rations, lack of privacy, and general tension that comes with living in close quarters. Zooming out, they also highlighted the frequent bombings, precariousness of the living situation, terrifying close calls, and so much else.
The source material contains a lot, and as good as this graphic adaptation is, it’s very abridged. The adapter couldn't include everything in Frank’s diary, and he didn’t quote most parts in their entirety. It also has a loose chronology that may confuse those who haven't read the diary. Most importantly, it doesn’t deliver quite the same gut-punch that the diary does at the end, when it abruptly stops after the reader has gotten to know Frank so intimately. It is, however, an exceptional companion work. I also recommend the moving Anne Frank: Her life in words and pictures from the archives of The Anne Frank House, which contains lots of photos of the Frank family and succeeds in really humanizing them as a regular, normal family doing regular, normal things. These two, read alongside the diary, will provide a complete, satisfying portrait.
(Note: An animated Anne Frank movie is now available: https://forward.com/culture/472841/a-... )
May 16, 2019
I read this book only because it’s officially approved by the Anne Frank Foundation and because it has gotten such positive reviews. Otherwise I’d have been skeptical.
There is a lovely and informative adaptor’s note on pages 148-149 in the hardcover edition at the end of the book and I decided to read it when I was part way through the book and I actually recommend reading it first, but okay to read at the end, but do read it.
It's brilliant!
The book is gorgeous! I absolutely loved the illustrations. They were perfect.
Incredibly well-done adaptation! Phenomenal! I think it’s a complete success as far as getting Anne’s own story right. In fact, even though I’ve read the diary about 4 times, I felt as though this adaptation gave me more information about and understanding of her.
So, Anne was such a good writer, so bright and thoughtful, and I appreciate how introspective she was at 13-15, maybe because I was too. When I first read her diary at age 11 (a year or two too early, for me, but my mother wanted me to read it while she was alive, I realized after, as it had meant a lot to her) I liked it but wasn’t wild about it. As an adult, rereading it, after reading other teens’ diaries, I realized how great it was. It’s so superior to most of the diaries I’ve read by other people that age. These excerpts from Anne’s diary and the wonderful accompanying artwork and the extra explanatory notes, made me sadder than ever that she did not survive. It’s such a huge tragedy. Her and so many others including some who will remain unknown. I’m so curious about what she would have done with her life had she not died so close to liberation. I expect she might have made herself known, likely as a writer, hopefully with a Holocaust memoir included at some point. I’ve read so many books about/by Anne. I’ve always felt we would not have been friends prior to her going into hiding but that from that point on we might have been. The story of these 8 people in this book do what other books about individuals have done: properly personalize what otherwise seems overwhelming – the suffering of millions during the Nazi era and other atrocities affecting more millions.
Highly recommended for those who want to read more about/by Anne Frank, or life in hiding during the Holocaust, those who enjoy reading graphic non-fiction books, some reluctant readers, and those who will love the artwork as much as I did. I’d say for everyone 12 & all the way up, but it depends on the person of course. Even though Anne talks about what’s going on outside their hiding place and she knew a fair amount, there was something about the visuals that make this book even more disturbing. I also found it even more amusing, so there is that.
There is a lovely and informative adaptor’s note on pages 148-149 in the hardcover edition at the end of the book and I decided to read it when I was part way through the book and I actually recommend reading it first, but okay to read at the end, but do read it.
It's brilliant!
The book is gorgeous! I absolutely loved the illustrations. They were perfect.
Incredibly well-done adaptation! Phenomenal! I think it’s a complete success as far as getting Anne’s own story right. In fact, even though I’ve read the diary about 4 times, I felt as though this adaptation gave me more information about and understanding of her.
So, Anne was such a good writer, so bright and thoughtful, and I appreciate how introspective she was at 13-15, maybe because I was too. When I first read her diary at age 11 (a year or two too early, for me, but my mother wanted me to read it while she was alive, I realized after, as it had meant a lot to her) I liked it but wasn’t wild about it. As an adult, rereading it, after reading other teens’ diaries, I realized how great it was. It’s so superior to most of the diaries I’ve read by other people that age. These excerpts from Anne’s diary and the wonderful accompanying artwork and the extra explanatory notes, made me sadder than ever that she did not survive. It’s such a huge tragedy. Her and so many others including some who will remain unknown. I’m so curious about what she would have done with her life had she not died so close to liberation. I expect she might have made herself known, likely as a writer, hopefully with a Holocaust memoir included at some point. I’ve read so many books about/by Anne. I’ve always felt we would not have been friends prior to her going into hiding but that from that point on we might have been. The story of these 8 people in this book do what other books about individuals have done: properly personalize what otherwise seems overwhelming – the suffering of millions during the Nazi era and other atrocities affecting more millions.
Highly recommended for those who want to read more about/by Anne Frank, or life in hiding during the Holocaust, those who enjoy reading graphic non-fiction books, some reluctant readers, and those who will love the artwork as much as I did. I’d say for everyone 12 & all the way up, but it depends on the person of course. Even though Anne talks about what’s going on outside their hiding place and she knew a fair amount, there was something about the visuals that make this book even more disturbing. I also found it even more amusing, so there is that.
October 29, 2017
Unfassbar gut!
April 15, 2020
Here in Berlin there's a great institution (the Landeszentrale für Politische Bildung) where students can get up to five books for free every three months. So, three days ago I saw in their online catalogue that they added the graphic diary of Anne Frank to their collection. Immediately, I knew that I would take my bike to the facility and get myself this beautiful book.
I had seen the graphic adaption of this classic in bookshops before but was too chintzy to get it for myself (... I mean 20€ is not nothing, especially since I've already read the original diary). I liked the art style and I always appreciate it when historic documents are made accessible to a younger generation through the art of comic books and graphic novels. They're just such a great teaching tool. And whilst I would, of course, still advise everyone to read Anne's original diary, this graphic adaption is a nice addition.
Ari Flomen and David Polonsky worked wonders to encapture Anne's personality and her outlook on life. Sometimes, they mixed different journal entries together for the sake of condensing the narrative, but oftentimes they printed full passages, because Anne is simply that great of a writer and her outlook on life is fascinating and inspiring. We can learn so much from this 12- to 14-year-old girl. Anne poured her heart out to her diary. She talked about her strenuous relationship to her mother and her sister Margot. The envy, the anger, the emotional turmoil. She reflects on what living in the rear building, in total isolation from the world, does to her and the other inhabitants.
It's a heartbreaking read, really, when you look at the circumstances that this innocent family was put through. She and her family spent their lives in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. All the inhabitants of the rear building were arrested by the Gestapo in August 1944 and deported to concentration camps. In October or November 1944, Anne and her sister, Margot, were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died (probably of typhus) a few months later.
Anne's last entry is from 1 August 1944. I couldn't help but cry and feel an immense pain reading the last words she ever wrote down in her diary, without even knowing that this would be her last entry. Anne's diary is a great reminder that we – and us Germans in particular – should never forget the atrocities committed in Nazi Germany. It is more than just necessary that Anne's legacy lives on. This young girl, who stands for so much that is good in the world, let's always remember her!
I had seen the graphic adaption of this classic in bookshops before but was too chintzy to get it for myself (... I mean 20€ is not nothing, especially since I've already read the original diary). I liked the art style and I always appreciate it when historic documents are made accessible to a younger generation through the art of comic books and graphic novels. They're just such a great teaching tool. And whilst I would, of course, still advise everyone to read Anne's original diary, this graphic adaption is a nice addition.
Ari Flomen and David Polonsky worked wonders to encapture Anne's personality and her outlook on life. Sometimes, they mixed different journal entries together for the sake of condensing the narrative, but oftentimes they printed full passages, because Anne is simply that great of a writer and her outlook on life is fascinating and inspiring. We can learn so much from this 12- to 14-year-old girl. Anne poured her heart out to her diary. She talked about her strenuous relationship to her mother and her sister Margot. The envy, the anger, the emotional turmoil. She reflects on what living in the rear building, in total isolation from the world, does to her and the other inhabitants.
It's a heartbreaking read, really, when you look at the circumstances that this innocent family was put through. She and her family spent their lives in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. All the inhabitants of the rear building were arrested by the Gestapo in August 1944 and deported to concentration camps. In October or November 1944, Anne and her sister, Margot, were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died (probably of typhus) a few months later.
Anne's last entry is from 1 August 1944. I couldn't help but cry and feel an immense pain reading the last words she ever wrote down in her diary, without even knowing that this would be her last entry. Anne's diary is a great reminder that we – and us Germans in particular – should never forget the atrocities committed in Nazi Germany. It is more than just necessary that Anne's legacy lives on. This young girl, who stands for so much that is good in the world, let's always remember her!
December 12, 2017
Ich bin mit Skepsis an die gezeichnete Ausgabe von Anne Franks Tagebuch herangegangen. Zum einen gehört Annes Niederschrift zu den Büchern, die ich bereits mehrfach gelesen habe und so zu ihr eine besondere Beziehung und Neigung entwickelt habe. Zum anderen habe ich eine große Schwäche für Grafik, Illustrationen und Bildern. Dennoch fragte ich mich, wie es möglich ist, derartige Mengen an Gedanken und Gefühlen zu einer vertretbaren Fülle an Seiten zu bündeln ohne die Aussagekraft der einzelnen Einträge zu verfälschen oder gar zu verlieren.
Schade, dass ich wirklich erst zum Schluss das Nachwort von Ari Folman gelesen habe, der darin erklärt, wie er selbst daran gezweifelt hat, diese monströse Aufgabe bewältigen zu können. Für mich war es interessant zu erfahren, dass der Anne Frank Fond sogar der Auftraggeber gewesen ist und erreicht werden sollte, dass auch junge Menschen an das Thema herangeführt werden, die sonst keinen Bezug zu Büchern haben und vermutlich auch um die aktuell beliebte Graphic-Novel-Welle zu nutzen.
Wie geht es mir nun nach dem Lesen? - Folman und Polonsky haben ohne Frage ein geschmackvolles und künstlerisches Werk geschaffen, das lohnt betrachtet und gelesen zu werden. Ihre Liebe zum Detail, ihre Fantasie und Originalität Annes Träume, Gefühle und Erlebnisse darzustellen, ist von allerfeinster Güte. Mir gefiel außerdem, dass besonders prägnante Passagen, wie beispielsweise der letzte Tagebucheintrag am 1. August 1944, unverändert in Textform blieben.
Ich meine, dass sie die charakterliche Natur Annes sowie die klaustrophobische Atmosphäre im Hinterhaus zeichnerisch und dichterisch sehr gut eingefangen haben. Vor allem sind Annes wunderbarer Humor und ihr schriftstellerisches Talent dabei nicht verloren gegangen. ABER dieses Graphic Diary kann trotz seiner hochwertigen Artwork niemals den reinen Text ersetzen! Ich zweifle, dass ich mich, wenn ich dieses Buch vor dem eigentlichen Tagebuch in die Hand genommen hätte, die gleiche Anziehungskraft von Annes einnehmender Persönlichkeit verspürt hätte. Allein ihre Einträge zu lesen, sind intimer und unverfälschter. Ein Bild, so schön es den Betrachter auch anmuten mag, ist bereits eine Interpretation, die Meinung eines anderen.
Schade, dass ich wirklich erst zum Schluss das Nachwort von Ari Folman gelesen habe, der darin erklärt, wie er selbst daran gezweifelt hat, diese monströse Aufgabe bewältigen zu können. Für mich war es interessant zu erfahren, dass der Anne Frank Fond sogar der Auftraggeber gewesen ist und erreicht werden sollte, dass auch junge Menschen an das Thema herangeführt werden, die sonst keinen Bezug zu Büchern haben und vermutlich auch um die aktuell beliebte Graphic-Novel-Welle zu nutzen.
Wie geht es mir nun nach dem Lesen? - Folman und Polonsky haben ohne Frage ein geschmackvolles und künstlerisches Werk geschaffen, das lohnt betrachtet und gelesen zu werden. Ihre Liebe zum Detail, ihre Fantasie und Originalität Annes Träume, Gefühle und Erlebnisse darzustellen, ist von allerfeinster Güte. Mir gefiel außerdem, dass besonders prägnante Passagen, wie beispielsweise der letzte Tagebucheintrag am 1. August 1944, unverändert in Textform blieben.
Ich meine, dass sie die charakterliche Natur Annes sowie die klaustrophobische Atmosphäre im Hinterhaus zeichnerisch und dichterisch sehr gut eingefangen haben. Vor allem sind Annes wunderbarer Humor und ihr schriftstellerisches Talent dabei nicht verloren gegangen. ABER dieses Graphic Diary kann trotz seiner hochwertigen Artwork niemals den reinen Text ersetzen! Ich zweifle, dass ich mich, wenn ich dieses Buch vor dem eigentlichen Tagebuch in die Hand genommen hätte, die gleiche Anziehungskraft von Annes einnehmender Persönlichkeit verspürt hätte. Allein ihre Einträge zu lesen, sind intimer und unverfälschter. Ein Bild, so schön es den Betrachter auch anmuten mag, ist bereits eine Interpretation, die Meinung eines anderen.
October 19, 2017
Essa foi a coisa mais linda que eu li neste ano. Que capricho, quanto amor e detalhismo transbordando nas páginas... Um verdadeiro presente pra quem, assim como eu, é fã da Anne e de sua história.
Vai rolar vídeo, mas eu precisava vir enaltecer por aqui também <3
Vai rolar vídeo, mas eu precisava vir enaltecer por aqui também <3
March 26, 2021
Loved it !
The illustrations are so good.
The illustrations are so good.
February 2, 2021
Herlezen en ik vind deze bewerking nog steeds erg krachtig én mooi! Wonderlijk ook dat elke keer dat ik het Dagboek las, in deze óf de originele vorm, het verhaal anders klinkt. De eerste keer heel persoonlijk en dichtbij, omdat ikzelf nog puber was, later wierp de tijdgeest telkens een ander licht op het verhaal.
Hieronder de recensie die ik schreef toen ik deze graphic novel de eerste keer las:
Bijna 75 jaar geleden schreef Anne Frank, 14 jaar oud, dit fragment aan Kitty, haar dagboek en denkbeeldige vriendin aan wie ze hoopte alles te kunnen toevertrouwen, zoals ze het nog aan niemand gekund had. Na al die jaren grijpt het nog steeds aan hoe ze hier haar hoop en angst verwoordt, terwijl zij, haar ouders, haar zus Margot, de familie Daans en de heer Dussel zaten ondergedoken in het Achterhuis, in de hoop te ontsnappen aan het joodse vernietigingsprogramma van Hitlers naziregime. Miljoenen mensen over de hele wereld hebben na de Tweede Wereldoorlog Het Achterhuis van Anne Frank gelezen, de dagboekbrieven die zij schreef tussen 14 juni 1942 en 1 augustus 1944. Het dagboek eindigt een paar dagen voor ze wordt opgepakt om via doorgangskamp Westerbork naar Auschwitz-Birkenau te worden gedeporteerd om uiteindelijk in februari/maart 1945 te overlijden in het concentratiekamp Bergen-Belsen.
Het geciteerde fragment is ook terug te vinden in de graphic novel van Het Achterhuis die zojuist is verschenen en op dit moment in meer dan 40 landen wordt uitgebracht. Het Anne Frank Fonds in Basel was op zoek naar een manier om Anne Franks verhaal toegankelijker en dichterbij een nieuwe generatie jongeren te brengen. Om dit te realiseren klopten ze aan bij Ari Folman, scenarist, en David Polonsky, illustrator, met de vraag om van Annes dagboek een graphic novel te maken. Beiden deinsden daar in eerste instantie voor terug, Anne Frank is zo’n iconisch beeld dat ze bang waren haar persoonlijke werk aan te tasten en tekort te doen. Toch zijn ze, op aandringen van het Anne Frank Fonds, de uitdaging aangegaan.
Het heeft ze een flink aantal jaren gekost om van Anne’s dagboek een graphic novel te maken die haar dagboek in alle opzichten eer aandoet. Overduidelijk hebben Folman en Polonsky zich grondig verdiept in de tijdgeest, de historische details en de teksten die ze wilden opnemen in hun boek. Anne en de andere bewoners van het Achterhuis zijn heel karakteristiek en herkenbaar weergegeven in prachtige subtiel ingekleurde lijntekeningen. De makers stonden voor de moeilijke keuze hoe en welke delen van het dagboek in strip te vangen. Uiteindelijk kozen ze ervoor om een deel van Anne’s verhalen en de tijdgeest in beeld te brengen, maar vonden ook dat er delen van de dagboektekst onvervangbaar waren en intact moesten blijven, waarvoor ze kozen die in zijn geheel op te nemen. Anne had namelijk ook een bijzonder talent om haar gevoelens en gedachten op een mooie directe manier te verwoorden. Samen vormen tekst en beeld een heel sterk geheel.
Bijzonder aangrijpend en invoelbaar zijn de surrealistische tekeningen die de dromen en angsten van Anne verbeelden. Zet daarnaast de tekeningen waarin haar subtiele ietwat sarcastische humor naar voren komt en je realiseert je hoe goed het ze beiden is gelukt om de geest van Anne te bewaren. Ontroerend is ook het einde, naast haar laatst geschreven dag staat een tekening met de vele gezichten van Anne, als een monument voor haar, maar ook voor iedereen die zijn gezicht verloor in deze en elke oorlog.
Het is belangrijk dat het verhaal van Anne Frank bereikbaar blijft voor een groot publiek. Zij heeft met het schrijven van haar dagboek niet alleen haar eigen verhaal geschreven, maar het verhaal van miljoenen onderdrukte joden toen en miljoenen gewone mensen nu die lijden onder discriminatie en racisme. Deze graphic novel is een waardige èn waardevolle beeldende aanvulling op haar dagboek, voor degenen die haar dagboek al eens lazen, maar ook voor jongeren van nu die kennis wil maken met Anne Frank.
[Deze recensie schreef ik toentertijd als recensent voor Hebban - https://www.hebban.nl/recensie/moira-... ]
Hieronder de recensie die ik schreef toen ik deze graphic novel de eerste keer las:
“Lieve Kitty,
Ik kan me helemaal niet voorstellen dat de wereld voor ons ooit weer eens gewoon wordt. Ik spreek wel over ‘na de oorlog’, maar dan is dat, alsof ik over een luchtkasteeltje spreek, iets wat nooit werkelijkheid kan worden.
Ik zie ons achten samen met het Achterhuis, alsof wij een stukje blauwe hemel waren, omringd door zwarte, zwarte regenwolken. Het ronde, afgebakende plekje, waarop wij staan is nog veilig, maar de wolken rukken steeds dichter op ons toe en de ring, die ons van het naderende gevaar scheidt, wordt steeds nauwer toegehaald.
Nu zijn we al zover door gevaar en donkerte omgeven, dat wij van vertwijfeling waar uitredding te vinden, tegen elkaar aan botsen. We kijken allen naar beneden waar de mensen tegen elkaar vechten, we kijken allen naar boven waar het rustig en mooi is. En onderwijl zijn wij afgesneden door die duistere massa, die ons niet naar beneden en niet naar boven laat gaan, maar die voor ons staat als een ondoordringbare muur, die ons verpletteren wil, maar nog niet kan. Ik kan niets anders doen dan roepen en smeken: ‘O ring, ring wordt wijder en open je voor ons!
Je Anne"
Bijna 75 jaar geleden schreef Anne Frank, 14 jaar oud, dit fragment aan Kitty, haar dagboek en denkbeeldige vriendin aan wie ze hoopte alles te kunnen toevertrouwen, zoals ze het nog aan niemand gekund had. Na al die jaren grijpt het nog steeds aan hoe ze hier haar hoop en angst verwoordt, terwijl zij, haar ouders, haar zus Margot, de familie Daans en de heer Dussel zaten ondergedoken in het Achterhuis, in de hoop te ontsnappen aan het joodse vernietigingsprogramma van Hitlers naziregime. Miljoenen mensen over de hele wereld hebben na de Tweede Wereldoorlog Het Achterhuis van Anne Frank gelezen, de dagboekbrieven die zij schreef tussen 14 juni 1942 en 1 augustus 1944. Het dagboek eindigt een paar dagen voor ze wordt opgepakt om via doorgangskamp Westerbork naar Auschwitz-Birkenau te worden gedeporteerd om uiteindelijk in februari/maart 1945 te overlijden in het concentratiekamp Bergen-Belsen.
Het geciteerde fragment is ook terug te vinden in de graphic novel van Het Achterhuis die zojuist is verschenen en op dit moment in meer dan 40 landen wordt uitgebracht. Het Anne Frank Fonds in Basel was op zoek naar een manier om Anne Franks verhaal toegankelijker en dichterbij een nieuwe generatie jongeren te brengen. Om dit te realiseren klopten ze aan bij Ari Folman, scenarist, en David Polonsky, illustrator, met de vraag om van Annes dagboek een graphic novel te maken. Beiden deinsden daar in eerste instantie voor terug, Anne Frank is zo’n iconisch beeld dat ze bang waren haar persoonlijke werk aan te tasten en tekort te doen. Toch zijn ze, op aandringen van het Anne Frank Fonds, de uitdaging aangegaan.
Het heeft ze een flink aantal jaren gekost om van Anne’s dagboek een graphic novel te maken die haar dagboek in alle opzichten eer aandoet. Overduidelijk hebben Folman en Polonsky zich grondig verdiept in de tijdgeest, de historische details en de teksten die ze wilden opnemen in hun boek. Anne en de andere bewoners van het Achterhuis zijn heel karakteristiek en herkenbaar weergegeven in prachtige subtiel ingekleurde lijntekeningen. De makers stonden voor de moeilijke keuze hoe en welke delen van het dagboek in strip te vangen. Uiteindelijk kozen ze ervoor om een deel van Anne’s verhalen en de tijdgeest in beeld te brengen, maar vonden ook dat er delen van de dagboektekst onvervangbaar waren en intact moesten blijven, waarvoor ze kozen die in zijn geheel op te nemen. Anne had namelijk ook een bijzonder talent om haar gevoelens en gedachten op een mooie directe manier te verwoorden. Samen vormen tekst en beeld een heel sterk geheel.
Bijzonder aangrijpend en invoelbaar zijn de surrealistische tekeningen die de dromen en angsten van Anne verbeelden. Zet daarnaast de tekeningen waarin haar subtiele ietwat sarcastische humor naar voren komt en je realiseert je hoe goed het ze beiden is gelukt om de geest van Anne te bewaren. Ontroerend is ook het einde, naast haar laatst geschreven dag staat een tekening met de vele gezichten van Anne, als een monument voor haar, maar ook voor iedereen die zijn gezicht verloor in deze en elke oorlog.
Het is belangrijk dat het verhaal van Anne Frank bereikbaar blijft voor een groot publiek. Zij heeft met het schrijven van haar dagboek niet alleen haar eigen verhaal geschreven, maar het verhaal van miljoenen onderdrukte joden toen en miljoenen gewone mensen nu die lijden onder discriminatie en racisme. Deze graphic novel is een waardige èn waardevolle beeldende aanvulling op haar dagboek, voor degenen die haar dagboek al eens lazen, maar ook voor jongeren van nu die kennis wil maken met Anne Frank.
[Deze recensie schreef ik toentertijd als recensent voor Hebban - https://www.hebban.nl/recensie/moira-... ]
October 23, 2017
Si os interesa la vida de Anne Frank, esta es manera muy original de conocerla.
Me ha encantado el dibujo y he sufrido bastante en sus páginas, aunque sin duda Anne como narradora es genial, su sentido del humor y su sarcasmo se ve perfectamente reflejado en la novela gráfica. No se ha perdido la esencia de su diario, y eso es genial. A parte, la mayor parte de los beneficios de este libro estarán destinados a UNICEF para su lucha por los Derechos de los Niños. ¿Puede haber algo mejor?
Me ha encantado el dibujo y he sufrido bastante en sus páginas, aunque sin duda Anne como narradora es genial, su sentido del humor y su sarcasmo se ve perfectamente reflejado en la novela gráfica. No se ha perdido la esencia de su diario, y eso es genial. A parte, la mayor parte de los beneficios de este libro estarán destinados a UNICEF para su lucha por los Derechos de los Niños. ¿Puede haber algo mejor?
December 1, 2020
Estoy fascinada con esta versión del Diario de Anne Frank.
No puedo hablar de la fidelidad de la adaptación, pues leí el libro hace muchos años, pero me ha gustado mucho. Las ilustraciones son sumamente bellas y los colores refuerzan perfectamente las diferentes circunstancias narradas. Además las imágenes evocan de forma muy creativa las sensaciones, emociones, sueños y pensamientos de Anne.
Esta historia, como muchas qué suceden durante la segunda guerra mundial, te deja esa sensación agridulce. Por un lado la bella forma en que nos las cuentan y por otro las terribles realidades que se nos presentan.
No puedo hablar de la fidelidad de la adaptación, pues leí el libro hace muchos años, pero me ha gustado mucho. Las ilustraciones son sumamente bellas y los colores refuerzan perfectamente las diferentes circunstancias narradas. Además las imágenes evocan de forma muy creativa las sensaciones, emociones, sueños y pensamientos de Anne.
Esta historia, como muchas qué suceden durante la segunda guerra mundial, te deja esa sensación agridulce. Por un lado la bella forma en que nos las cuentan y por otro las terribles realidades que se nos presentan.
February 16, 2022
This graphic adaptation puts you in hiding with Anne as she tries to cope with the uniquely horrible situation she finds herself in: coming of age in isolation and fear. I truly think this book adds a new perspective to her diaries and provides a visual narrative that will sharpen the diary entries in a way that has not been explored before. A heartbreaking story of hope that should never be forgotten.
April 14, 2019
Prima graphic novel da adulta a sessant'anni dall'ultimo Topolino: mi piaceva però lo sfigato Paperino.
Comprato per le nipotine, non ho resistito e ho apprezzato.
Fatelo anche voi che avete bimbe/i: la storia non si ripete ma è bene che la sparuta compagine bambinesca ( nel mio condominio vent'anni fa c'erano ottanta bambini al parco giochi, ora due nipotini una domenica sì e una no) dia una sbirciatina al passato prossimo.
Ne vale la pena.
Comprato per le nipotine, non ho resistito e ho apprezzato.
Fatelo anche voi che avete bimbe/i: la storia non si ripete ma è bene che la sparuta compagine bambinesca ( nel mio condominio vent'anni fa c'erano ottanta bambini al parco giochi, ora due nipotini una domenica sì e una no) dia una sbirciatina al passato prossimo.
Ne vale la pena.
April 30, 2025
"I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
The Diary of a Young Girl is my May book club pick and even though we are reading the original text, I decided to give this one a try first.
This graphic adaptation does a brilliant job of bringing to life the original story. Of course, the ending made me an emotional wreck just as the original novel did.
Some of the passages in the original text have been removed but overall it's the same story but with illustrations.
Whether it’s this book or the original, Anne’s story is one that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. For those striving to ban Anne Frank’s story are the ones who NEED to read it the most.
The Diary of a Young Girl is my May book club pick and even though we are reading the original text, I decided to give this one a try first.
This graphic adaptation does a brilliant job of bringing to life the original story. Of course, the ending made me an emotional wreck just as the original novel did.
Some of the passages in the original text have been removed but overall it's the same story but with illustrations.
Whether it’s this book or the original, Anne’s story is one that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. For those striving to ban Anne Frank’s story are the ones who NEED to read it the most.
November 14, 2022
Un ottimo omaggio ad una persona che è stata, è e sarà sempre un simbolo contro la Shoah e la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, ma ampliato, contro ogni sopruso e ogni discriminazione.
Sotto la veste della graphic novel, i due autori cercano di prendere i punti focali del Diario di Anne e di renderlo fruibile a più persone, soprattutto ai più piccoli. Perchè, come scrivono loro stessi nella postfazione, ci sarebbero servite 3500 pagine per realizzarlo fedele al 100%.
Un buon lavoro, soprattutto nelle tavole dove i sogni e gli incubi di Anne prendono il sopravvento e la graphic novel diventa quasi come un'opera fantastica, onirica al limite del gotico/horror. Che poi, cosa c'è di più terrificante di una guerra e soprattutto, degli strascichi psicologici che questa potrebbe destare nell'animo di una persona nel pieno della giovinezza?
Per non dimenticare, mai!
Sotto la veste della graphic novel, i due autori cercano di prendere i punti focali del Diario di Anne e di renderlo fruibile a più persone, soprattutto ai più piccoli. Perchè, come scrivono loro stessi nella postfazione, ci sarebbero servite 3500 pagine per realizzarlo fedele al 100%.
Un buon lavoro, soprattutto nelle tavole dove i sogni e gli incubi di Anne prendono il sopravvento e la graphic novel diventa quasi come un'opera fantastica, onirica al limite del gotico/horror. Che poi, cosa c'è di più terrificante di una guerra e soprattutto, degli strascichi psicologici che questa potrebbe destare nell'animo di una persona nel pieno della giovinezza?
Per non dimenticare, mai!
March 26, 2018
9,5 de 10*
Li, há muitos anos, o Diário de Anne Frank. À semelhança de muitos leitores pelo mundo fora foi um livro que me marcou, ao ser contado pela voz de uma criança e, principalmente, pelo seu desfecho.
Neste novo livro sobre o tema, em formato de graphic novel, a história é recontada acompanhada de ilustrações fantásticas. Toda a angústia, solidão mas também a esperança estão tão bem representadas nestas ilustrações.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt...
Li, há muitos anos, o Diário de Anne Frank. À semelhança de muitos leitores pelo mundo fora foi um livro que me marcou, ao ser contado pela voz de uma criança e, principalmente, pelo seu desfecho.
Neste novo livro sobre o tema, em formato de graphic novel, a história é recontada acompanhada de ilustrações fantásticas. Toda a angústia, solidão mas também a esperança estão tão bem representadas nestas ilustrações.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt...
October 29, 2017
Para além de uma das minhas histórias favoritas este livro está muito bem conseguido cheio de ilustrações que nos fazem entrar no mundo de Anne Frank. Maravilhoso, esplêndido.
March 27, 2021
quelle magnifique adaptation!
January 24, 2020
Αριστούργημα
November 18, 2018
Reading the original diary of Anne Frank as a teen was a defining moment of my (childhood) reading life — not only did it bring alive the horrors of World War II, it articulated the universal frustrations of adolescence so well — the battles with Mom, the tentative genesis of an independent worldview, the feelings of isolation, the yearning to be understood, the continual struggle against the self.
This newly illustrated edition — by film maker Ari Folman and illustrator David Polonsky — provides a visual distillation of that experience, notable for its focus on moods and internal states. Accompanied by excerpts of Anne’s writings, we get a visual guide to the historical events leading up to the Franks’ confinement, a tour of the layout of the secret annex, observations and anecdotes on all seven co-inhabitants, and detailed depictions of the agony of life spent in hiding.
These accounts are interspersed with occasional two-page spreads of pure visual poetry, illuminating the emotional undercurrents of the narrative.
Most of all, the images and text thoughtfully recapture Anne’s voice — her energy, acerbic wit, acute observations, droll humour and astonishing self-awareness.
By necessity severely shortened, the book obviously does not capture the full character arc (from carefree teen to contemplative young woman), nor the full extent of hardships experienced. Thus, recommended as a supplement to — rather than replacement of — the original text.
Mood: Introspective, harrowing but also hopeful
Rating: 9/10
Also on Instagram.
February 28, 2018
Caro diario...
Chi non ha letto il diario di Anna Frank? Ben pochi immagino, visto che bene o male è uno di quei libri che a scuola i professori "affibbiano" ai ragazzi per primi, spesso senza nemmeno spiegarne bene il contenuto. Il risultato di questa lettura diciamo "affrettata" è che raramente se ne capisce a fondo il contenuto e i drammi che essa nasconde e su cui raramente si ritorna, per una sorte di rifiuto dovuto all'etichetta "lettura scolastica" mentalmente associata.
L'occasione per tornarci su per me è stata questa trasposizione del diario in forma di graphic novel realizzata su richiesta dell'associazione di Otto Frank, padre di Anne.
Riesce la graphic novel a trasmettere il senso del Diario in poche pagine? La trascrizione aggiunge qualcosa? La mia risposta è si.
Tramite schemi e spaccati della casa in cui si rifugiarono, immagini di situazioni chiave, annotazioni integrali del diario con immagini esplicative, un importante lavoro di sintesi, uno snellimento della narrazione, una forma più moderna e anche il tono generale usato, anche umoristico a tratti, gli autori riescono a rendere gli stati d'animo della casa e della ragazzina, che oscillavano tra speranza e sconforto, allegria e tristezza, obbedienza e indisciplina.
Avendo trovato anche alcuni riferimenti al sesso che non ricordavo (nell'originale in mio possesso non sono presenti probabilmente perché tagliati nelle prime stampe) mi sono documentato e ho capito che del diario esistono tre versioni. La prima è quella scritta di getto da Anne nel 1942. La seconda è la riscrittura fatta dalla stessa Anne degli scritti precedenti e che descrive anche i fatti fino al 1944. La terza e ultima è la rielaborazione fatta dal padre Otto combinando le due versioni precedenti.
Questa GN è ovviamente basata sulla terza.
In ogni caso, l'operazione di riscrittura a mio parere è ben riuscita e potrebbe servire anche a catturare molti ragazzi, rendendoli partecipi a livello emotivo della situazione storica.
Un plauso agli autori.
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