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bookwormbillie's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing play but left so many questions at the end because the play doesn’t describe what happens to them afterward which is the entire point of the play.
alecz's review against another edition
5.0
I was Peter, Mrs. Van Daan, and the narrator. I haven't finished reading the diary, but I don't remember most of the things that happened there in the play. So 4 1/2 stars rounded up
poopierobroby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
reaganomck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
charlotteriekse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
labtracks's review against another edition
4.0
Does anyone else feel weird saying you "really liked" books with horrific topics?
Anyhow, I cannot believe I have never read this before.
This young woman was an utter delight! So resilient, so dedicated, so bubbly and innocent, hopeful and smart. All that time writing and very little of it is about the atrocities happening all around them. I guess they were somewhat insulated only hearing stories of others intermittantly, but still, very little about their fear and so much about her hopes and dreams.
Makes you think... and mourn.
Anyhow, I cannot believe I have never read this before.
This young woman was an utter delight! So resilient, so dedicated, so bubbly and innocent, hopeful and smart. All that time writing and very little of it is about the atrocities happening all around them. I guess they were somewhat insulated only hearing stories of others intermittantly, but still, very little about their fear and so much about her hopes and dreams.
Makes you think... and mourn.
ehays84's review against another edition
5.0
I read this out loud with my 8th graders as part of their unit on the Holocaust. That is fitting because I read the original diary back when I was in 8th grade, and still have pretty clear memories of it. I think this was an excellent drama adaptation which really captured the spirit of Anne Frank and the kind of joy of humanity that shines through from her writing and story despite the terrible circumstances.
There are so many other WWII era stories like this one that I plan to read eventually, but probably the next I do read will be the hiding place. I suppose it would be foolish of me to never go and visit either of the two houses/museums for these two stories when my aunt and uncle and cousin live in the Netherlands. Someday. . .
There are so many other WWII era stories like this one that I plan to read eventually, but probably the next I do read will be the hiding place. I suppose it would be foolish of me to never go and visit either of the two houses/museums for these two stories when my aunt and uncle and cousin live in the Netherlands. Someday. . .
duffypratt's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Almost the entire force of this play comes from the foreknowledge that the characters are doomed. Anne will be captured. She will get sent to a concentration camp. And she will die there. Of course, all of that happens after the action of the play.
So what is the play itself about? Not much. The captives in the attic try as best they can to live their lives. We see them go about ordinary things, only again and again to be interrupted by some news of the outside world -- sometimes terrifying, sometimes hopeful. But for the audience, the news is almost always inconsequential, since we already know.
Thus, the meat of the play needs to be in the development and interrelationship between the characters. And I suppose that is OK, but not particularly good.
To be fair, the same criticism can be leveled at Frank's diary. But she wasn't writing the diary to create an impact on based on her ultimate capture. We may read it that way, but that wasn't what it was about. Rather, the diary puts a very human face on just one of the ways that people became victims during the Holocaust. In that respect, I think the diary and its effect are entirely different from this play.
So what is the play itself about? Not much. The captives in the attic try as best they can to live their lives. We see them go about ordinary things, only again and again to be interrupted by some news of the outside world -- sometimes terrifying, sometimes hopeful. But for the audience, the news is almost always inconsequential, since we already know.
Thus, the meat of the play needs to be in the development and interrelationship between the characters. And I suppose that is OK, but not particularly good.
To be fair, the same criticism can be leveled at Frank's diary. But she wasn't writing the diary to create an impact on based on her ultimate capture. We may read it that way, but that wasn't what it was about. Rather, the diary puts a very human face on just one of the ways that people became victims during the Holocaust. In that respect, I think the diary and its effect are entirely different from this play.
gracemessi's review against another edition
5.0
We read this in my English class, and it was all good until we had to act it and Anne and Peter (both portrayed by two of my female friends) had to "kiss". The whole class found that amusing because we skipped over it. I loved reading this, but I think the majority of the class missed the point. Such a shame. (They all joked about how Dussel was a spy and were HAPPY when the teacher talked about the death of Mr. Van Daan!)