Abby's 8th grade class has been learning about the Holocaust for the past few weeks. Abby has been completely consumed with the subject matter. In fact, when she came home from school a few days ago, she sat down beside me on the sofa and shared with me everything she'd learned...some of which I didn't even know or remember. She, for some reason, has really identified with Anne Frank (pictured below). Maybe it's because Anne was close to Abby's age when she and her family went into hiding from the Nazi's. She's been so taken with it all that she asked me to order her the book "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl". Since it arrived in the mail, Abby hasn't been able to put it down! She reads page, after page, after page! She hardly takes a breather long enough to eat dinner. Oh, I'm not complaining one bit...I think it's great! Abby has always had such a caring heart for others who are suffering and it's been so difficult for her to grasp how horrific things can happen like they did in the Holocaust.
She found a very interesting website that takes you on a virtual tour of Anne Frank's hiding place, the Secret Annex. Just click here and it will take you right to it. I think it's a part of history that should never be forgotten.Have a wonderful weekend, everyone...see you back here, again, real soon!
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15 comments:
As a former teacher, I think it's wonderful that your daughter is so interested in what she's learning. That thirst for knowledge will help her to be successful! I just stopped by from SITS to say hello. I hope you find time to do the same.
The Anne Frank Museum is one that I want to visit in the Netherlands before I move back to India!! I can see why your daughter is obsessed with the Holocaust. So, is my son(10 yrs). We visited one of the concentration camps here in Germany, almost a year ago and it is heart wrenching to see it. I intend to do a post on that visit shortly. The best part is that the germans here refuse to speak about Adolf Hitler. I think the guilt is too much for them to bear.
It's amazing what our children can teach us!
XO,
Jane
My oldest (who is 9) has been completely intrigued by Anne Frank's story too. Her teacher has been reading a book about Anne Frank to the class during snack time and Sidney has just been captivated. She comes home with something new every day. I remember watching a movie about her life when I was in school. I just don't think it was in 4th grade.
Love the picture of Abby...that's how I get when I am really enjoying a book. I keep praying that my kids will love reading as much as I do.
That is wonderful, April... I remember being fascinated by the Diary of Anne Frank when I was a teenager.
I remember being so fascinated by this back when I learned about it years ago. I think they study it even more in-depth now, because my niece and daughter have told me things that I don't remember learning.
Hi April
Jessica and Abby are so alike. Jessica was enthralled by Anne Frank's story too. There was a tv series made here a couple of years ago that was very moving and made it even more real. Jessica wants to go to Anne Frank's house in Holland one day. Has Abby read 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas'? If not I think she would find it interesting too.
Lindsay
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That book was not only a huge part of my own childhood, but accounts for my family history, as well. My father was 4 when the fall occurred and he left Germany with my grandparents and his older sister, on the last free boat before the fall of Germany to Hitler.
Unfortunately, they left all their wealth and my great grandmother who died in a French Concentration Camp.
My grandfather had been a German Olympic Rugby Player.
When my grandmother died, the rabbi told my father that he would be happy to perform the service but during the genaological research it was found that my grandmother had been adopted by a Jewish family and was NOT technically Jewish as she was born an Italian Catholic...therefore my father and his sister could never be truly Jewish.
They didn't have a Jewish mother.
I went to two camps in the early 90's when we lived in Germany. The sadness still lingers in the air, and it's something you never forget. That humankind can sink so low is something that is nearly impossible to wrap your mind around.
Have you taken her to the Holocaust museum in D.C.? I loved this book and Corrie Ten Booms story. It is so hard for me to imagine that somewhere in our history of a great and mighty nation....this happened....and to so many. My best friends mom was in Auschwitz as a small child...and survived because she could sew. Her family....was not so lucky.
This was one of my favorite books as a child. Anne Franke was an amazing girl and writer - Abby will learn so much! Thanks for sharing that link too!
I remember being a young girl and getting so enthralled in this book too. I read it every year know with the 8th graders. It still makes me cry every time!
When my daughter, Meg, went to Amsterdam this past December, she visited the museum.
Abby may want to read my book, Being Frank with Anne, a poetic interpretation of the diary. The poems are headed by the chronological date of the diary entry that inspired it. I also have a CD of the abridged version of the book. It was reviewed by Buddy Elias, Anne's cousin and I even had a copy signed by Miep Gies last year before she died. See more about it at www.beingfrankwithanne.com It's posted at the New York Anne Frank Center website bookstore under commentary. Write me at pjwriter7@aol.com
Phyllis Johnson
When I was a kid, I read Diary of Anne Frank on my own (wasn't assigned), and I didn't know anything about it. When I reached the end and read the epilogue about what happened to Anne and her family, I was traumatized. I bawled. It was my first introduction to the Holocaust.
I still own a copy of that book! Loved it as a kid and still do. I have always been interested in the Holocaust. It's one of those things that's so hard to believe. Reminds you of true inhumanity. I would love to visit several of the concentration camps.
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