When we flew away by Alice Hoffman

Bookseller blurb: Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl has captivated and inspired readers for decades. Published posthumously by her bereaved father, Anne's journal, written while she and her family were in hiding during World War II, has become one of the central texts of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust, as well as a work of literary genius. With the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the Frank family's life is turned inside out, blow by blow, restriction by restriction. Prejudice, loss, and terror run rampant, and Anne is forced to bear witness as ordinary people become monsters, and children and families are caught up in the inescapable tide of violence. In the midst of impossible danger, Anne, audacious and creative and fearless, discovers who she truly is. With a wisdom far beyond her years, she will become a writer who will go on to change the world as we know it. 

I have a few dilemmas about recommending this book. Yes, it is an engrossing read although at times it felt a little repetitive. But who should read this book? I think you do need to be familiar and even better to have recently read The Diary of Anne Frank. But then do fans of The Diary of Anne Frank want a book like this which, even though it has been researched, it is a work of imagination - imagining the Frank family and especially Anne in the years before the family went into hiding. I think one of my conclusions is this book should only be read after you have met Anne Frank through her diary and if you are curious about life in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation and of course you want to know a little more about the Frank family - their life and in the case of Anne her deepest thoughts.

Historical information woven into the narrative serves as time stamps as the Franks move ever closer to their life in hiding. This context is helpful for readers and offers a startling reminder of the terror that took over Europe during World War II. Ultimately, Hoffman portrays Anne and Margot as the children they truly were, gripped with fear and telling each other stories for comfort but still eager to go for bike rides, celebrate birthdays, and try to live their lives fully. This novel serves as an insightful companion for Frank’s own diary or as a stand-alone entry into a terrifying and unforgivable time in history. Kirkus

There is a QR code on this Scholastic flyer which takes you to the first chapter. Listen to an audio sample. Here are a set of questions to use with a book group. Read more plot details here. When we flew away is published in cooperation with The Anne Frank House. You can see more Adult andYA books by Alice Hoffman here. I previously read and enjoyed Night Bird. 

Use my label Anne Frank to discover other books I have shared about Anne Frank. Companion book:

(Sorry, this is now out of print)

Here is the Kirkus review