Two WWII Reviews: Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation & The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

 

I'm waaay behind on reviews, so I decided to review these two WWII books together and put my reviews for them in one post.

Both books that definitely distressing. 

Let's dive right in!

Title: Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation

Author: Anne Frank, Ari Folman, David Polonsky

Pages: 149

Goodreads

Anne Frank was such an imaginative and wise girl, full of life, dreams and feelings. She was a girl with an opinion and knew what she wanted. She was critical to everybody, but also to herself. In her diary she speaks so open and full of emotions. She can muse over several things that I was not thinking of when I was 14. She sees the injustice in the world. She sees the difference between men and women. She thinks about real love, war and peace, her future and how she can make a difference in the world. I really feel like she definitely made a huge impact on the world. She touched many hearts, mine included.

It is hard for me to imagine how life in Het Achterhuis would have been. I've visited it and it left such a huge impression on me... I can't imagine that people do the things to each other like they did in WWII. And even while I'm typing this, people are still doing horrible things to each other and to minorities. Where is the compassion? When will we learn?

The illustrations in this book really give life to the story. I will admit that I've tried to read the diary 2 or 3 times; years ago. I thought it was hard to get through, but this adaptation with illustrations made me love this book.

Title: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Author: John Boyne

Pages: 240

Goodreads

What I noticed, and loved, right away were the chapter names. You don't see that very often anymore. Usually it's just chapter numbers, so I definitely appreciated that!

In this book you see the war through the eyes of a very innocent child. The questions Bruno asks or the things he makes up for himself show you that he has no clue what is going on in the world.

The ending was obviously very shocking. I remember seeing the movie and I couldn't even believe it. In some way, stories about WWII unleash something in me. I always get these feelings of disbelief, incomprehension and sadness. The same as in the Anne Frank book; I kept asking myself: "When do we stop hurting each other?"

I did feel like the final chapter was a bit emotionless for me. I remember that the movie destroyed me. Of course I don't want to compare the movie and the book, but I will do it anyway. And in my opinion the ending was done better in the movie.

Have you read these books, or maybe 1 of them?