When We Flew Away

Starred review from June 24, 2024
In collaboration with the Anne Frank House, Hoffman (The Invisible Hour, for adults) presents a thoroughly researched fictionalized account of Anne Frank’s life. Starting in 1940 and leading up to the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1942, the author chronicles the years during which Anne lived happily with her family in Amsterdam. Following the Nazi Party’s takeover of Germany and her family’s subsequent move to the Netherlands, Anne’s biggest concerns involve her mother’s “disapproving when Anne talked too much or acted as if she knew the answers to most questions” and her own insecurities surrounding her older sister’s seeming perfection. But Anne is buoyed by her beloved grandmother and her father’s
continual nurturing of her curiosity and creativity. Via lyrical and chatty third-person narration, Hoffman crafts a sympathetic three-dimensional rendering that showcases new facets of a figure whom readers may only know one side of. Depictions of historical events such as Germany’s defeat of the Netherlands heighten the novel’s tense atmosphere. Though the conclusion is inescapable, the moments of joy Anne and her family experience throughout serve to emphasize Anne’s belief that writing “could make people understand you.” Ages 8–12.

July 15, 2024
The story of Anne Frank and her family before the diary that would become an iconic work of the 20th century. Hoffman imagines the Frank family in Amsterdam--their conversations, feelings, and interactions--during the terrifying time that led up to their hiding and Anne's writing of her diary, which was published posthumously in 1947. Anchored in historically accurate details, this story portrays Anne as both hopeful and scared, clinging to her girlhood and normality even while her personhood was being systematically stripped away. Hoffman examines Anne's complex relationships with her mother and older sister, Margot, in heart-wrenching scenes that show them to be typical of many mothers and daughters. 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. Deeply moving and beautifully written. (afterword, further reading)(Historical fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from September 1, 2024

Gr 3-7-It's May 1940, and readers meet 10-year-old Anne Frank and her sister Margot on their walk home from school, while also learning about the rising Nazi influence in Germany that prompted the family to immigrate to Amsterdam when Anne was four. The Franks believed they would be safe in the neutral Netherlands and did not pursue other immigration opportunities while borders were still open to Jewish refugees. Despite neutrality, Nazis invaded the Netherlands, and Anne and her family's world began to change as Jews lost basic rights. Facts about the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands are presented straightforwardly and simply, and are jarring to read regardless of readers' familiarity with the Holocaust. Watching Anne and Margot try to navigate their changing world is painful, particularly for readers who are familiar with the Franks' tragic fate. Equally heartrending is the pain and guilt Anne's parents feel for not leaving Amsterdam when they had a chance. This ambitious and beautifully written fictionalized prequel of Anne's life before the Annex allows readers to see her from others' perspectives. Her spirit and optimism despite the horror around her ring as true in the novel as they do in her diary. Hoffman's extensive research and work with the Anne Frank Foundation help preserve the family's story and introduce Anne to a new generation. The book will appeal to strong middle grade readers who enjoy realistic and historical fiction and lends itself to classroom use. Most characters are based on real people; all are white, of European descent, and most are Jewish. VERDICT A story that needs to be remembered, this works equally well as an introduction to Anne Frank as it does as a fictional supplement to readers already familiar with her diary. Adult support of readers' questions and emotional responses to the book may be needed.-Juliet Morefield

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 Readers of Diary of a Young Girl may wonder about Anne Frank's life before she moved to the Annex; this fictional account of Anne's years prior to going into hiding offers some clues. Hoffman mostly confines herself to amplifying references found within the diary (Anne's complicated relationship with her mother, her desire to grow up and move to California, her jealousy that older sister Margot is "perfect") or explaining historical events, such as the 1940 German invasion of the Netherlands and the repercussions that followed for Jews. The result is a novel that is respectful and historically accurate but less than compelling for most middle-graders. Obscure metaphors (black moths--possibly representing Nazis--swarm Anne's window; various birds embody the longed-for ability to fly away), repeated reminders that Anne is her father's favorite, and persistent foreshadowing of Anne's death ("this would be her last gift from Omi") make for a sombre and somewhat slow-moving narrative. This may appeal to those with a special interest in Frank, but most will want to wait to read Anne's own words.

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