Review of "Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography," by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon

Review of

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography, by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon ISBN 9780809026852

Five out of five stars

 Although some may consider this a glorified comic book, it in fact is a history book with a lot of pictures. The story of Anne Frank is one that should be told and retold in as many ways as possible and to every generation.

 For it is a story of talent and abilities chewed up and destroyed by the forces of evil manifested by the policy of a modern nation state. Germany under the Nazi rule was determined to carry out the final solution to the Jewish “problem” in Europe by exterminating them.

 The Frank family was originally from Germany, but they moved to the Netherlands when the persecution against the Jews began. When Germany invaded the Netherlands, their persecution of the Dutch Jews was originally rather light. However, in a very efficient manner, the Germans slowly implemented their policy of persecution until it reached the point where it was a life and death matter.

 The Frank family went into hiding along with some others. Their location was a loft above the business that Otto Frank was a part of. Trusted employees kept their secret, providing them with food and other supplies. It was a tough existence, there was tension between the people, not all of which was due to the stress of possible discovery.

 Ironically, when the Germans discovered the Frank family, they ignored Anne’s diary and other writings, considering them insignificant. Yet, as has been demonstrated, her diary is one of the most powerful documents to have emerged from World War II. This book is the story of the Frank family and their experiences, not the contents of her diary. Their experiences were those of millions of people, most of their stories died with them, making that of the Frank family even more important. For it must serve as the historical representative of many others. This book is a valuable testament to the many tragedies of families and promise destroyed.