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thebookaddictedgirl's review against another edition
5.0
4¾ Out of 5 Stars
Everyone knows the story of Anne Frank, the girl forced into hiding during World War Two by the Nazis. But have you ever thought about what it was like for the others in the Annexe? Peter van Pels lived there, with the Franks and his parents. He hates it to begin with, hates everyone – Anne in particular. But then it all changes, and he falls in love with the girl who annoyed him most. How long can they stay hidden? And what happens to Peter afterwards, once they get found?
I remember reading Anne Frank’s diary as a little girl, whilst doing WW2 at school. The true horror was sort of lost on me then, but when I picked it up again recently, I saw everything. The death, the pain, the world. And I also saw her life, her spirit, her essence. Annexed made it all feel so much more real. It was an incredible book: sad, beautiful, and horrible, it shows that love grows in the unlikeliest places and that to many bad situations, there can be something worse. I just sped through it, devouring it. My mind is still spinning.
Written in a diary-like form of memories, with the currently dying Peter – lying in a concentration camp sick-bay – chipping in now and then, revealing what he now sees as obvious, cherished, stupid. The writing was amazing, real, so full of life and hope and despair – so raw.
Peter was a wonderful character: so strong and smart. He may not have said a lot out loud, but inside he told all that was important. What really got through to me was how scared he was to hope, how terrified he was of being disappointed. He was scared that he’d die, without doing any of the things he wanted to do. And all because he was Jewish. All Peter longed for was no labels, to be seen simply as Peter, not a German, not a Jew, just Peter.
It was really interesting seeing Anne from another point of view. She was just as full of life, hope and ideas. Often, she would get so enthusiastic or overwhelmed by one emotion or another that she would shake. Peter described her as being “lit up”, commenting that he was surprised that she didn’t “burn” due to her all-consuming “passion” for words.
All the other characters from Anne’s diary were precisely the same. Peter’s father was strong, brave and good-humoured. His mother was sweet and caring, always helping Peter out. Anne’s father, Mr Frank, is still one of my favourite historical people. Strong, quiet, kind-hearted, practical Mr Frank, so full of hope. Anne’s mother wasn’t in this book as much, but I still could understand why Anne wasn’t overly keen on her at times. As for Margot, Anne’s sister, she was just as quiet and sweet. She wanted to be a doctor – though I’m not sure if that is fact or not – and it’s so painful that she was unable to be. Margot Frank would have made a wonderful doctor…
What was truly special was Anne and Peter’s relationship. To begin with, Peter couldn’t stand her. Then, slowly, he fell in love with her passion. It was just intriguing to see what it was like to be the one being written about, how scared Peter was at saying something stupid that could be published for the world to see once – if – the war finished. Their talks were also brilliant. They were made more perfect once I saw how much they meant to Peter once they were over – once he’d lost Anne…
Part two was set in the concentration camp, part one about life in the Annexe. It was horrible. I cried. It all just felt so real, so terrible, like it was happening as I read. God, the things Peter went through… It was horrifying, devastating… I can’t imagine it happening to a flesh-and-blood human, to the real Peter. But, as Peter said in Annexed: “This is not a story. This is the truth. These things really happened.”
This was a wonderful story, so heart-breaking it was honestly untrue. I knew how the story ended, obviously, yet I still hoped, prayed that the story would miraculously change. I cried, because that was clearly such a stupid thing to wish for, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever wanted to change an ending as much as I did whilst reading this. This book will stay with me forever.
Historical-Fact Teaser – May Ruin Book If You Don’t Know… You Have Been Warned!
Peter van Pels died aged eighteen, after seven months in Auschwitz. “Are you listening?” You should be. We all should.
Everyone knows the story of Anne Frank, the girl forced into hiding during World War Two by the Nazis. But have you ever thought about what it was like for the others in the Annexe? Peter van Pels lived there, with the Franks and his parents. He hates it to begin with, hates everyone – Anne in particular. But then it all changes, and he falls in love with the girl who annoyed him most. How long can they stay hidden? And what happens to Peter afterwards, once they get found?
I remember reading Anne Frank’s diary as a little girl, whilst doing WW2 at school. The true horror was sort of lost on me then, but when I picked it up again recently, I saw everything. The death, the pain, the world. And I also saw her life, her spirit, her essence. Annexed made it all feel so much more real. It was an incredible book: sad, beautiful, and horrible, it shows that love grows in the unlikeliest places and that to many bad situations, there can be something worse. I just sped through it, devouring it. My mind is still spinning.
Written in a diary-like form of memories, with the currently dying Peter – lying in a concentration camp sick-bay – chipping in now and then, revealing what he now sees as obvious, cherished, stupid. The writing was amazing, real, so full of life and hope and despair – so raw.
Peter was a wonderful character: so strong and smart. He may not have said a lot out loud, but inside he told all that was important. What really got through to me was how scared he was to hope, how terrified he was of being disappointed. He was scared that he’d die, without doing any of the things he wanted to do. And all because he was Jewish. All Peter longed for was no labels, to be seen simply as Peter, not a German, not a Jew, just Peter.
It was really interesting seeing Anne from another point of view. She was just as full of life, hope and ideas. Often, she would get so enthusiastic or overwhelmed by one emotion or another that she would shake. Peter described her as being “lit up”, commenting that he was surprised that she didn’t “burn” due to her all-consuming “passion” for words.
All the other characters from Anne’s diary were precisely the same. Peter’s father was strong, brave and good-humoured. His mother was sweet and caring, always helping Peter out. Anne’s father, Mr Frank, is still one of my favourite historical people. Strong, quiet, kind-hearted, practical Mr Frank, so full of hope. Anne’s mother wasn’t in this book as much, but I still could understand why Anne wasn’t overly keen on her at times. As for Margot, Anne’s sister, she was just as quiet and sweet. She wanted to be a doctor – though I’m not sure if that is fact or not – and it’s so painful that she was unable to be. Margot Frank would have made a wonderful doctor…
What was truly special was Anne and Peter’s relationship. To begin with, Peter couldn’t stand her. Then, slowly, he fell in love with her passion. It was just intriguing to see what it was like to be the one being written about, how scared Peter was at saying something stupid that could be published for the world to see once – if – the war finished. Their talks were also brilliant. They were made more perfect once I saw how much they meant to Peter once they were over – once he’d lost Anne…
Part two was set in the concentration camp, part one about life in the Annexe. It was horrible. I cried. It all just felt so real, so terrible, like it was happening as I read. God, the things Peter went through… It was horrifying, devastating… I can’t imagine it happening to a flesh-and-blood human, to the real Peter. But, as Peter said in Annexed: “This is not a story. This is the truth. These things really happened.”
This was a wonderful story, so heart-breaking it was honestly untrue. I knew how the story ended, obviously, yet I still hoped, prayed that the story would miraculously change. I cried, because that was clearly such a stupid thing to wish for, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever wanted to change an ending as much as I did whilst reading this. This book will stay with me forever.
Historical-Fact Teaser – May Ruin Book If You Don’t Know… You Have Been Warned!
Peter van Pels died aged eighteen, after seven months in Auschwitz. “Are you listening?” You should be. We all should.
marcia_94's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 stars
Is it possible to love someone in the middle of a tragedy? Living in fear for over two years Peter and Anne were able to find solace in each other and created a bond that helped them forget their situation for a while. Very well written and deeply respectful of the real people Sharon Hogar wrote a moving account of Peter van Pel's life during the war. Prepare the tissues.
Is it possible to love someone in the middle of a tragedy? Living in fear for over two years Peter and Anne were able to find solace in each other and created a bond that helped them forget their situation for a while. Very well written and deeply respectful of the real people Sharon Hogar wrote a moving account of Peter van Pel's life during the war. Prepare the tissues.
theresidentbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Having read the Diary of Anne Frank many times, I was a little skeptical when I found this. Living in the Annex from Peter's point of view? I had never really thought about Peter as anyone other than Anne's crush. When you're reading Anne's diary, she's usually the one who grabs your attention.
That being said, I fell in love with Annexed and if possible, even more with Anne Frank. That was my biggest fear picking this up was that I would see Anne differently. I was afraid of seeing her as an annoying teenage girl, which is probably how Peter and others in the Annex saw her sometimes. I was thoroughly surprised. This manages to keep all the magic of Anne's diary while embellishing her story just a bit more. I loved how Peter saw her: bossy, confident, innocent, fragile, hopeful, determined... I also enjoyed seeing into Peter's head. He's a bit of an enigma in the diary, and I liked seeing what he was thinking. And while some would say some of the romance between Anne and Peter was too much, I enjoyed it because that's how I always secretly pictured it, especially after watching The Diary of Anne Frank movie last year in my Lit class. All of the girls, me included, kept shouting for Peter and Anne to kiss. The boys got very annoyed with us. Anyway... I also enjoyed seeing a new side of the van Pels. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pels come off as a bitter bickering couple in the diary, but I feel like Anne's portrayal of them might've been unfair. No one can know what one person is truly like. It was nice to see the Van Pels in a more flattering light.
The most interesting thing about the plot in this was the intertwining of Peter's time in Auschwitz with his time in the Annex and when they were betrayed. There was a poetic element sprinkled throughout, and it didn't slow down the storyline like poetry usually does. In fact, it usually enhanced the point Peter was trying to make. Each chapter had a title explaining what it was about, which was helpful at times.
Overall, I loved this book and would seriously recommend it to everyone who's read the Diary of Anne Frank. In fact, if you're just reading it know, buy this for when you're done. Oh, and go watch the movie! It' so good...
That being said, I fell in love with Annexed and if possible, even more with Anne Frank. That was my biggest fear picking this up was that I would see Anne differently. I was afraid of seeing her as an annoying teenage girl, which is probably how Peter and others in the Annex saw her sometimes. I was thoroughly surprised. This manages to keep all the magic of Anne's diary while embellishing her story just a bit more. I loved how Peter saw her: bossy, confident, innocent, fragile, hopeful, determined... I also enjoyed seeing into Peter's head. He's a bit of an enigma in the diary, and I liked seeing what he was thinking. And while some would say some of the romance between Anne and Peter was too much, I enjoyed it because that's how I always secretly pictured it, especially after watching The Diary of Anne Frank movie last year in my Lit class. All of the girls, me included, kept shouting for Peter and Anne to kiss. The boys got very annoyed with us. Anyway... I also enjoyed seeing a new side of the van Pels. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pels come off as a bitter bickering couple in the diary, but I feel like Anne's portrayal of them might've been unfair. No one can know what one person is truly like. It was nice to see the Van Pels in a more flattering light.
The most interesting thing about the plot in this was the intertwining of Peter's time in Auschwitz with his time in the Annex and when they were betrayed. There was a poetic element sprinkled throughout, and it didn't slow down the storyline like poetry usually does. In fact, it usually enhanced the point Peter was trying to make. Each chapter had a title explaining what it was about, which was helpful at times.
Overall, I loved this book and would seriously recommend it to everyone who's read the Diary of Anne Frank. In fact, if you're just reading it know, buy this for when you're done. Oh, and go watch the movie! It' so good...
mycouscous's review against another edition
2.0
Dogar does disservice to Anne Frank and the other occupants of the annex they shared during WWII. She attempts to fill in Anne's story by telling it all from Peter's point of view, but ultimately depicts him (and Anne) as an unlikeable and nearly unsympathetic character. His narration is repetitive, full of yearning and lacking in historical detail. At one point, he and Anne even have the following conversation (p. 231):
"Yes, it's on a page where it looks like the truth -- even if it isn't."
"Is that how it feels?" she asks.
"It feels like being stolen."
Dogar has committed the crime that her Peter is most afraid of: she takes a person from history and fills it in with what will look to a lot of people like truth -- even if it isn't.
The narrative becomes stronger after the annex residents are betrayed and taken away. Peter's voice becomes more compelling as he struggles to survive and make sense of what is happening to him. His emotional turmoil as he examines his guilt and shame is heartbreaking. If only the rest of the novel could have attained this depth, I could have appreciated it more.
"Yes, it's on a page where it looks like the truth -- even if it isn't."
"Is that how it feels?" she asks.
"It feels like being stolen."
Dogar has committed the crime that her Peter is most afraid of: she takes a person from history and fills it in with what will look to a lot of people like truth -- even if it isn't.
The narrative becomes stronger after the annex residents are betrayed and taken away. Peter's voice becomes more compelling as he struggles to survive and make sense of what is happening to him. His emotional turmoil as he examines his guilt and shame is heartbreaking. If only the rest of the novel could have attained this depth, I could have appreciated it more.
missjenny's review against another edition
4.0
Writing a piece of fiction that pivots off The Diary of Anne Frank is not something I'd ever have the courage to even consider attempting. But this was well done and made me want to go back and read Anne Frank's diary again.
fullybookedlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Remember The Diary of Anne Frank? This is the fictionalized account of Peter's time in the Annex. A heartbreaking tale of a young man's struggle to survive at the hands of oppression. Even though we all know how it ends, this was a riveting read.
lauredhel's review against another edition
1.0
Maybe this book comes across better in text? I listened to the audiobook, and large swathes of it verged on excruciating. The Peter actor chews the scenery all the way through.
The impact and authenticity of a good Holocaust novel or memoir, such as Anne Frank's diary, comes from the ordinariness of people's lives in extraordinary, unthinkable surroundings - making friends, falling in love, recording recipes, and making bad jokes as well as contemplating the severity of their situation and the evil of the Nazi regime. Anne speaks of her life in such candid terms, and we feel her changing moods which include joy and fun as well as fear and dread and sadness. In this book, Peter theatrically and relentlessly agonises and laments his way through years of narrative, one hand clutched to his heart and the other to the heavens.
Perhaps adopting the spare, factual narrative of most real memoirs may have lent a more genuine feel to this book? Instead, the excessively flowery language and melodrama throughout the novel leaves us fully aware that this is fiction and ultimately robs the novel of any potential for suspension of disbelief or deep emotional effect. This undermining seems much more of a sin in this genre than in others.
Were there good things about this novel? Absolutely! I liked the voicing of the non-Peter characters, often very much. Anne and Otto Frank were the stand-out performers. The detailed chronicling of how concentration camps demoralised and dehumanised the victims was both competent and touching. And some of the lyrical language would have been powerfully evocative in a different context, used sparingly.
But ultimately, this felt more like pandering miseryfic than like the forceful, haunting novel I was expecting. If you're going to pick it up, I recommend the text version (if it's accessible to you).
The impact and authenticity of a good Holocaust novel or memoir, such as Anne Frank's diary, comes from the ordinariness of people's lives in extraordinary, unthinkable surroundings - making friends, falling in love, recording recipes, and making bad jokes as well as contemplating the severity of their situation and the evil of the Nazi regime. Anne speaks of her life in such candid terms, and we feel her changing moods which include joy and fun as well as fear and dread and sadness. In this book, Peter theatrically and relentlessly agonises and laments his way through years of narrative, one hand clutched to his heart and the other to the heavens.
Perhaps adopting the spare, factual narrative of most real memoirs may have lent a more genuine feel to this book? Instead, the excessively flowery language and melodrama throughout the novel leaves us fully aware that this is fiction and ultimately robs the novel of any potential for suspension of disbelief or deep emotional effect. This undermining seems much more of a sin in this genre than in others.
Were there good things about this novel? Absolutely! I liked the voicing of the non-Peter characters, often very much. Anne and Otto Frank were the stand-out performers. The detailed chronicling of how concentration camps demoralised and dehumanised the victims was both competent and touching. And some of the lyrical language would have been powerfully evocative in a different context, used sparingly.
But ultimately, this felt more like pandering miseryfic than like the forceful, haunting novel I was expecting. If you're going to pick it up, I recommend the text version (if it's accessible to you).
mgraves89's review against another edition
3.0
Sixteen year old Peter van Pels dreams of falling in love. But when he and his family are forced into hiding during the Holocaust, Peter wonders if his daydreams will ever become reality. Peter is at a loss to understand the seven people he is suddenly sharing a tiny attic space with, especially the imaginative chatterbox Anne Frank. As the dynamics within the annex ebb and flow, Peter and Anne's relationship grows and changes. Although he was once sure that Anne was nothing more than a self-centered know-it-all, Peter gradually comes to respect, admire, and even love the young girl's ufailing optimism and sense of hope. In a time of utter despair, Anne's steadfast belief in the promise of the future provides Peter with the courage to go on.
Sharon Dogar's first-person narrative is engaging and original, while still maintaining a strong sense of respect for Anne Frank and the diary that generations have come to cherish. Dogar's incarnation of Peter van Pels provides readers with an interesting look into the soul of the boy who loved Anne Frank. The author's representation of Anne is multi-dimensional, while remaining true to the girl that millions of readers have embraced. Annexed is a lovely work that casts new light on a group of people whose story is at once tragic and inspiring.
Sharon Dogar's first-person narrative is engaging and original, while still maintaining a strong sense of respect for Anne Frank and the diary that generations have come to cherish. Dogar's incarnation of Peter van Pels provides readers with an interesting look into the soul of the boy who loved Anne Frank. The author's representation of Anne is multi-dimensional, while remaining true to the girl that millions of readers have embraced. Annexed is a lovely work that casts new light on a group of people whose story is at once tragic and inspiring.
thatreadhead's review
4.0
I liked this account from Peter's perspective of their time in the Annex! It was really eye-opening, and probably true: those hours of boringness, yet those seconds of complete terror that make you long for the boringness once more. I like how Peter even still loved Leise, right through it all, and that he couldn't forget her. I kind of feel like he didn't regret what he didn't do enough, but what could he have done? I can't even begin to imagine the hardship and struggle the Jews went through in the concentration camps. I am so glad that Otto survived and that we now have Anne Frank's Diary to read about what it was like. I pray to God that it never happens again. The world would not allow it, we could not survive it.