Anne Frank

My name is Anne Frank, and I want to tell you my story. Before my life changed, I was just a regular girl. I was born in Germany, but when I was little, my family moved to a beautiful city called Amsterdam in the Netherlands. My family was my whole world. There was my wise and gentle Papa, Otto; my loving Mama, Edith; and my smart older sister, Margot. I loved my life there. School was full of chatter and laughter with my friends, and I especially loved to read and write stories. For my 13th birthday on June 12th, 1942, I received the most wonderful present: a diary. It was a beautiful book with a red-and-white checkered cover and a little lock. I decided to name it Kitty. From that day on, Kitty wasn't just a book; it was my best friend. I promised to tell Kitty everything, all my secret thoughts, my dreams, and my fears. I had no idea just how important my dear Kitty would become, or that it would have to listen to a story I never imagined I would live.

Just a few weeks after my birthday, our lives turned upside down. On July 6th, 1942, my family had to disappear. The world outside had become a dangerous place for Jewish people like us. New rules meant we couldn't go to parks, ride bicycles, or even own a business. We had to go into hiding to stay safe. My Papa had prepared a secret place for us. It was hidden behind a swinging bookcase in the building where he used to work. We called it the 'Secret Annex.' It was a small, quiet world tucked away from the busy streets of Amsterdam. Soon, we were joined by another family, the van Pels—Mr. and Mrs. van Pels and their son, Peter. Later, a dentist named Mr. Pfeffer also came to live with us. Eight people living in a few small rooms was not easy. The most important rule was that we had to be completely silent during the day while workers were in the building below. We whispered and tiptoed everywhere. We couldn't run water or flush the toilet. At night, we could finally relax a little, listen to the radio, and talk. We had lessons, read books, and I spent hours writing in my diary. Living so close together meant we sometimes got on each other’s nerves, but we also shared small moments of joy, like celebrating holidays or getting a special treat from the brave friends who brought us food.

Even while we were hidden away, I never stopped dreaming about the future. I imagined what life would be like after the war was over. Most of all, I dreamed of becoming a famous writer or journalist. I wanted my voice to be heard around the world. I even started to rewrite my diary, hoping that one day it could be published as a book. I wanted people to know what it was like for us. But my dream didn't happen the way I planned. On August 4th, 1944, after more than two years in hiding, our secret was discovered. Soldiers came and took all of us away. It was a sad and frightening time, and our journey from the Annex was a difficult one. In the end, of the eight people who hid in the Secret Annex, only my dear Papa survived the war. When he returned to Amsterdam, our kind helpers gave him my diary, which they had saved. He read my words, my hopes, and my belief that, despite everything, people are truly good at heart. To honor my memory and fulfill my greatest wish, he had my diary published. Looking back, I see that even though my life was short, my voice wasn't lost. My friend, Kitty, shared my story with the world, just as I had always dreamed.