A beautiful, hopeful, heartbreaking account. 

It’s much more than the traumatising history I expected. In some ways it’s a charming coming-of-age story. Hearing the very real trials and tribulations of a ‘normal’ 13-year-old - stuck in a room with a bunch of ’stupid’ adults - can, at times, be very funny and charming.

But it has a menacing countdown throughout, and the final pages were always going to have me in tears.

But it’s as inspiring as it is depressing. Faced by the worst events imaginable, Anne is so wise and forgiving. She writes beautifully about life and love and humanity and hunger and purpose and society and family and friendships. And the Dutch people who support those in the Annexe are a source of great hope for the future.

I hope we’ve learned from this period of history.