Annexed by Sharon Dogar

Annexed by Sharon Dogar takes place during the final two years of WWII, while the Nazis are getting rid of the Jews in Holland. Anne Frank and her family are in hiding in the annex of an office building when Peter Van Pels and his family arrive to take refuge there. This is a fictionalized story of what it may have been like for Peter who at first detests Anne and then finds himself falling in love with her. He is fascinated with her mind, her energy, and her never ending hope and trust in mankind's goodness. Part I of the novel comes mostly from factual information taken from The Diary of Anne Frank, and this part of the novel is somewhat slow, building toward the climax of the eventual discovery of the families hiding in the Annex. The build up shows Peter's growing love for Anne, and his growing confusion about his own courage and identity. As Part II opens, the families have been discovered and taken by train to the death camps. The author describes what it was like in the death camps, using information gathered from actual accounts. An innovative portrayal from the point of view of a lesser-known character from the well-known Diary of Anne Frank. This is a disturbing portrayal of one of the most horrific times in history, and should be read by anyone who is interested in the Holocaust or the Anne Frank story.

Reviewed by Mrs. B.