Annexed

Part of humanity is sharing experiences.  Although two people may inhabit the same space, view the same scenery and partake in the same activities, their ultimate experiences will differ.  How we each perceive a situation is based on many factors.  Reading Anne Frank's diary gives us a snap shot of how she experienced her time in the "secret annexe", but is that a true version of reality or is it her interpretation of reality.

Sharon Dogar's imaginative, although based on as much historical fact as possible, novel Annexed allows us to see Anne Frank's world through Peter Van Pels's eyes.  The ability to look at Anne through another person's lens, made her seem all the more alive.  In Anne's version of her captivity, she is the only round character; everyone else is flat.  However, Peter's story creates a round version of not only his character, but also the others:  Margot, Mr. and Mrs. Frank, his parents and the dentist.

Dogar's interpretation of Peter's final journey was spot on.  The amount of research done to write of his time in Auschwitz and eventually, Mauthausen was evident.  The knowledge that, like Anne, he died weeks before liberation is heartbreaking.

I highly recommend this novel.  Annexed would be a remarkable pairing with The Diary of a Young Girl to illustrate point of view to middle school and high school students.  However, this is a book for mature readers as there is reference to sexual situations.

See my review of The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank for another take on Peter Van Pels.