Page 51 - 2021 English Magazine - Final

Behold felt was anguish? Or perhaps, a book that penetrated the core of your soul and The
Have you ever read a book that gripped your heart so tautly that all you

the moved you to uncontrollable tears? I have, and proudly so. Young

Unlike the typical novel, The Diary of a Young Girl is more of a historical
artefact. It was the diary of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who was forced into hid-
Great ing amid the horrifying calamities of the Holocaust genocide during World War Elites by

II. In her diary, she narrated the adversities she and her family faced through-
Anne out their two-year long refuge, the emotional and physical changes she expe- Marie Lu

rienced during that tumultuous time, as well as the woes and dreams she held
Frank dear to her heart. This trilogy follows darkness, but a story
As I delved deeper into the diary, I began to think of Anne Frank as a

about how a young
friend. In her diary, she meticulously described the various thoughts that fleet- the story of Adelina girl with bolt light and
Amouteru, a girl with
ed throughout her mind—her opinions about those surrounding her and her magical powers who darkness in her turned
perspectives regarding the war-ridden world.
to the latter, after she
A Review by Through her writing, I could envision the tenacious personality that Anne lives in a society where was cast out again and again by
magic-wielders are shunned
Goh Li Lian Frank carried as a young girl—a girl who struggled to discover her worth but and seen as stains on humanity. people she once believed were

eventually found maturity during the endless turmoil of her lifetime. I could Her story begins after she is charged good.
understand her thoughts—she was a rebel in her own rights.
with murder and is set to be executed,
The diary shone a bright light on the irrefutable capability of young minds, proving that they are equally when a member of a secret society It is, to me, a cautionary tale about
independent and they deserve to have a voice amidst the catastrophic state of the world. It justified the dreams called The Young Elites rescues her how power can ruin someone and
of a young girl named Anne Frank who hoped ardently to become a prominent writer on the world stage, but and prepares her to be wielded as a turn them into a monster, lashing out

was heartlessly stripped of the golden opportunity because she was Jewish. No voice should be silenced by the deadly weapon. at the people who love them most. It
discriminatory public. Minorities do not deserve to be shunned to the miserable margins of society solely for is a tale of loyalty, revenge and mercy,
the religion they choose to believe in and the “impurity” of their race. “I will find you all. I but most of all, it’s a story about love,
In The Diary of a Young Girl, you shall immerse in the enchanting and unforgotten thoughts of Anne will use everything in forgiveness and moving on. It is, at its
Frank. You will wallow in the distressing fear of ruthless murder and rampant bombings, you will experience core, a coming-of-age story, that shows
devastating changes of growing up that leave you emotionally drained, you will feel the trepidation of a million my power to save your how Adelina grows and faces her de-
minds as the Jewish people tremble from the cruel clutches of Nazi soldiers, but you will appreciate the luxury souls. I was born to mons, within and without. So, if you

of living in the 21 st century, where such atrocities are yet scarce to be seen. destroy you.” like young adult or fantasy genres, I’m
Here’s one of my favorite quotes by Anne Frank: “I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will pretty sure you’ll like this. Enjoy!
destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything ― Marie Lu, The Young Elites
will change for the better.”
The evolution of the story changes
Unfortunately, on the morning of 4 August 1944, Anne and her family were discovered and immediately dramatically from there, exploring the
arrested by Nazi soldiers at their Secret Annexe. The family was forcefully separated and distributed to different fragility of goodness and the tragedy of

Jewish concentration camps, never seeing each other again. Anne never survived.
greed, as well as the truth in the saying
May her spirit live on in the essence of an unforgotten diary.
“you either die a hero, or you live long
enough to see yourself become the Reviewed by
villain”. It is not a love story, nor a sto- Natalie Chan
ry about a hero saving the world from

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