Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed the story of Anne and her sister as they grew up before the Germans occupied the Netherlands. Fans of Anne Frank's Diary will love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC.
This is the story of Anne Frank and her family as things gradually grew more dangerous for Jewish people in Holland during WWII. Hoffman has done extensive research to create a story of what life must have been like for the Franks as the Nazi regime made life difficult for Jews: segregation, new laws, discrimination etc. The story captures the last couple of years before the Franks went into hiding, and imagines the sort of conversations Anne, Margot, and her parents might have had, and the frustration they must have felt, as Otto tried to get them out of the country before the Nazis took over.

The average reader who doesn't have much background on Anne Frank might become bored with the story, but for those who read the diary or the play as my students do in 8th grade ELA classes, will enjoy this story of Anne and her life in Holland prior to the family going into hiding. The story also has snippets of the diary sprinkled throughout to provide context.
I will purchase for my school.

I liked this look at Anne Frank before the diary. I did think some of it was a little far fetched from Hoffman's imagination. But I still liked the idea of looking at Anne before more hardship had happened to her.
We know Anne was a dreamer. And I liked looking at this idea of her life in the Netherlands.
A lovely story for middle graders to read and then go on to read the diary.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Alice Hoffman and, like most people, I also deeply admire Anne Frank. And, indeed, I would say that I enjoyed this book overall, which deals with Anne Frank's life before the annex as fictionalized by Hoffman. I did, however, have a few issues. I think that Hoffman's love of fairy tales and mysticism brings unwelcome elements into the plot, like Anne's persistent viewing of moths. It felt heavy handed and inauthentic. I felt similarly about the made-up jewelry gift portion of the plot. There are also parts that I question a bit--particularly the incredibly close bond between Anne and Margot that I don't think existed in the pre-annex years. That said, I appreciated the depth of the research (done in conjunction with Anne Frank House) and I think this is a good introduction for the pre-teen crowd, as long as they go on to read the actual diary later.

When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman is a poignant and richly detailed novel that explores Anne Frank's life before she began her famous diary. Hoffman vividly depicts the Frank family's move to Amsterdam and the subsequent hardships under Nazi occupation, focusing on Anne's audacious spirit and her relationship with her sister Margot. This novel offers a fresh perspective, making Anne's experiences relatable to younger readers while honoring the historical context. Through meticulous research and empathetic storytelling, Hoffman adds depth to Anne's legacy, evoking a wide range of emotions and reinforcing her enduring message of hope. Aimed at middle-grade readers but resonating with all ages, it is a powerful complement to The Diary of Anne Frank.

✨ book review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Scholastic, and Alice Hoffman for the ARC of When We Flew Away! Its publishing date is September 17, 2024!

While I’m not a typical YA literature reader, I am an avid reader of Hoffman’s books and am fascinated by Anne Frank’s story as well as those of other Holocaust victims and survivors. As an English teacher, particularly one who has taught The Diary of Anne Frank, I was drawn to this novel that might give a look at what Anne’s life would have been like before the diary.

While fictional, this book does do something important. It gives Anne a life that kids can relate to and picture—getting in trouble at school or home for talking too much, experiencing your first crush, having worries and daydreams. It’s so important to understand that Anne, as well as all 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust, had a whole life, a normal one, that was stolen from her. This shows how normalcy slipped away and how evil was able to take control over whole countries and destroy entire populations of innocent people.

Hoffman’s piece is thought provoking and devastating. It is written to root for Anne even though her story has a known devastating ending. The relationships, experiences, and feelings seem so realistic and true to the time and tribulations anyone in Anne’s position may experience. It creates a sad mood for the reader and creates the emotions that should be felt while reading this story—empathy, anger, hope. It reinforces main ideas that Anne expressed, like always believing in the good in the world.

Extremely well written and emotionally captivating, Hoffman’s novel tells a story that supports The Diary of Anne Frank and may open more eyes to the importance of her story!

Interesting historical fiction look at Anne Frank's life before the attic. This book gave a lot more context for her life in the Netherlands both before and after the Nazi invasion, and I feel like the author caught Anne's spirit while also giving the reader possible reasons for the distance between Anne and her mother as related in Anne's diary. Well-written and poetic.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank for the first time a couple of months ago. That book is such a beautifully tragic piece of literature. I am grateful I read it before When We Flew Away because it helped me truly FEEL the story Alice Hoffman created for Anne. This fictional life “before” the Frank’s went into hiding was touching, devastating, hopeful, and it felt so accurate. I have been deeply affected by Anne’s diary and now this beautiful story from Hoffman. I know this book is considered Middle Grade, but everyone should read it.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Publishing for the eARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. Any opinions expressed here are my own.
We all grew up reading Anne Frank’s diary in school, and some of us have been to the Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam once, or twice. To me, Anne is a figure I can’t get out of my mind. She was born the same year as my mother, and has the same dark hair and expressive eyes. It’s not hard to imagine if the horrors of the Nazi Party were in the USA what would become of neighbors and friends.
Here we meet Anne before the diary, as a spunky 11 year old, safe in Amsterdam with her family. Hoffman paints a picture of Anne and of the tide turning in The Netherlands as the Germans invade and citizens must make excruciating decisions about who they can trust.
I couldn’t put this book down. I was researching to distraction and was thrilled when I saw that the family’s original house now houses refugee writers as a place they can be safe.
Truly enjoyable but so incredibly sad as you know the ending, and it’s not a happy one.
5*

This book was AMAZING. While it was fiction, it seemed so real and I felt like I was able to get to know Anne even better than I did after reading her diary. It was so interesting to be able to experience the beginning of the holocaust through her eyes and I definitely would recommend this book!

I enjoyed this fictionalized story of Anne Frank. The author was very creative and the story was supported by well researched information. I would recommend to students and adults alike.

This story is so well researched. It brought tears to my eyes, many times, reading about Anne Frank. We have read about Anne before, but this author gives another look at her. I believe this story could be a story of the year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting historical fiction look at what Anne Frank and her family may have experienced before going into hiding. The book started off a bit too slow and I had trouble keeping my attention but it definitely gets better.

We’re all familiar with the name Anne Frank. It’s synonymous with WWII and the Holocaust. It’s a voice that carries through generations and takes us into the mind of a brilliant young lady whose life was cut short. We know what happens to the Frank family while they were hiding but very little is known about Anne as a young girl before the diary. Alice Hoffman takes us back to Amsterdam when it was still safe to go ice skating in the winter and stop by the ice cream shop on the way home from school. This Anne before the diary.

I think it’s impossible not to become emotionally invested in a story about Anne Frank. She taught us so much through her words and words meant so much to her. In a time when fear rose a notch every day, Anne had stories to which she could turn to even for just a moment and forget all that was happening. The slow loss of freedom and friendship, the struggle to connect with her mother and sister, the strong bond she had with her father, the unconditional love of a grandmother who wanted nothing more than for her granddaughter to live and love and laugh and the darkness that slowly takes over their lives are found within the pages of this book. It’s heartbreaking and gripping and all the things that we feel when we think of Anne.

I highly recommend this book and I think it’s written in a way that will resonate with younger generations. There’s something about Anne that we can all relate to but especially those in their pre-teen years when life is changing, as their eyes begin to open wider to their surroundings.

Thank you so much to Alice Hoffman bringing this story to life and NetGalley & Scholastic for giving me early access to such an important story.

A poignant glimpse into the life of Anne Frank prior to the historical turning point, this shares the life of Anne and her sister Margot, how the changes that occurred affected their family, as well as the impact it had on each family member separately. This begins, more or less, with the invasion of the Netherlands by the Nazis, and how little by little, their lives were changed in the early years.

’Let us grow up to be who we want to be,she thought. Let us go out and find everything. Let us see stars and planets and countries that are far away. Let us be women, let us be sisters, let us always celebrate.’

Most of us are aware of the life of Anne Frank, but this shares a brief period of time before her world was changed, as the family is celebrating her 13th birthday. A brief moment in time that is both lovely and heartbreaking, knowing that their lives would all drastically change. I appreciated this lovely glimpse into what her life in the ‘before’ was like.

Aimed at Middle Grade readers, this is a wonderful read for all ages.



Pub Date: 17 Sep 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Scholastic l Scholastic Press

Alice Hoffman's When We Flew Away takes us on a poignant journey through Anne Frank's life before the world turned upside down. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, culminating in the moment the Frank family goes into hiding in Amsterdam.

For those who have long admired Anne's courage, this novel offers a precious glimpse into her pre-annexation life. We see Anne not just as the diarist we know, but as a vivacious, curious girl navigating adolescence amidst a darkening world. The bond with her family, particularly the heartwarming gift from her father on her 13th birthday, shines through the pages.

When We Flew Away is more than just a historical account. It's a testament to the enduring power of hope and resilience in the face of impending danger. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of Anne Frank, the person, and the world she inhabited before the diary began.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would have liked to have given this book a higher rating, but it had a slow start for me. It eventually picks up. There's no doubt Hoffman oozes talent, but you gotta do the selling in the first chapter. It's the point where a reader will choose to keep reading or give up. I would have given up if I had not been obligated through an ARC from Netgalley. And even though I finished, and was impressed with Hoffman's writing, this most definitely will not be a favorite with the intended audience. Holocaust books are everywhere today and kids expect a greater depth of story and facts. This book is too lyrical for your typical middle grade reader.

This book is just what the title says, a look at what Anne Frank's life might have been like in the two years prior to her family going into hiding. Since the whole book is fiction, I wanted more fiction. I wanted more dialogue, more interaction, in other words, more showing. This book is a lot of telling. Instead of interpreting who Anne is by her reactions to situations, we are told outright by the author in the first chapter. She's misunderstood. She's under-apprecitiated. She's bossy. And if we're not told outright, then we're told through Anne's own thoughts, which is problematic when you see a girl thinking thoughts advanced beyond her years. You can't help but wonder if you're really reading the thoughts of a far more mature person, i.e the author.

There are glimmers of showing, like when Anne, lost in her own world, steps onto the pond where she used to skate and is immediately accosted by a Nazi guard. Or a brief encounter at a market where Anne uncharacteristically cries while seeing a women leave her baby to wail while she desperately looks for unspoiled potatoes. I felt like these moments were far too infrequent.

Bottom line: Kids want a concrete story they can relate to. They want action. They want conflict. They want details. They do not want a lot of abstract, flowery language.

When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary is a poignant historical fiction novel by Alice Hoffman. The story delves into the coming of age of two sisters, Anne, and Margot Frank, and how the cruel events that surrounded them shaped their lives during World War Two. The Frank family moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands after Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party gained control of Germany and the family’s journey continues here for the remainder of the story.
Alice Hoffman weaves a beautiful tale based on volumes of research to capture the authenticity of the turbulent times surrounding the Frank family and their friends.
Alice Hoffman portrays Anne as a fanciful dreamer, a strong-willed child that is astutely observant and carefree. Her sister Margot is a rule follower and vastly different from Anne. Their relationship grows stronger throughout the story as they face the harsh realities of persecution and prejudice. It is a heartwarming story that will fill you with laughter, joy, and heartbreak as you follow Anne’s journey. It is a loving and powerful tribute to the life of Anne Frank and her family before they went into hiding. This book will leave you with a renewed sense of love and appreciation for the writings of Anne Frank and her contribution to the world.

This is the novel of what Anne Frank could have been like before her diary. I grew up reading the Diary of Anne Frank. I thought this was a good portrayal of what she and her family could have been like, leading up to when they went in hiding. I think this was well done and appropriate for the middle grade audience.

“Anne saw not only what was, but what might be…she already had one foot in the future, ready to leap into the life she wanted…She didn’t intend to stay put and live the life everyone else thought she should”. She wanted to be a writer.

The Netherlands had been a country that welcomed refugees, signaling freedom and acceptance, that is, until “a tiny seed of hatred…a few evil men....Time is a circle, and what happens in one country can begin in another…There were German soldiers in the streets of Amsterdam.” As restrictions and regulations implemented by the Dutch police, under the purview of the Germans, started to snowball, Anne internalized her feelings, but, “When you write it down, they cannot pretend it never happened.”

Anne’s greatest passion was literature, a love she shared with her father, Otto. Oh, to be able to spend unlimited time perusing the tomes in a bookshop. For her thirteenth birthday, Anne was gifted with a red plaid diary she named Kitty. A special friendship was born. “There is a day you never forget, the day the whole world changes…You were young one second, and then you were far too old…You wanted to travel, you wanted to grow up…you wanted to fall in love. You wanted so much…”.Author Alice Hoffman has written a heartfelt, captivating and informative historical novel in first person narration documenting the short life of budding writer Anne Frank, a life before going into hiding, and her diary’s future impact on the world.

Highly recommended for students 5th grade and above.

Thank you Scholastic Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.