LitPick Review
The story of Anne Frank is told through her sister's eyes in a fascinating and compelling tale of the human will to live. Author Barry Denenberg's masterful portrayal of realities for Jews living during the WWII era makes for a fascinating read. Denenberg fills readers in on historical facts and goes on to re-create the diary of Margot, the sister of Anne Frank. The final sections of this book shed new light on the fates of Anne and her companions from 263 Prinsengracht.
Opinion:
The plot and characters were very likeable, made even more so because they are factual. Barry Denenberg employs an interesting method for telling Anne's story: a four-part chronology complete with introduction and timeline. One part is a re-created diary of Margot Frank, and the other three parts are historical essays on the life and time period that the Franks lived in. Pictures are show throughout and add a potential for readers to connect with the story and hardships of the Franks. Shadow Life is a must- read for everyone, whether or not they have read The Diary of Anne Frank. As Heine says in Shadow Life, "Shadow kisses, shadow bliss, shadow life, forever gay! Do you think, dear foolishness, everything is here to stay? What we lovingly possessed, fades away like reverie; hearts grow heedless in the breast, eyes forget to see."
