Anne records the experiences of her adolescence in her diary: the pages that would later become The Diary of Anne Frank. She goes through all the typical trials and tribulations of teen life, despite the fact that she is not living in a normal context. She fights with her mother and sister, believes that nobody understands her, thinks that she is the one everybody picks on, fantasizes about boys she’s known in the past, and falls in love head over heels with somebody she should probably leave alone.
She’s just like all of us, even if she is hiding from the Nazis during the years she is growing up.
Questions About Youth
- In what ways are Anne’s experiences typical of teenagers? In what ways are they different?
- If Anne had lived through the war, do you think she would have revised her viewpoint of what happened in the Secret Annex from a new, adult perspective? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Although Anne’s adolescent experiences seem like every other teen’s, the war made both her angst and her romance more intense—and more critical to the shaping of her character.
Although the war may have made Anne’s experiences seem more intense and highly influenced by her life circumstances, in fact, her adolescent behaviors and ideas are normal and no different than any other teen’s.