Not every middle grade book is as suited for parents as it is for their children—but this novel is a stunning story that can truly be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
Written by Alice Hoffman, the bestselling author known for titles such as Practical Magic and The World That We Knew, When We Flew Away is a meticulously researched exploration of Anne Frank's life before she and her family were forced into hiding.
Beginning with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, readers will see through Anne's eyes how the unthinkable happened—neighbors became monsters, prejudice ran unchecked, and countless families were subjected to unspeakable violence.
When We Flew Away
"Adding new poignance to a story whose ending we already knew, Alice Hoffman has deftly recreated the child Anne Frank with all her wit, mischief, and uncertainties. This fictionalized account of the increasingly desperate years that preceded the famous diary breaks readers' hearts one more time. But it reminds us of how important it is to remember and honor all that was lost." —Lois Lowry, Newbery Award-winning author of Number the Stars
Alice Hoffman has written dozens of novels over the course of her nearly 50-year career, including multiple YA and children's books. But, as a girl, Hoffman may not have imagined that future for herself.
“When I read Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl when I was young, I never imagined that a young Jewish girl could write a book,” Hoffman recalled to Lisa Sandel, her editor at Scholastic. “One of the reasons I wanted to write a novel that takes place before the Franks go into the annex—the attic—was because I felt like I was afraid that her story wasn't being taught as much anymore. I know that my niece, who is 11 and lives in Vienna had never heard of her, and I felt that it was really important to keep this history alive as they do with the Anne Frank House.”
Part of Hoffman's preparation for writing When We Flew Away included a research trip to the Netherlands, where the Anne Frank House gave her an extensive tour.
“I got to go with an expert on a tour of her neighborhood. It was a very incredibly moving experience because the neighborhood is a lovely neighborhood and it was filled with children playing in the park, and you really got the sense of where she lived. We went to the bookstore where she had seen the diary that she wanted and asked her father for as a birthday present, and it was just feeling like you're entering into her life and that life was so normal until it became completely abnormal,” said Hoffman.
According to Hoffman, walking around the calm town while knowing the atrocities that had happened there evoked the sense she wanted her novel to have: “There you are living your ordinary everyday life and you don't think that evil can touch you, and then all of a sudden one day it does.”
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When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary
"We can highly recommend Alice Hoffman's novel of Anne Frank's life, set in the dramatic and terrible circumstances of those first war years. We hope it will persuade young readers that contributing to a better world is both necessary and possible." —Ronald Leopold, Executive Director, Anne Frank House
