Anna Is Still Here by Ida Vos

Anna Is Still Here by Ida Vos Translated by Terese Edelstein and Inez Smidt

I read this as part of my final project I am doing for Children's Literature, the topic is the Holocaust as presented in Children's Lit. This book falls in the early chapter book area, no pictures, all text but no overly hard words. However, if you let the simple reading level stop you from reading this I think you will be missing out on a powerful story.

Anna lives in Holland. She was in hiding for 3 years during the Nazi occupation. She was alone, except for Kiki, her imaginary friend. She had visits from the kind music teacher hiding her, but she was mostly alone. Now she is free and reunited with her parents and back in school. Anna is learning to live outside the attic she hid in, she is learning to trust and feel safe and with the help of her loving father she is finding her voice.

At one point her father shouts out "Rotten Nazis! Look what you've done to my child!" This is the heart of the story, what was done not only to Anna but to an entire group of people. Anna Is Still Here is told in a child's voice and in a very matter of fact and simple way that belies its power and beauty.

(finished March 13, 2013)