Behind the Bookcase

August 10, 2020
Lowell’s tale focuses on Miep Gies, the Dutch woman who helped Anne Frank and her family hide from the Nazis, then saved and preserved Frank’s diary. After WWI, Gies was a malnourished child refugee from Austria; years later, this experience leads to her special relationship with Anne—Miep “knew how it felt to be young and leave everything in your world behind.” Toro’s illustrations use a muted palette; sharp, sketchy lines; and gently exaggerated shapes to convey tension, but also joy, as when Miep brings Anne a pair of red high heels to wear, “a small moment of happiness.” Best suited for those already familiar with Frank’s story; includes an author’s note, bibliography, and further reading. Ages 7–11.

August 1, 2020
Grades 2-5 This thoughtful new picture book recounts the main points of Anne Frank's life in hiding: where she hid, with whom, who helped them, how they were caught, and the later discovery and publication of her diary. Lowell stays true to the historical tragedy but also allows sensitive readers some distance by telling the story largely through the point of view of Miep Gies?a German Dutch employee of Anne's father, who helped hide the family?including several pages about Miep's own childhood. The main text also takes a gentle and indirect, but still clear, approach to Anne's death: "Of all the people in the hiding place, only Mr. Frank returned from the concentration camps." (For readers with questions, the author's note at the end provides more detail.) Similarly, Toro's soft, not-too-realistic illustrations focus on people and relationships, evoking emotions more than traumatic events. Even after the Franks are captured, illustrations of scattered possessions suggest rather than show violence. A historically accurate but relatively gentle introduction to the Holocaust for elementary-age readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)