Jane Kohuth - Anne Franks Chestnut Tree

From the archives of the Anne Frank House. Text copyright 2013 by Jane Kohuth
Cover art and interior illustrations copyright 2013 by Elizabeth Sayles
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RHTeachersLibrarians.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kohuth, Jane.
Anne Franks chestnut tree / by Jane Kohuth ; illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles.
p. bdg.) ISBN 978-0-375-98113-5 (ebook)
1. bdg.) ISBN 978-0-375-98113-5 (ebook)
1.

Frank, Anne, 19291945Juvenile literature. 2. JewsNetherlandsAmsterdamBiographyJuvenile literature. 3. Jewish children in the HolocaustNetherlandsAmsterdamJuvenile literature. 4.

Amsterdam (Netherlands)BiographyJuvenile literature. I. Sayles, Elizabeth. II. Title.
DS135.N6F733765 2013 940.5318092dc23 [B] 2012034585
eBook ISBN: 978-0-375-98113-5 Random House Childrens Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read. v3.1 For Melanie Pearce and Adina Solomon,
true friends
J.K.
For my dear cousin Razel, who, as a
teenager, escaped from the Warsaw ghetto.
And for the ones who didnt.
E.S.

In the city of Amsterdam, in an attic at the top of a tall, narrow building, a girl sat on the dusty floor. Through the window she could see blue sky. She could see the bare branches of a chestnut tree. The tree sparkled with dew. As long as this exists, the girl thought, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad? The girls name was Anne Frank. The Secret Annex Once, Anne lived a normal life. The Secret Annex Once, Anne lived a normal life.

She collected pictures of movie stars. She read and wrote and acted in plays. She liked to make people laugh. Anne did well in school. She talked a lot in class. Anne was always full of thoughts and opinions.

She had many friends. She had a happy life. But on May 10, 1940, Annes world changed. World War II reached her home. Germany invaded Holland, the tiny country where Anne lived. The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, ruled Germany.

The Nazis blamed the worlds problems on Jewish people, even though they were a small minority. Anne and her family were Jewish. The Nazis made laws against Jewish people. Anne had to change schools. She couldnt go swimming or see the movies she loved. Annes family had to sew yellow stars on their clothes.

All because they were Jewish. In July 1942, a letter came for Annes older sister, Margot. The Nazis wanted to send her to a concentration camp. Annes parents knew that when Jews were sent away, they were never heard from again. They had a plan. Anne packed her schoolbag. Anne packed her schoolbag.

First she packed the diary shed gotten for her thirteenth birthday. She stuffed in books, hair curlers, and letters. Later she wrote, I stuck the craziest things in the bag, but Im not sorry. Memories mean more to me than dresses. Early the next morning, Anne got dressed. She put on layers of clothing even though it was summer.

She didnt get to say goodbye to anyone but her cat.