Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been really moved by the story of Anne Frank, her family, friends, and the annex helpers. So I was thrilled when I saw this arc copy. I was excited to see it marketed towards a middle grade audience as well. Not only because I anticipated it being a good introduction to Anne's story, but I also figured it would be a quick and fulfilling read. Unfortunately, I did not have this experience.

The writing style felt way too highbrow for a middle grade audience. There is hardly any plot and the whole concept of the book seems very vague and hazy. It's all exposition of the inner workings of the Franks. It's all telling and no showing. In addition, there is practically no dialogue. For these reasons, I do not think many middle grade readers would engage well with this book.

That being said, this title would appeal much more to adults that are fans of Alice Hoffman or lyrical, descriptive writing. The writing can certainly be beautiful. no doubt. It's just written in a much more "adult" style.

Even so, the characters feel very flat, since there is not much happening in the book to make them feel anything more than a 2D representation of their thoughts.

If this book was marketed to an adult audience, my review would be much more neutral. It just feels like a shame that this adaptation didn't think to account for the unique reading needs of children. As a result, the great opportunity to address this important historical figure felt like it was squandered a bit.

In short, the book is a lyrical, almost whimsical take on Anne Frank that is more suited to an adult audience, rather than a young one. No hate to the author, it just felt like the style, subject, and audience didn't quite connect as I hoped.

Starting in 1940, Anne Frank and sister, Margot are growing up in the Netherlands. Anne’s biggest concern is her mother’s disapproval when Anne talks too much or acts like a know it all. Her insecurities about her older sister also affect her. Buoyed by her grandmother and father’s loving nature, Anne uses her curiosity to navigate her new world. When Nazis invade Amsterdam, however, Anne and her family’s lives begin to change.

True to her story, the author’s fictional account is well-researched, well-written, and engaging. The characters feel authentic to children of the time and are engaging. Seeing her life before the invasion contrasted with after helps the reader to feel the emotions, turmoil, and changes in their lives more deeply. Readers who like reading historical fiction or books about Anne Frank, the Holocaust, and World War II will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 4 stars, Gr 3 to 8.

This was good, but it just made me want to read The Diary of Anne Frank instead. The historical events are factual but the story is also fabricated around what Anne and her family were most likely doing before the events of her diary were written. I did like seeing the war from a young girls eyes and Alice is a great writer, but once again, would have rather re-read the diary. Unfortunately it was just a bit of a miss for me.

Alice Hoffman has written a powerfully imaginative novel about Anne Frank’s life in Amsterdam before the Frank family was hidden away from the Nazi’s intent on destroying their lives. Hoffman is a beautifully lyrical writer with magical motifs that perfectly capture the fear a young girl would be experiencing during these horrific times. Not knowing this was a YA novel, I was initially puzzled by the simple storytelling but quickly did a bit of research to gain a better understanding of Hoffman’s approach. Regardless, this is an important book everyone should read. I want to thank NetGalley and Scholastic books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scholastic Press!

The Frank family was an ordinary family, and Anne's diary transformed them into a family synonymous with the holocaust.

We know of the months leading up to the Franks' famous stay in the Attic. We know the tragic end of Edith, Margot, and Anne's lives. When We Flew Away asks and shows a potential answer to, what about the beginning of their story?

When We Flew Away transforms the Franks into a normal family and not just a historic family. It transforms them into your next-door neighbor, your grandma, your sister, and your parents. The Frank family becomes a family you can see within your own.

Alice Hoffman took an already well-known story and added new chapters you simply can not miss out on.

This story is about the fictional life of Anne Frank before she started her diary and went into hiding with her family. This was such a beautuful depiction of Anne Frank’’s younger years. It delves into her strained relationship with her mother, Edith, and her sister, Margot. I love how Anne was portrayed as brave, imaginative, and someone who thinks outside of the box. Even through all of her struggles she mentions that love is a special gift that no one can take away. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I higly recommend it

A combination of lyrical and wrenching - beautifully written. This book brings the reader into Anne's story before the one we all know from the Diary. Set in the years before the family goes into hiding, we see Anne as a girl in Amsterdam, eager to grow up, in a world that's getting increasingly darker by the moment. This was a powerful read and Hoffman carries off a writing task that is incredibly difficult - she adds to Anne's story without taking anything from it. And she somehow makes Anne even more relatable. A great companion book to The Diary of Anne Frank. A beautiful, heart-breaking book on its own. I'd recommend it for any middle school library.

Anne Frank significantly influenced me as a young adult reader. I discovered her diary when I was around 12 and found a kindred spirit in her. I saw myself in her and, through her eyes, was able to imagine the horrors of the Holocaust in a way that I hadn't before.

I was both skeptical and excited to read this book. The author would need to take some liberties, and I'm very protective of Anne. I shouldn't have worried. If any author can handle such a delicate task, it's Alice Hoffman. It was like she was channeling Anne through this book.

Set just two years before going into hiding, we're able to witness what it was like in Europe for Jewish people. We see Anne's life in Amsterdam as they go from relatively safe to completely unsafe. We see her with her friends, get a peek at her relationships with her parents and sister, and a potential first love. It reminds us of a time when she was more innocent of the world, when there was still hope of getting out, when the potential was still there for a chance of safety and a future.

A pet peeve of mine is the fact that for many people, the only book they might ever read about the Holocaust is Anne Frank's diary. This means they only get a glimpse at it - they know it was bad enough that her family had to go into hiding, but they don't have to deal with the lead-up or the aftermath. Having a book like this to pair with her diary gives a fuller picture of events. Add something like The Librarian of Auschwitz and They Went Left, and now you have the complete picture. Hoffman reminds us through this story that we need to remember - we need to bear witness, and we can still do that through stories like Anne's.

I recommend this book for children ages 12+

Based on extensive research and published in cooperation with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam Alice Hoffman weaves together a lyrical and heart-wrenching story that looks into the way the world changed for Anne Frank and her family before they went into hiding during WWII.

I’ve always been interested in Anne and her family since I first watched one of the movie adaptations as a kid. I didn’t read her diary though until a few years ago. Obviously we don’t 100% know what Anne thought of when living through the months/years leading up to the Frank family going into hiding, but I think Alice Hoffman did a wonderful job at imagining it.

The other thing I wanted to applaud Hoffman on is knowing her audience and how to talk about what was happening without being too graphic. I know we want to protect younger children from the horrors of the war - but you also have to think about the fact that children their age went through the war. Not everything needs to be described in detail but kids are smart and still deserve to know. I just remember thinking in certain parts that the writing was handled well.

I also really liked the dynamic between Anne and her mother. In her diaries she wrote about the difference in relationships she had between Pip and her mother and this story dives deeper into that and provides more layers.

Overall, I think this would be a good middle grade introduction into Anne Frank and her story. Have them read this first to open the door for discussion about Anne and her family. Then, more mature, or when they’re older, they can then read Anne Frank’s diary.

*Thank you Scholastic Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I read this with my 11 year old son. His feedback was that it was a good companion to Anne Frank's diary. It did a great job of providing a broader picture of what Anne and her family went through leading up to the point where they had to hide from nazis in WW2. I definitely recommend it to his age group (middle school) and found it interesting as an adult!

Thank you to Scholastic Press for the DRC.

When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman is a haunting yet beautifully written portrayal of Anne Frank’s life prior to her going into hiding. Knowing the tragic ending of Anne Frank’s life made the joyful notes in this one that much more heartbreaking. Hoffman does a wonderful job of showing the changes in Anne’s life as the Nazis invade the Netherlands, reminding readers that everything didn’t happen at once. Hoffman’s words emphasize the urgency of knowing history to avoid reliving it. When We Flew Away would be an excellent addition to any classroom. A read-along or book club may be the best way to ensure that students fully understand the metaphors and relevance of the moments portrayed within. Although this is a work of historical fiction, When We Flew Away would still be an ideal accompaniment to The Diary of Anne Frank. Book releases September 17th.

In When We Flew Away, Hoffman gives us an account in historical fiction concerning the life of The Frank Family prior to their period of hiding in the annex. She has unfolded a most interesting story, but be aware that it involves myths, legend, and fairy tales about the life of Anne, and her family. Still, Hoffman weaves the story splendidly. For example In The What We Will Remember at the end of the story, Hoffman states that we don’t know if Anne’s mother ever gave her the necklace nor in the instance of Anne’s relationship was with her first boyfriend named Hello, how that unfolded.

Anne is a sweetie, but a bit rebellious, a daredevil and self-insightful. I enjoyed reading of Anne's friendships, favorite spots, and first love. She dreamed of living freely in California one day. Only months away from rescue Anne and Margot died of Typhus and Edith Frank died three weeks before liberation. Otto Frank survived.

I would only recommend this book to students who know something of Anne’s life. The book is written poignantly for readers who know how it ends.
The story may move a bit slow for some middle grade readers.

When We Flew Away is a heartbreaking, and a beautifully crafted book.

This book is beautiful and poignant, especially when read with a robust understanding of Anne Frank’s life and diary. I have taught an elementary version of Anne Frank’s experience for several years, and this book made me realize my errors in depicting her life as happy (before hiding) and sad (during hiding). This gave me a new perspective on how Anne must have felt during those last few years before hiding when the world was becoming scarier and scarier. While fictionalized, the story focuses on Anne’s life before going into hiding and how her relationships and personal perspective changes as the world around her becomes more and more evil.

The writing is lyrical and beautiful, but I did find it a bit slow at times. I appreciated the deep dive into what Anne’s life might have been like pre-diary, but I did have a hard time paying attention at times, and I think younger readers would have the same issue. That being said, this book is a heavy hitter when it comes to the emotional urgency of the Jewish people in the 1940s as their world became worse and worse, and it depicts Anne in a relevant and relatable way.

Anything by Alice Hoffman is a must read for me. Knowing that students in my middle school library are still checking out Diary of a Young Girl, I knew I had to read this. It is very difficult to judge this book for a middle school reader. The pace starts off very slowly. Most of the time the narrator is omniscient. The prose is lovely. I will be sure to tell the students that this book feels like someone is telling you a story. I plan to purchase this for the high school library as well. I will be curious to see which group is most interested.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars…….When We Flew Away is the story of Anne Frank before her and her family went into hiding. It gives you a glimpse into their ordinary life until it became unordinary.

It was interesting to learn more about Anne’s relationship with her mother and sister. Anne and her sister Margot were very different. She struggled with her mom and at times felt unloved and alone. Though Anne struggled with her relationship with her mom and sister they were there for each other when they needed each other most. Their love was unconditional, and in the end that’s all that mattered. Everything else was forgotten.

The day Anne and her family went into hiding Anne prayed for two things, to grow up, and to be remembered. The two most important words in her diary were REMEMBER ME. Anne Frank , the world has remembered you. You are the ordinary girl who became EXTRAORDINARY.

I love so many of Alice Hoffman’s books and was eager to read this one. I enjoy anything written about Anne Frank. While this was a different perspective and while I did enjoy it, I found it a little slow.

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Magic from Alice Hoffman has become the standard expectation and she once again delivers! This is a fun read that helps you escape into the story and go on an adventure.

Wasn't sure what this novel would be like since it was events before Anne's diary but...I think the author did a great job.
Here we see the Franks and their slow spiral to fear as their world changes. They'd already moved to the Netherlands, finding safety in a neutral country but neutrality didn't stop the Germans.
Slowly we see how the Dutch were invaded and how the rules began to change, neighbors turned against each other and Jew's citizenship rights were revoked.
I could feel Anne's fear and disbelief. They wanted to believe things would blow over. That things would be okay or that they could escape but doors kept shutting and time was running out. Violence was becoming more aggressive and random and Otto just wanted to save his family!
Can you imagine being forced to buy the rotten food nobody else wanted? To be forced indoors before 8pm? To have to quit school and be let go from work for nothing other than being a different race/ethnic group. It's scary! And the scary part is....we seem to be repeating it.
We turn refugees away and justify cruelty towards those we see as enemies. It's so sad but this reminds us we are all people. We all have dreams. We should remember those in the past and not repeat our mistakes 😢
The povs in the novel did jump a bit but it was easy enough to keep up. Good children's novel and one I highly recommend 😊

Middle grade to young adult tale about Anne Frank before she wrote her diaries; sanctioned by the Anne Frank House. The writing is age appropriate and sure to create new interest to the plight of Anne Frank, and all Jewish victims of the era. Hoffman’s skills and imaginative storytelling bring new life to a well know story.

Another beautiful book as only Alice Hoffman can write. You think you know Ann Frank but here we see a whole new side, one which isn't fraught with fear. And of course the writing is just so descriptive!

Alice Hoffman has written a truly amazing fictional story about Anne and the Frank family prior to their hiding. I enjoyed being in Anne's life and seeing what it may have been like for her, what she may have experienced. I loved what all the animals within the story may possible portray, with the symbolism of each, the wolf, the rat, the moth, the magpie, the rabbit, and other creatures. The lovely cover with the wolf stalking on the roof, while the magpie flies above, wonderful. Anne telling of the story of Persephone a beautiful young woman who was kidnapped by Hades King of the underworld was also symbolic.

This is my tenth book that I have read by this incredible author. Her writings take me into that time and place. It feels so real as if things can change with every page I turn. I hoped & felt that maybe it would end differently, even though I knew it wasn't possible. It's like when you know the ending to any tragic story or event, you feel that something will change and hope that things will be happily ever after. That's what I was hoping while I was reading this story. It was so beautiful, the young love between Anne & "Hello", and their dream that they would go to California and go directly to the Pacific Ocean together. The part when Hello continued knocking on Anne's door calling her name was so heartbreaking 💔.

Even though it's a fictional story, some people are true, with events which that did occur, like the marriage of Miep to Jan Gies on July 16. The addresses 37 Merwedeplein where the Franks lived prior to their hiding at 263 Prinsengracht, which was the place Otto worked with Mr. Kleiman, his partner.

I just watched an amazing limited series "A Small Light". It shows the events while hiding the Frank family from Miep Gies point. Check it out, hopefully you will also like it.

"You cannot reason with people who are unreasonable." Oma had once told Anne.

I highly recommend this 5 ⭐ book.

Thank you Alice Hoffman for writing such an amazing story, and NetGalley & Scholastic Press for the ebook advanced reader copy.