Gigantic thanks to Goodreads First Reads for me winning this book. What a great new way of viewing this classic!

I'll admit I was skeptical at first, especially when I kept seeing things that I did not recall from even my most recent reading of The Diary of a Young Girl. Turns out that I was completely unaware that there was a Definitive version of the diary that had been released in more recent years. I was finally clued in when I looked up a date in my own copy and it wasn't there. Lo and behold, research told me that I'd been out of the literary loop.

Anyway, I really like the style used here: the real passages from the diary plus the illustrated imaginings, the passages consolidated to a page of illustrations.... It's impressive to take any work and cut it down yet still keep the feelings involved. When you read this, you must read the Adapter's Note at the end.

I think they also handled the Afterword the best way they could. It definitely had to be included. Depressing as it is, I can't handle the Diary without the conclusion, especially as Anne gives such a nice introduction to their situation. I kind of wanted to see how they might illustrate Anne's end, but I'm, ultimately, very glad they didn't.

Excellently executed (poor choice of words, sorry), you must read this version if you appreciate Anne's diary in any way, shape, or form.