Rating: 
Summary: Stories from a gifted writer who was never allowed to be...
Review: Also published under the title "Tales from the House Behind," this is a collection of juvenile/young adult stories that Anne Frank worked on during her years in hiding in the annex with her family and fellow fugitives. It proves that this young girl had an incredible gift for writing, and that had she lived she probably would have been received the Noble Prize for Literature. Her stories were often candid indictments of her own family life, such as Kitty, which tells the story of a young girl who day-dreams and a mother who wants her child to listen and obey rather than dream. Anne's essays show an in-depth understanding of human nature, surprising for one so young. This is a poignant book filled with fables, short stories, essays and even part of an unfinished novel. It's worth reading after you have read "The Diary of Anne Frank" simply because the diary will give you more insight to this amazing girl's life. However "Tales from the Secret Annex" stands on its own too, and like the diary should be on every school child's list of books to read.
Rating:
Summary: Stories from a gifted writer who was never allowed to be...
Review: Also published under the title "Tales from the House Behind," this is a collection of juvenile/young adult stories that Anne Frank worked on during her years in hiding in the annex with her family and fellow fugitives. It proves that this young girl had an incredible gift for writing, and that had she lived she probably would have been received the Noble Prize for Literature. Her stories were often candid indictments of her own family life, such as Kitty, which tells the story of a young girl who day-dreams and a mother who wants her child to listen and obey rather than dream. Anne's essays show an in-depth understanding of human nature, surprising for one so young. This is a poignant book filled with fables, short stories, essays and even part of an unfinished novel. It's worth reading after you have read "The Diary of Anne Frank" simply because the diary will give you more insight to this amazing girl's life. However "Tales from the Secret Annex" stands on its own too, and like the diary should be on every school child's list of books to read.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written!
Review: Anne Frank must truly be a genius. Each of her tales have a lesson to be learned within each. Though these are her lesser known writings, but are still nicely crafted. It is a nice companion to her famous diary. Some of her stories are about her love for life. This also gives you an idea of what she really wanted to do in the hiding place: be free.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written!
Review: Anne Frank must truly be a genius. Each of her tales have a lesson to be learned within each. Though these are her lesser known writings, but are still nicely crafted. It is a nice companion to her famous diary. Some of her stories are about her love for life. This also gives you an idea of what she really wanted to do in the hiding place: be free.
Rating: 
Summary: Good companion book for the famous diary
Review: Had this been a collection of stories and essays by anybody else, I would have thought it was nothing special. But having read the Diary of Anne Frank first, the stories and essays make so much more sense. You can just see her whiling away the dull moments of the life in the secret annex, honing her writing skills. It is easy to see her skills as a writer increase from story to story. But even more interesting is to read the messages contained within her works. The writing skills she displays are obviously that of a teenager, although much better than most people her age. But the real value of these pieces are the insights which she brings to them; her life experiences and her approach to life's big questions. The last essay in the collection is entitled, "Why" and seems to sum up her short life. Read this book, but only after you read the Diary so the essays will be meaningful.
Rating:
Summary: Good companion book for the famous diary
Review: Had this been a collection of stories and essays by anybody else, I would have thought it was nothing special. But having read the Diary of Anne Frank first, the stories and essays make so much more sense. You can just see her whiling away the dull moments of the life in the secret annex, honing her writing skills. It is easy to see her skills as a writer increase from story to story. But even more interesting is to read the messages contained within her works. The writing skills she displays are obviously that of a teenager, although much better than most people her age. But the real value of these pieces are the insights which she brings to them; her life experiences and her approach to life's big questions. The last essay in the collection is entitled, "Why" and seems to sum up her short life. Read this book, but only after you read the Diary so the essays will be meaningful.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Talent and Insights
Review: Having read Anne Frank's famous Diary, I chose to read this volume as well, almost a companion volume to the first. Her diary mentions her writing efforts and it is fun to read them here in their entirety. The quality of the stories increases immensely as we go from one to the next, proving the old axiom that the only way to improve your writing is to practice. But what is really amazing is the insights this young girl was able to bring to her stories. Several seem to be quite plain on the surface yet have an underlying message or theme. Most of them are understandably coming-of-age stories. In addition, we get a little more insight into her life in the attic and those people that surrounded her during that time.If you enjoyed reading Anne Frank's Diary, then you will also enjoy this volume of stories.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Talent and Insights
Review: Having read Anne Frank's famous Diary, I chose to read this volume as well, almost a companion volume to the first. Her diary mentions her writing efforts and it is fun to read them here in their entirety. The quality of the stories increases immensely as we go from one to the next, proving the old axiom that the only way to improve your writing is to practice. But what is really amazing is the insights this young girl was able to bring to her stories. Several seem to be quite plain on the surface yet have an underlying message or theme. Most of them are understandably coming-of-age stories. In addition, we get a little more insight into her life in the attic and those people that surrounded her during that time. If you enjoyed reading Anne Frank's Diary, then you will also enjoy this volume of stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Undecided Reviewer
Review: I am undecided in what I think of this book. I think the main "fault" I can find is in the arrangement. For example, whoever compiled the book did a very bad job separating the fiction (in the front) from the non-fiction (in the back). One "true story" in first person, if it really is true, indicates that Anne's name is actually Hetty Van Bergen! I don't think so. Another problem is that the fiction stories all have the same moral -- few people like being "preached to" in stories. The moral is always that people in nature are closer to God. However, there are good things to this book, too. Remember a child authored it, and if you remember that, you will see what a gifted writer she was for her age. Despite its shortcomings, I think that most people who have read her diary will also enjoy her book of shorts. I recommend trying to read it chronologically along with the diary to get its full effect.
Rating:
Summary: Great for curious kids
Review: I bought one book from this series for my 10-year old "argumentative" daughter. It was very satisfying for her to use her "poke holes in any statement" tendency, in this pre-teen stage where she thinks she knows everything, and match wits with real lawyers and a jury. She just loved it! I loved that she was reading something that challenged her intellect so much and gave us something to discuss - better than "Babysitters Club"! I plan to get her the rest of the series. I really recommend this series to parents of kids in this 9-12 age group
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