Searching for Anne Frank

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This narrative offers a unique perspective on life during World War II in the Netherlands and the United States through the letters exchanged between Anne Frank and her pen pal, Juanita Wagner from Iowa. In 1939, ten-year-old Juanita selected Anne's name from a list provided by her teacher, initiating a correspondence that would connect two girls from vastly different worlds. Through firsthand accounts and interviews with Juanita's sister, Betty, along with unpublished photographs, the author intertwines the lives of these two girls against the backdrop of the impending war and its harsh realities. The story unfolds in alternating chapters, detailing the lives of Juanita and Anne before and during the war, including the experiences of their sisters, Betty and Margot. While Juanita, Betty, and their mother observe the war from a distance—through radio broadcasts, film clips, and the departure of friends for military service—Anne and her family face a much grimmer fate, going into hiding and ultimately being discovered and sent to concentration camps, where only Anne's father survives. Despite their brief correspondence, the letters reveal a poignant contrast in their experiences and provide a timely reflection on the impact of war on young lives. The letters exchanged between Anne and her Iowa pen pals are permanently displayed at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.