March 28, 2019 by Nita Anderson · Arts & Culture

How The Diary of Anne Frank Drew Two BFFs Together—and Gave Them the Shock of Their Lives

A friendship that spanned thousands of miles and 57 years revealed itself to be even more amazing thanks to a stunning bit of synchronicity. By Nita Anderson as told to Jennifer Rodrigo.

When I was in sixth grade, I was told I could choose any book I wanted for a book report. I picked The Diary of Anne Frank because the word “diary” appealed to me. I had no idea it was the true story of a 14-year-old Jewish girl hidden and sheltered from the Nazis in an attic during World War II. The book moved me so much that I wanted a Dutch pen pal. Soon after, with help from my dad, I found Ingrid Wolff, who was two years older than me and who lived in Dordrecht, Netherlands.

The book moved me so much that I wanted a Dutch pen pal.

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