In the 10/7/97 New Yorker, Cynthia Ozick's "Who Owns Anne Frank?" notes that the Anne Frank story has been "bowdlerized, distorted, transmuted, traduced, reduced; ... infantilized, Americanized, homogenized, sentimentalized; falsified, kitchified, and ... arrogantly denied."

This book "Understanding Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl" balances some of the distortions weighing on the Anne Frank industry by presenting sources, settings, and historical documents which should go a long way toward smartening-up the discourse with true facts. It deserves a ten on the Amazon.com scale for content, readability, and responsible creativity.

The book also gives many programming ideas. It explains how you can adapt some of your existing programs for children into programs with high teen appeal,as well as creating new programs. Once you have planned your new program, the book has marketing tips to improve teen turn out. Many additional sources of ideas and advice are liberally scattered throughout the book.

There are also chapters on serving the underserved, issues of intellectual freedom and teens, and training the young adult staff.

This book will be a welcome addition to any public library's professional development collection.

At first it seems the children could have nothing in common. Sports-mad Robbo, quick-witted Ralph, sensible Claudia, fiery Pixie and dreamy Colin seem as different to each other as it is possible to be. Yet they soon find they have one thing in common, and that is that they are all the products of broken homes.

Having read several of Anne Fine's books, I would have to say I think this is the best. The lack of plot is of no consequence as the books main purpose is as a forum for the various stories. "Step By Wicked Step" proves that all pain eventually heals and that we have the power to change things for the better.

I found I could relate to the children, as although I have never had to cope with a stepfamily, my mother is a single parent. Colin's story I found especially moving, having never known my father.

I first read this book when I was nine years old, and still enjoy it even today. A combination of interesting characters, moving stories and the powerful, disturbing tale of Richard Clayton Harwick combine to make this an immensely enjoyable read.

"Step by Wicked Step" is a tale that is both funny and moving. It is the perfect read for any children whose parents have separated, or any child who has to cope with a step-parent or step-family. Even for those who aren't in that situation, the book is an absorbing read that will make you both laugh and cry.

If you enjoyed "Step by wicked Step", I would recommend "The Tulip Touch" by the same author, which is a powerful, disturbing read.

How many people are brave enough to tell you their story? Ralph (one of the children in the novel) was practically beginning now. "How many chances do you get to peer into someone else's life?" And with those few words, the five children gathered around a mysterious old diary are in for most unusual evening making it a night of stories, stories told by themselves. The author, Anne Fine, wrote this novel with a great insight and humor about the profound effect of divorce and remarriage on children. She shows how the children in her novel like all children of divorce believe that their are the only ones with stories like theirs. She also shows how in telling their stories , the children begin to face an important truth; to start to fix things out as Ralph (one of the boys in the novel): "They have to make an effort." Empowering to children of divorce illuminating to all, this special novel reveals the strength in divided families does indeed often come from the children. I read this book in my Modern Literature class and I did a report about it, in my Senior year. This is a good book for all those children who are in the same situation as the children in the novel, and for all people. This novel showed me how the children of divorce become to suffer with their parents situation (problems). I am not a daughter of divorce parents, but I have some friends that they do. They suffer because they want their both parents together. I really enjoyed reading this book although as I just said that I am not in that situation.