A thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family abandoned their Amsterdam home and went into hiding in 1942, when the Nazis had taken control of Holland. The Franks and another family lived sequestered in the "Secret Annexe" of an old office building for the following two years, up until their whereabouts were revealed to the Gestapo. Because they were cut off from the outside world, they had to deal with hunger, boredom, the constant hardships of living in a small space, and the constant danger of being found and put to death. Anne Frank vividly described her experiences at this time in her journal. Her story is a fascinating commentary on human bravery and weakness as well as a captivating self-portrait of a sensitive and energetic young woman whose promise was tragically dashed.