Summary: August 14–November 9, 1942

Having written nothing for a while, Anne resumes writing after the van Daans arrive at the secret annex. New people bring in new conflicts. To begin with, Anne does not think highly of Peter van Daan, whom she considers shy, lazy, and awkward. The van Daans inform the Franks about the events that had taken place since their disappearance. The Franks are relieved to learn that their neighbors and acquaintances believe that they have fled to Switzerland.

Most days are uneventful for Anne: she has taken a break from schoolwork, and her father wouldn’t be tutoring her till September. She describes the quirks of the van Daans, and often finds herself particularly shocked by the noisy quarrels of Mr. and Mrs. van Daan. Mrs. Frank and Mrs. van Daan do not get along very well either. Further, Mrs. van Daan offers unsolicited parenting tips to Mrs. Frank and also scolds Anne, leaving Anne extremely annoyed. Anne also does not appreciate being treated like a “baby” by Mrs. Frank, who is constantly nagging.

Nonetheless, Anne soon gets occupied with tasks assigned to her by her father. She also starts working on a family tree with him to learn more about her ancestors. Anne also describes several noteworthy instances, such as a plumber’s visit to the office downstairs. These instances give the reader an insight into the difficulties of life in hiding. They always had to communicate in whispers and, on many occasions, sit absolutely still.

The war news filtering in from the outside is bad, and the little group in hiding hears that many of their Jewish friends have been taken away, crowded into cattle trucks and sent off to concentration camps, first in Holland, and then farther east, into Poland. Anne assumes that most of them have been “murdered.” She is horrified at the thought of how Germans and Jews everywhere are being treated.

Anne then mentions how her relationship with her mother and sister has improved again. Her sister and she decide to show each other part of their respective diaries. She also mentions an instance involving a workman attending to empty fire extinguishers in the house, and how in turn the group fears that they might get discovered. Later, Mr. Frank suffers from measles, which worries Anne. Thankfully, he recovers soon. The group also makes an effort to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays.

Analysis: August 14–November 9, 1942

With the arrival of the van Daans, there are three more people in the annex. Though Anne says their arrival makes her feel like she belongs in a “big family,” she notices a change in the dynamic within the house. There are more arguments, and more adjustments need to be made—evidently, not an easy situation for an girl to deal with. Such entries showcase just how observant and insightful Anne is as a writer. Although a biased observer, she makes some poignant remarks, such as “you only really get to know a person after a fight.”

Notably, Anne uses humor in an attempt to ease the situation at hand. Nonetheless, readers can observe that the group is largely unable to break free from the shackles of fear, as her description of the torment engendered by the plumber’s visit shows. Hearing the news is another source of fear and deep concern for Anne. The terrifying reality of their situation becomes apparent through such entries and passages.

Living in cramped conditions with seven other people is bound to take its toll on anyone, particularly when discovery means almost certain death. Yet, Anne always tries to accept their situation in a positive way and keep her spirits up.