Mat-Su Borough LCAC votes 4-3 recommending reshelving graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank's diary

Initially published in 2017 and endorsed by the Anne Frank Foundation, Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation tells Anne Frank’s story of growing up and being forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

The graphic novel is the most recent addition to the list of challenged books reviewed by the Borough’s Library Citizens Advisory Committee, or LCAC. The committee reviews challenged books in the five Mat-Su Borough public libraries and recommends whether the borough removes, reshelves, or keeps the material. Following a challenge to the graphic novel citing “obscene sexual activities and violence, including child abuse,” committee members voted to review the novel at their meeting in February.

On March 10th, many LCAC members questioned the novel’s historical validity, while others emphasized that it is the only graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl to be endorsed by the Anne Frank Foundation.

After much discussion, members Chad Scott, Aaron Malone, Susan Hillman, and Camilla Potts voted to reshelve the novel to the adult section while Members Nancy Bertels, Dorothy Denison, and Sally Pollen voted to keep the novel in the young adult section.

Now, borough staff will review the LCAC’s recommendation and decide whether to reshelve the graphic novel. The decision will be announced at the LCAC’s next meeting on April 14th.