Florida high school axes graphic novel based on Anne Frank's diary

The book had twice been checked out prior to its removal.

By Ben Whedon

Published: April 10, 2023 9:04pm

A Florida high school has removed a graphic novel based on Anne Frank's diary amid complaints it allegedly minimized the Holocaust.

Vero Beach High School removed "Anne's Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation" from its library in March, the Associated Press reported. The school's principal makes the final call on removing a book facing a challenge and dissenters may appeal that decision to a committee.

The school principal agreed with the book's removal, which conservative group Moms for Liberty had requested. The outlet highlighted a part of the book depicting Frank observing nude statues of women and later suggesting to a friend that they show one another their breasts.

The book had twice been checked out prior to its removal. Published in 2018, the graphic novel's inclusion of sexual topics was a sticking point for Moms for Liberty leader Jennifer Pippin.

"Even [Anne Frank's original] version featured the editing out of the entries about sex," Pippin said. "Even the publisher of the book calls it a ‘biography,’ meaning, it writes its own interpretive spin. It’s not the actual work. It quotes the work, but it’s not the diary in full. It chooses to offer a different view on the subject."

Cristen Maddux, a spokesperson for the Indian River County School District insisted that its removal did not indicate that the school would cease to teach about the Holocaust, which Florida law requires.

"The feedback that the Holocaust is being removed from the curriculum and students aren’t knowledgeable about what happened, that is not the case at all. It’s just a challenged book and the principal removed it," Maddux.

Moms for Liberty also objected to several books in the "Assassination Classroom" series. That franchise depicts a scenario in which a tentacled being teaches a group of misfit students to become assassins and ultimately kill him. It has since been adapted into an anime series.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.