NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Elin Hilderbrand has asked that a reference to Anne Frank in her new novel be taken out after numerous online readers alleged the passage was insensitive and anti-Semitic.
鈥淚n a flashback scene in Elin Hilderbrand鈥檚 novel 鈥楪olden Girl,鈥� the main character Vivi compares herself to Anne Frank,鈥� publisher, Little, Brown and Company, announced Friday. 鈥淲e are removing this passage from the digital edition of the book immediately, and from all future print editions.鈥�
In 鈥淕olden Girl,鈥� Vivi and her friend Savannah are talking about staying in the attic of Savannah's home and whether Savannah's parents would approve.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e suggesting I hide here all summer?鈥� Vivi says, then cites the Dutch Jewish girl who with her family hid in an Amsterdam attic from the Nazis but was eventually captured and died in a concentration camp. 鈥淟ike ... like Anne Frank?鈥�
Hilderbrand is known for such bestsellers as 鈥淭he Identicals鈥� and 鈥淪ummer of '69,鈥� in which one character is reading 鈥淭he Diary of Anne Frank.鈥� Responding to complaints about 鈥淕olden Girl鈥� on Instagram, Hildebrand wrote that she had made a 鈥減oor choice, that was tasteless and offensive."
She added: "Those of you who have read Summer of '69 will realize Anne Frank was a courageous young woman whom I revere, and her story remains deeply influential in my life."
The Associated Press
