In this inspirational memoir, we are invited into Cara’s and Otto’s personal and loving friendship—part of the far-reaching global audience of youth that Otto Frank inspired and mentored during his lifetime.
There are legions of books on the Holocaust and Anne Frank, and some on Otto Frank, but this memoir is a more personal reflection on the man and how he influenced, mentored, guided, and gave hope to young people of all races, religions, and cultures, the entire world over.
It is an uplifting perspective on what is really important in our lives.
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Book Review
Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite (source)
Tree of Hope: Anne Frank’s Father Shares His Wisdom with an American Teen and the World by Cara Wilson-Granat is a story that will lighten your life and which you will never forget. Ms. Wilson-Granat had a nearly lifelong granddaughter-grandfather, mostly epistolary relationship with Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank. The author first presents a summation of Anne Frank’s story and that of Mr. Frank’s liberation from Auschwitz, his re-marriage, publishing the diary, and later starting a foundation in Anne’s name. Then she presents their communications word-for-word. As a child, young Cara, as many young people did, wrote to Mr. Frank in Switzerland. In her case, he went against his policy of writing back only once (possibly due to her persistence), and thus a lifelong correspondence ensued. Now Ms. Wilson-Granat blesses us with the inspiring transcripts of those wonderful exchanges.
It was difficult for me to read these letters and notes through unclouded eyes. What could be sadder than what happened to the Frank family during the Nazi reign? But Otto Frank emerges from this letter exchange, in my mind, as almost a saint. Ms. Wilson-Granat, now a writer and lecturer, is dedicated to bringing Mr. Frank’s message of hope and forgiveness to the world. Tree of Hope is based upon a line Otto Frank brought to Cara’s awareness, paraphrased: 'even if the death of the world were imminent, I would plant a tree.' And through all young Cara’s teenage angst, and later her despair at America’s ills through the sixties and seventies (musing on her favorite popular songs, films, and fashions), he guided her, planting two trees of hope in Israel in her and her husband’s honor. She now inspires us all to plant trees, symbols of hope for a better future. I believe that Tree of Hope by Cara Wilson-Granat should find its place in bookstores and libraries right next to The Diary of Anne Frank, not only for the perpetuation of Otto Frank’s philosophies but also for Ms. Wilson-Granat’s having preserved and presented them for the transcendent beauty and truth they embody.
Top Reviews from the United States
"This is a timely book of hope and love to read in these turbulent times. The war in Ukraine and the fires in Colorado have left so many children homeless; this book could open up the conversation to work through the unfairness, and injustice they may be feeling. I will recommend this book to my teenage granddaughters and also recommend libraries at middle school and high school have this book. Otto Frank was such a wonderful mentor/grandfather who accepted and listened to children all over the world and shows how one person can still have hope after losing everything. I am still reflecting over Otto Franks response to the authors question 'If Otto knew who betrayed him.' His response was "it doesn't matter.""
~ S Williams (Amazon review)
"This book was such a “feel good” easy read that further enriched and confirmed my understanding of Otto Frank as a person. The message of hope and love that are repeated throughout the pages are really what the world needs in 2021. As long as people like Cara Willson-Granat keep spreading Otto and Anne Frank's message, the next generation will hopefully carry it forward. I particularly like that Wilson-Granat encourages the reader to write to people they admire and respect to express their feelings. I feel that in the current digital age we live in, writing has become a lost art as a way of expressing feelings and preserving memories. Well done, Cara Wilson-Granat."
~ Vince P (Amazon review)
"I heard the story of the author’s introduction to the Anne Frank story and subsequent correspondence with Anne’s father and was intrigued to read more. This story of one girl, then woman’s, connection not only to the story of Anne’s short life but fascination with the resilience and positivity of a man who lost everything set against her own youth in the US during one of our tumultuous times is a great story for today’s turbulent events. How could a person deal with the pain of loss of everyone he loved, the cruelty and inhumanity of the concentration camps, and yet be a beacon of hope to so many? It’s a time capsule of growing up and coming of age in the 1960s when hopelessness threatened to smother the flames of a generation. A story of a man with a big heart who became a pseudo grandfather to 100s of young people across the globe. And it’s a message to us all to understand that hope must survive, that reaching out to those who inspire you, no matter how far, famous or cloistered you think they might be, sometimes can change your life."
~ John McDonough (Amazon review)
Our book club in Omaha has been reading your Love Otto book “Legacy of Anne Frank” ; really really interesting it is. I wasn’t aware of your new ‘Tree of Hope’ book we’ll do that next month. Is there away to have you inscribe a copy of ‘Tree of Hope’? No worries if it isn’t possible. Had to ask though.
Our book club focuses on Anne Frank and Winston Churchill.