Well, this has been an educational thread. I didn’t know there were two versions of the book. Based on the few passages I’ve found online, so far the passages in question sound innocent. She is simply making observations about herself like a typical adolescent would. But maybe there are other passages that are more graphic...?
Nevertheless, given the maturity of the average seventh grader, even the more innocent-sounding passages might not be appropriate. Just picturing the kids making inappropriate jokes and comments in reaction to those passages...
It was definitely interesting to me because my daughter was initially sure of her position. Now.. since this thread.. we have talked and we have both concluded this: the teacher was asked by several class members if she was lesbian or bisexual. The teacher didn’t respond. The reason I think she didn’t answer was based on political correctness and I will explain why: if she said that no... Anne was simply going through puberty and not in the best of circumstances (no close girl friends, fear, living in an attic etc) and she simply wrote what she felt... she could be seen as “anti-gay”. If she said yes... (and that would be inaccurate).. it wouldn’t be factual and it would be wrong and promoting an agenda. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? I wrote out on #40 the paragraph that had her entire class wondering. IMHO, the teacher did an injustice simply by not telling them this was simple curiosity. To be fair to my daughter and her class... they are at the age where people are “liking” other people and their bodies are changing. With so much in the media, on t.v., movies, etc... about homosexuality... it is fair to say that they questioned these passages based on today’s society pressure. Their question was really innocent in a way... leaving it unanswered did way more damage than good. IMHO.