Mister God, This Is Anna facts for kids

Mister God, This Is Anna is a special book written by Sydney Hopkins, who used the pen name "Fynn". It tells the story of Anna, a clever and curious four-year-old girl. Fynn finds her when she is a young runaway.

Fynn, who is nineteen, takes Anna home to his mother. His mother welcomes Anna into their home. Fynn becomes Anna's main friend and takes care of her. The book shares Fynn's memories of his time with Anna. It shows her deep thoughts about life, math, science, and her special friend, "Mister God." This book was reissued in 2005. It included a new introduction by Rowan Williams, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Story of Anna

The story starts in the East End of London in the 1930s. One night, Fynn is walking near the docks. He finds a small girl sitting alone. He sits down next to her and they start talking. Fynn cannot find out where she lives. So, he takes the child home. He learns that she is a young girl who needed help. For the next three years, Anna and Fynn are always together.

The book shares their unique friendship. Anna is very curious. She always wants to find a reason for everything. Fynn, who is a student, tries to understand her simple but deep ideas. They explore big questions about life. Anna often gives simple, common-sense answers. Many of their talks are about religion. Anna has a very personal way of seeing God. She calls him "Mister God."

Anna was very wise for her age. At five, she understood the meaning of life and love. She felt like a personal friend of "Mister God." By age six, Anna was like a smart thinker. She was good at math, philosophy, and poetry. If you asked her a question, she would always give an answer. Sometimes, the answer would come weeks later. But it was always direct and to the point.

Anna was interested in everything around her. The main idea of the book is about a child's wisdom. Anna understood more than most people would expect from someone her age.

Anna's Journey Ends

The end of the book describes a sad event. Anna dies at age seven after falling from a tree. Fynn feels very sad and upset. He blames God for a while. But then he visits Anna's grave. He sees it covered in many beautiful flowers. This helps him let go of his anger. He realizes that "Anna is in my middle." This refers to an earlier talk between Anna and Fynn. They believed that God is part of everyone, and everyone is part of God. Fynn leaves the graveyard with new hope.

There are also two sequel books. They are Anna's Book (1986) and Anna and the Black Knight (1990).

About the Author

Sydney Hopkins, known as "Fynn," lived in the East End of London. This was in the early 1930s when he was a teenager. He went to a local grammar school called Cooper's Company College. He left school at 15. He then worked for an oil company. He hoped to become a research chemist.

A theologian named Vernon Sproxton commented on Hopkins's ideas. He said that Hopkins's most important thoughts came from his life in the East End. He worked a simple job. He even had a small home laboratory. Yet, he came up with ideas that many highly educated people had not.

It is not fully clear how much of the book is true. It is also not known how much is made up. Vernon Sproxton wrote in the book's introduction. He said he had seen Anna's drawings and notes. He believed that she was a real person.

There is some confusion about Fynn's age when he met Anna. Earlier versions of the book said he was nineteen. But this would not fit the timeline of the story. Later editions of Mister God, This Is Anna changed his age to sixteen.