Number the Stars by Lois Lowery

Lowery, Lois. Number the Stars.

Laurel Leaf; 1998,

ISBN: 0440227534.

Reader’s Annotation

Annemarie and Ellen are friends, but when the Nazis in Denmark begin arresting Jewish families, Ellen must become Annemarie’s sister in order to hide her true identity and save her.

Plot Summary

Annemarie Johanson and Ellen Rosen are best friends living in Copenhagen Denmark in 1943.  World War II has begun, and the Nazis are already in Denmark.  One day, Annmarie and Ellen are racing in the streets when a German soldier stops Annemarie and questions her.  Her parents warn her to avoid that route to and from school from now on.  Annemarie has a little sister Kirstie, and she had an older sister Lise, who was struck by a German soldier’s car and killed before the beginning of the story.  Lise’s fiancé Peter, has become active in the Danish Resistance, and he comes to the Johanson’s and warns them that Jewish businesses are being taken by the Nazis, and Jewish families are being rounded up and killed or taken away.  Peter takes Mr. and Mrs. Rosen into hiding and Ellen comes to live with Annemarie’s family, posing as Lise.  When soldiers come one night to question the Johansons about the Rosen’s whereabouts, Ellen is almost killed then and there when a soldier is suspicious that the Johansons have two blonde daughters and are claiming this dark-haired girl is their daughter.  Mr. Johanson quickly shows them a labeled picture of Lise as a baby with dark hair like Ellen’s.  Soon the Johanson go to Annemarie’s Uncle Henrik’s house by the sea.  After one peaceful day there, Annemarie’s mother tells them that Great-aunt Birte died and that they were going to have a funeral—only Annemarie knows that there is no Great-aunt Birte.  The funeral, complete with a coffin filled with warm blankets and clothes, is a cover in order to prepare Jews, including the Rosen family, to be smuggled out of Denmark and taken by boat to Sweden.  Annemarie tells Ellen goodbye and goes to bed.  When she awakens, she sees her mother on the ground outside.  Annemarie runs to her, fearing the worst, but her mother has just broken her ankle.  But her mother has a package that must get to Mr. Rosen on Uncle Henrik’s boat.  It’s up to Annemarie to take it, despite the danger of the Nazi soldiers all around.  Annemarie has just become part of the Danish Resistance Movement.

Critical Evaluation

Number the Stars is a story of the Holocaust, chronicling the Rescue of the Danish Jews—The rescue that allowed the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population to avoid capture by the Nazis and is considered to be one of the largest actions of collective resistance to repression in the countries occupied by Nazi Germany.  Lowery puts a human face on the event, and tells the story through the eyes of Annemarie.  The novel has a gripping pace, with Annemarie, at the beginning completely innocent of the atrocities being perpetrated, and as the story progresses, becomes more and more aware and eventually involved herself.  Ellen’s Star of David necklace, which was broken when it was ripped from Ellen’s neck in order to disguise her, becomes symbolic as Annemarie works to repair it after the war ends a few years later.

Information about the Author

Lois Lowery began her career as a photographer and a free lance journalist.  Lowery, who was born in 1937, has written more than 30 books for children and published an autobiography. Two of her works have been awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal: Number the Stars in 1990, and The Giver in 1994.  She especially enjoys writing about difficult topics such as the Holocaust, terminal illness, and murder.

Genre

Historical Fiction

Curriculum Tie-ins

History (the Holocaust)

Booktalk Ideas

Do you think that Annemarie’s parents should have told Annemarie more about what they were doing?

What do you think that the Star of David symbolizes in the book?

Reading level/Interest age

Ages 10-Adult

Challenge Issues/Challenge Response Ideas

None

Why I included this work

This story tells a story of the Holocaust from a unique aspect.  It was included on Goodread's Best Book for Young Adults. 
Awards and honors include:

• An ALA Notable Book
• Newbery Medal (1990)
• A Horn Book Medal (1990)
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• American Bookseller “Pick of the Lists”

(show all 10 items)

 Great Quote from the Book:

"Now she was ten, with long legs and no more silly dreams of pink-frosted cupcakes. And now she - and all the Danes - were to be bodyguard for Ellen, and Ellen's parents, and all of Denmark's Jews."