Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Bibliography
Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. New York, NY: Houghton Mufflin Company. ISBN 0395510605.

Plot Summary
In Number the Stars, Lowry brings to life the terrible truth of the holocaust and how if affected everyone. Set in Denmark, it is a story of Annemarie Johansen and her family's attempts to help Annemarie's Jewish best friend, Ellen Rosen, and family to escape the Nazi relocation. During their escape, Annemarie is put to the test when she is asked to deliver her uncle's lunch to his fishing boat and discovers it is better to not know the whole truth at times.

Critical Summary
Lois Lowry describes the holocaust through the eyes of 10 year old Annemarie Johansen in Number the Stars. Set in 1943 Denmark during the Nazi relocation of the Jewish people, Lowry uses the real events and creates an unforgettable story of courage and friendship. Because the main character, Annemarie Johansen, is 10 years old at the beginning of the story, young readers will be able to immediately identify and relate to the story.

Johansen and Ellen Rosen are neighbors and best friends when the Nazis take control of their country. After learning about the Nazis' plans to relocate the Jews, the two families work together to plan the Rosen's escape to safety. During their escape, Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission and discovers the strength within her. Young readers will love the fact that a 10 year old saves the day and will long to learn more about this time in history.

It is evident by the details included in the story that Lowry spent many hours researching 1943 Denmark. She describes this research along with what part of the story is fact and what part is fiction in her author's note at the end of the book. A must read!

Reviews
Publishers Weekly: "The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget."

School Library Journal: "Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery."

Connections
*A great introduction to a WWII and holocaust unit in Social Studies.
*Interview a holocaust survivor after reading Number the Stars. This will help the children to understand the Johansen's and Rosen's bravery.