Number The Stars by Lois Lowry

Bibliography:

Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number The Stars. New York: Yearling , an imprint of Random House Children's Books . ISBN 9780440403272

Plot Summary:

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is a book of historical fiction about the Holocaust. The main character is ten-year-old Annemaria Johansen. Annemaria lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. The year is 1943 and Nazi forces have occupied Denmark for over three years. Ellen Rosen, who is Jewish, is Annemaria's best friend. Annamaria and Ellen both try to live normal lives under the Nazi occupation. They still attend school and play games with each other. When the book opens the girls are on their way home from school and they are racing one another. It is made known that things are not normal when they are stopped by two Nazi soldiers. The soldiers tell them to stop: "Halte!" This is a German word that for the past three or more years the girls have become familiar with. Soon the Nazi forces begin questioning rabbis in the local synagogue for the names of Jewish families. Ellen Rosen and her parents are listed along with other Jewish families. The Nazi forces begin looking for these families to relocate them. Annamaria and her parents know this means trouble and must help Ellen and all the other Jewish families. Nazi soldiers come to Annamaria's apartment in the middle of the night looking for Jewish families. Ellen is safe because she is disguised as Annamaria deceased older sister. Now, Annamaria's parents know they must move quickly to save Ellen and the other Jewish families. Mr. Johansen, Annamaria's dad, calls his brother-in-law, Henrik. He asks "Is the weather good for fishing?" This was a code for "is it okay to bring Ellen over?" Annemarie, Ellen, Mrs. Johansen and Kirsti (Annamaria's younger sister) leave by train for Uncle Henrik's home in Gilleleje. Later Ellen is reunited with her parents as a funereal for Great-aunt Birte is faked. Ellen and the other Jewish families are taken down to Uncle Henrik's boat. Annamarie now understands that the Jewish families will be taken safety in Sweden. Two years later the war is over. All of Denmark celebrates. Annemaria awaits Ellen's return. She ask her father to mend Ellen's necklace, which is broken the night the Nazi soldiers come to the apartment. She wants to wear it in honor of her best friend.

Critical Analysis:
Lois Lowry's Number the Stars is a historical fiction story that gives the reader a view of a little girl named Annamaria and her family of how they helped saved the Jewish families in Copenhagen, Denmark (which is were the setting of the story takes place). Annamaria and her family and friends of these Denmark's Jewish families are brave. They risk their own lives to help save these families. From the moment the reader opens this book, the readers in forced to read more. The reader is forced to keep reading to find out what happens to Ellen's parents, do the Jewish families make it to the boat and what happened to Annemaria's mother. As the plot thicken in the middle of the story, the reader is left in suspense of will the Jewish family survive or will thw Nazi soldiers find out where they are. The plot was not sugar -coated and it made known that Ellen and the other Jewish families were not the only ones in great danger but Annemaria and the other families were at risk as well. The theme of the number is bravery and true friendship. The reader can identify with the importance of friendship and doing what is right. Lois' Lowry's style of written is soft, it reflects the warmth of a ten-year-old girls heart, bravery, innocence and love. Lowry's character Annemaria is precious, her concern and love for her friend Ellen turns into bravery and her innocence keeps her alive. The title is taken from Psalm 147.4, in which the writer of psalm relates that Gods has numbered all the stars in the universe. It is meant to tie into the star of David and Ellen's necklace.

Review Excerpt(s):

From Publishers Weekly

Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7. The gripping story of a ten-year-old Danish girl and her family's courageous efforts to smuggle Jews out of their Nazi-occupied homeland to safety in Sweden. Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

Lois Lowry's book Number The Stars is a great supplement to use when 8th ELA teachers are Reading The Dairy of Anne Frank. Number The Stars will help give another insight of those who helped out the Jews during the Holocaust. Student can write a compare/contrast paper of how the main characters roles differin each book.