Review: NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1998. Number the Stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN0395510600

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The happy-go-lucky life of ten year old Annemarie Johansen is turned upside down as the Germans take over Denmark in 1943. The young girl and her family are faced with having to protect their Jewish friends, the Rosens, when Nazi soldiers come to Copenhagen to “relocate” all the Jews in Denmark. Annemarie has her courage tested throughout the story when she has to face the stern soldiers on more than one occasion. Through the fictional families portrayed in the story, Number the Stars tells the story of how the Danish Resistance bravely assisted over 7000 Jewish people in escaping capture by the Nazi’s.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lowry takes the story of two innocent young girls who enjoy playing with dolls and running through the streets and develops a frightening account of how their friendship must stand through the German invasion and subsequent evacuation of Annemarie’s best friend and her family in order to avoid capture. As the story unfolds, Annemarie must quickly grow up and take on tasks that require courage and bravery beyond her years. Young girls will be empowered by her story as we find out that one of her acts of bravery save a boat full of Jewish people from being discovered and avoiding certain death.
Throughout this novel, the reader is introduced to the way of life under Nazi rule. From the soldiers on every street corner to their invasion into people’s homes, we come to understand the overpowering sense of loss of all freedom that was felt by those who lived through it.
The story of the Danish Resistance has not been told as often in youth literature as many other World War II stories; therefore, Lowry takes this opportunity to expose young adults to another facet of the German’s treatment of the Jews and a nation’s determination to help their fellow countrymen.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget."

5. CONNECTIONS
Have students write about or discuss a time when they had to stand up for someone else. How does it compare with Annemarie’s experience?
Have students research other acts of courage by people during wartime, including interviewing anyone they know who may have been in a war. (This is especially relevant in our day and particularly with my students since I teach in a military community.)