Number the Stars

By Lois Lowry

A powerful story set in Nazi occupied Denmark in 1943. Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is called upon for a selfless act of bravery to help save her best-friend, Ellen – a Jew.

It is 1943 and for ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen life is still fun – school, family, sharing fairy stories with her little sister. But there are dangers and worries too – the Nazis have occupied Copenhagen and there are food shortages, curfews and the constant threat of being stopped by soldiers. And for Annemarie the dangers become even greater… her best-friend Ellen is a Jew. When Ellen’s parents are taken away to be ‘relocated’ by the Nazis, Ellen is taken in by Annemarie’s parents and suddenly Annemarie’s family are under threat too.
Annemarie has to call upon all her resources for courage and bravery as she helps her friend make a daring escape.
A Newbery Medal winner by an acclaimed author *For readers from 8 to 12 *

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Dec 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9780007383634

Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.

Reviews for Number the Stars

[nu5bibliophile · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A short story that showed how Danish non-Jews hsmuggled Jews to Sweden from Denmark to help them escaped from being arrested and shipped into concentration camps. Good story. Captured the setting and the history well.

[angelab86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fictional account of how the Danes saved their Jewish population from the Nazis. Focuses on 2 Danish families.

[sarahgracegrzy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So cute! Not quite what I expected, but still super sweet! <3

[bettesbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Denmark in the occupation of WWII. Lois Lowry has created a story, based on true accounts, of how the Danish people lived, helped their fellow citizens, and saved their Jews from the viewpoint of a 10-year old girl, Anne Marie.A very fast, satisfying read that had me questioning my own humanity and what I would have done in Annemarie’s place. WWII may have been 70 years in the past but if we don’t know about the past there is the danger we will repeat the same mistakes. The Danish story is important because as a nation they did not give up their humanity or decency.

[deslivres5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Catching up on classics which I never read in my youth.It is historical fiction, recalling events during WWII where Danes and the Danish Resistance helped many Danish Jews to escape to Sweden when faced with being sent to concentration camps by the Nazi occupiers.

[angelag86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fictional account of how the Danes saved their Jewish population from the Nazis. Focuses on 2 Danish families.

[michaela.bushey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Number the Stars is a beautiful story about a girl named Annemarie and her friend Ellen during WWII in Denmark. It follows the timeline of the Nazi occupation there and their growing hostility toward the Jewish people. The plot describes Annemarie's family and their attempt to successfully smuggle Ellen and her family to neutral Sweden. The true history of the way the Danish people took their Jewish citizens into their homes, arms, and hearts is as beautiful as it is inspirational. Expertly written, this book is a must read for adults and children alike. This would fit in beautifully in a WWII unit narrowing in on stories and books about the holocaust. Many of the true elements of the story could spark further interest in and research on this time in Denmark's history. In addition, Number the Stars could start a discussion about creating a world that (as Lowry quotes in her afterword) has an ideal for human decency that is not narrow-minded or prejudiced.

[harleyqgrayson02 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. It is one of the many books that I have read many times. The first time I read this book was when I was a teenager and it became on of my favorite books. I love the character and the storytelling in this book.

[khoffy_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A historical fiction novel that discusses World War 2 and the internment of Jewish Europeans. It will help young readers understand the hardships of the Holocaust, particularly how it may have felt for non Jews to lose their Jewish loved ones. It shows the actions that people took in order to save their friends.

[wealhtheowwylfing · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am amazed at how many incredibly traumatic books are given to young children. To this day scenes from this book haunt me.

[jguidry-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this young adult book about the Holocaust. It was very age appropriate for middle grades. The dangers were made clear without being graphic in nature. It was interesting to read how all members of the family played their role in smuggling their Jewish friends out of Denmark. I also appreciated the author's note at the ended explaining what parts were fictionalized and what parts were real.

[alaina.loescher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a great historical fiction piece for teaching about the devastation of WW II. This book contains the wonderful message of having courage to fight for what's right and helping ones friends. I also love that the perspective of the story is that of a ten-year-old girl. This is the age that I want to teach and this book would give my students the ability to imagine what their own experiences at this time would be like. Thus, this book makes WW II seem more real than learning about it solely via a textbook.

[dccab73 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Number the Stars" is basically about a young girl, Annemarie and her family who assist Jews in Denmark to escape Nazi Relocation. I thought the book was very well written and interesting. Every time I read another book about the Holocaust, it just amazes me how incredibly evil we can be as a society, but at the same time I am extremely encouraged by the countless people like Annemarie and her family (although fictional) who put everything on the line to save others. I have read several Holocaust themed books. In my opinion this is not the best, however it is still a phenomenal book and a mandatory read for its genre!

[kreho-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This great historical fiction book describes the lives of young girls during the holocaust and their experiences. You can see the difference between the lives for the family who is Jewish and the family who is not. These families work together to try and keep the Jewish family safe. it shows friendship and how we we will do anything to keep our families close.

[tammie14-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. I especially enjoyed this book, because it was a slightly different view told during the persecution of the Jews during WWII. This story was told from the perspective of a non-Jewish girl, Annemarie, and her family, which I found to be interesting. We have all heard and read a lot of stories about the plights of the Jewish people during this time. Hearing a story told of the people who put their own lives on the line, and from a young 11 year old girl at that, spreads new light on such an ugly time in world history. I also enjoyed this book because of its realistic connection to actual historical events. For instance, the handkerchief that Annemarie rushes to her uncle. I found myself researching the handkerchief on my own, to check the validity of the story, and it sure enough was a clever way the brave people of this time used to hide the Jews and transport them to safety. The big message of this story was to educate on the people who helped the Jewish people and their bravery. They took great risk to help their friends and to do the right thing. These people should be honored in history.

[redheadish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great young adult book! I learned a bit more about the WWII era.

[missteacher_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A nice read about two friends--one Jewish, the other Christian--trying to survive in Nazi-occupied Denmark. This is a wonderful tale of friendship and courage, with a bit of suspense, and is a good way to introduce World War II to middle school readers. Though Number the Stars is not as exceptionally written as Lowry's The Giver (which I compare all of her books to), it is still fairly high-interest while remaining comprehensible to less able readers. There is just enough new vocabulary to challenge struggling readers, yet the story is not lost in the midst of "big words". Though other books may exhibit the trials of WWII more thoroughly, Number the Stars gives a pleasant tale from the point of view of an young outsider only trying to do what is right.

[bcshanks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book would be an excellent resource to introduce students to the holocaust in an honest but not brutal way. It is also helpful in sharing Denmark's role in the escape of many Jews to safety.

[melissadorish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This isn't an easy read, despite its relatively short length. Number the Stars can be classified as both multicultural and historical fiction.Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen enjoyed their friendship and their life. Then the war came and nothing was ever the same again. The year is 1943 and life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. Then, the Jews of Denmark are relocated and Ellen must move in with the Johansens and pretend to be one of the family. Not long after, Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life. This book would be an excellent companion book to a history lesson about the holocaust or a non-fiction account of what happened. The horrific topic may be a little easier to swallow when portrayed through the eyes of these young girls.

[ababe92 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good book that my students will learn alot about the history of world war I. I will highly recommend this book to my students.

[lp118825 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

WWII during the Holocaust in Copenhagen, the story talks about how jews were treated so badly and how much they suffered. A little girl named Ellen in particularly in this book. Similar to the story of Anne Frank. Personal Reaction: This book makes me so sad, but thankful for what I have today. And thankful that our country is not like that. It is especially interesting to me since I lived in Germany for almost three years and visited the first concentration camp called Dachau. This book could be introduced to students very carefully with parnets permission of course. Classroom Extensions: I would have my students write a memorial essay for all of the concentration camp and Holocaust victims, and we would have them mailed to a memorial in Germany. I would also have my students draw a picture of how they imaginied these families living during the Holocaust.

[sunni_loves_to_read · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was assigned back in grade school and I loved it I read it twice and am seriously thinking of reading it again, and passing on to anyone who loves to read. This book is about the time where there were concentration camps and families were ripped apart and the story of one little girl on a mission to find her family that was so horribly taken from her. I don't want to spoil the book if you are thinking of reading it. I rate this book 5 stars all the way!

[mcrotti_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Number The Stars is a Newbery Award winning book by Lois Lowry. Set in Denmark in 1943, the story introduces us to Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, who is Jewish. When Annemarie and Ellen are stopped by German soldiers on their way home from school one day, their lives begin to change. Ellen's family finds out that they must leave the country, and the Johansens take in Ellen, pretending she is their daughter. The Johansens then go to Annemarie's uncle's house, where Jews are covertly being smuggled out of the country. Although the Germans nearly uncover the plot, Ellen is smuggled safely out of the country.This book is read often in schools, and therefore it is imperative for libraries to have at least one copy. It would be useful for young readers in that it introduces them to the Jewish experience during World War II. Also, it provides interesting perspective on what was happening in Denmark at the time. Though the story is fiction, Lowry based some of her characters on actual people, making this a somewhat historically accurate read.

[melydia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's interesting how many novels about the Nazis are written from the point of view of a child. This is no exception: Annemarie is a 10-year-old girl living in 1943 Copenhagen, which Germany invaded years before. Her best friend Ellen is a Jew, and one day her parents flee to avoid "relocation." Annemarie's parents take in Ellen and have her pose as their daughter. There's quite a bit of tension every time the Nazis show up; I doubt I could have been that calm in the face of such danger at that age. Don't skip the afterword, which explains what parts of the book were based in fact; a surprising amount of details and twists turn out not to be just clever literary devices. It's a good glimpse of history, and unlike most books written about this time period, I didn't cry even once. Which was a nice change.

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Also one that kept being recommended. And it's one of those books that everyone's read, that you always see on the library shelf, but I never got around to reading. I think because the cover was never very appealing to me -- Jewish star + Norwegian-looking girl = historical fiction = not interested.And it is historical fiction, and an exceedingly simple story. But that's not a bad thing. Simple stories need to be simply told, but that doesn't mean their content is simple. Straightforward might be a better way of putting it. We follow a girl in occupied Denmark who watches the Germans tighten their grip, to the point where they need to help her best friend escape. And it's a good escape. But the story is told through the lens of the girl, so she doesn't really participate. We watch her watch. This kind of book would be a great introduction to WWII and the Nazi movement. Like Schindler's List Junior. Perhaps I am just too old to appreciate it for what it is. The moment's passed me by. But I think even if I caught it at the right age, I'd still be meh.

[mluke04 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The plot in this book is very well done. The reader gets a taste of the tension and conflict, that is going to increase as the book goes on, in the first chapter. The tension and conflict escalate into the climax and then is resovled when the families are safe again. This type of conflict is person-vs-person, Jews-vs-Nazis.This book is historical fiction because it takes place during WWII which really happened and contains a taste of the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis. The author includes the facts of the story in the Author's Note. This story was based on the experiences of her friend in Denmark during the German occupation. This is historical fiction because the characters are imaginary even though the story happened. Media: NA

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book on a whim since it was sitting on my library shelf; I had heard it recommended by others in my children's literature class and I also enjoyed Lowry's The Giver. Number the Stars does an excellent job of portraying some of the turmoil of World War II without delving into graphic details, so it is appropriate for younger elementary children.

[carolinetownsend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. This story shows the point of view of family during the Holocaust who is suffering from the German control and also assisting their Jewish friends in escaping. The main character Annemarie is extremely believable because at first she is oblivious to the prejudice of the Jews. As the years go on, Annemarie grows into a young woman who is very brave and will risk her life to help her family and friends. The main idea of this story is to provide a different point of view of the Holocaust and also to show loyalty and bravery.

[merrymary_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Young Annemarie finds the courage to protect her Jewish friend Ellen - and personifies the bravery and determination of the Danish people during World War II. This is a well-realized story with glimpses of daily life in Denmark during the Nazi occupation. The author depicts the particular brand of Danish resistance that was very special to that tiny country. The afterword vouches for the accuracy of many of the plot elements.

[salemsmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would use this book in a 5th grade classroom to teach the Holocaust and the bad things that happened during WWII. I would also use this book to teach point of view, because the story is written in Annemarie's point of view and she is the same age as the students would be. I think students would like this book because it is relatable and has a hopeful ending.I think this book would be great for drawing key details from the text (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2). This book includes many details that are all important for students to understand in order to understand this story.