It's 1943 and life in Denmark is filled with food shortages and the Nazi soldiers marching. The Jews of Denmark are being "relocated".

This book is about a 10 year old girl and her best friend. It tells about the life they live during WWII. She pretends to be part of the girl's family and their journey to survive from the Nazi's.

Age Appropriateness: intermediate

Media: photograph ( )

Number the Stars is about a girl named Annemarie who lives in Denmark during World War II and the German occupation. Her best friend is a girl named Ellen whose family is Jewish. When they discover that the German soldiers are coming to "relocate" all Jewish families, Annemarie's family takes in Ellen as their own daughter to hide her from the soldiers. They also send Ellen's parents with a close friend to hide them as well. They all meet up at Ellen's Uncle's house, along with a few other Jewish families. They are taken to Ellen's Uncle's fishing boat, and he takes them across the sea to Sweden where they can be free.

This has been one of my favorite book since I first read it in fourth grade. At first I didn't really understand everything that was going on in the book, but the older I got the more I realized how good this story really is. It is based on real events, and reading this book makes me feel good to know that there were people out there willing to risk their lives in order to save the Jews from the Nazis.

This would be a great book to read to students to introduce them to World War II and the holocaust. After students learn about the holocaust this book could give them some relief in knowing that there were people who helped the Jews. Students could write about how they would have felt living in that time period.

During WWII, Denmark was invaded and ran by the Germans. The Germans sought out all of the Jews and were shipping them off. Annemarie and Ellen are best friends in Denmark during the 1940’s. Annemarie has to find courage to help Ellen’s Jewish family escape to Sweden. Annemarie helps face the Nazi soldiers with courage.

Good book, great story of courage that includes Jewish history during WWII. I think that since this book is told by a child that it will be easier for children to understand.

1. Illustrate a scene from the book.
2. Study WWII
3. Discuss the title of the book. Where did it come from?

Annemarie Johansen is a normal girl with a normal best friend named Ellen. But Ellen is a Jew and the bulk of this story is how Annemarie's family helped Ellen's family escape, without the children knowing most of the details. Ellen hides with Annemarie's family pretending to be Annemarie's deceased sister, Lise. Annemarie, her sister Kristi, Ellen and Annemarie's mother travel to Uncle Henrik's house to help Jewish people escape to Sweden. Annemarie is a vital part of the escape when she helps deliver an important package after her mother tripped and fell returning to the house.

This is a great piece of literature for a sad time in history. Everyone studies the Holocaust and I think this novel illustrates it from a child's point of view. How very little they knew about what was truly going on. I also love the patriotism. There is a quote about all of Denmark being the King's bodyguard. I wish America could say that! The setting helped tell the story and it was very well told. It fits right along with Anne Frank's diary.

I think this would be harder to extend in class than most stories. We could find some actual accounts of children the age of the children in class and read them. We could also read/watch a movie about Anne Frank. We could write about how we would feel if we had to live like that.

Number the Stars

"Number the Stars" is a story that shares the perspective of Annemarie, a young girl who is not Jewish, who begins to experience how Jews are treated in Denmark during the German occupation through Ellen's experience as a Jew. While Annemarie and all the people of Denmark are experiencing food shortages, rationing, and a pervasive soldier presence, Ellen's experience becomes vastly different. After a raid at their synagogue, Ellen's parents must leave immediately. Ellen moves in with Annemarie and her family, and pretends to be a part of their family. Things continue to become more dangerous, however, and both of the young girls are asked to be brave beyond their years.

However there are some elements and developments in the story that readers in Annemarie's age bracket may not understand. For example, at one point in the story, Annemarie discovers that sometimes it is okay to lie to your friends, in order to protect them. I'm sure that readers of this book will not grow up as quickly or as soon. In fact, readers and Annemarie may begin on the same level at the start of the novel, only to have Annemarie outpace them to maturity at the end. There are also many beautiful but subtle nuances in the storytelling that may be confusing to young readers, such as Lois Lowry's many flashbacks and asides.

Moreover, readers who expect the kind of action and suspense found in "The Giver", another Newbery Award-winning book by Lowry, will be disappointed. They may find the plot boring and Annemarie passive. The reason for this is that Annemarie is not in the middle of the action, the way her friend Ellen is, but really on the sidelines. This is a story told by an introspective, sensitive observer. What it lacks in thrills and excitement it makes up for in depth. Children who have read "The Giver" and have felt what it is like to be the one who has to leave, can read "Number the Stars" and know what it is like to be the one left behind so I would consider pairing the two together for a school year of reading. This book will probably not be engaging enough for your lower level readers.

As a teacher I would provide the following extesion activities if I chose to use this book. Write a poem based on the knowledge gained from the novel and interviews about one of the following topics: Pride is…, Courage is…, Honor is…, Prejudice is…, or Bravery is… Example – Annemarie realizes that there are other sources of pride besides possessions and achievements upon seeing the Rosens in their worn clothes before their escape to Sweden. Use word-processing software to create the poems using appropriate fonts and clipart. Another great extention activity for extra credit may be to have students create thier own secret codes complete with decoder. ( )

So far it's really Good!!!!

This is an unforgettable story of a girl from Denmark whose family helps save the lives of their Jewish neighbors. It is an excellent read aloud or class study book.

Set in Denmark during the Nazi occupation, this story explores a lesser known aspect of World War II. The Johansen family, including ten-year-old Anne Marie, take over the care of her Jewish friend, Ellen Rosen. The Rosens are in danger and hope Ellen can pass as a member of the Johansen family until passage can be arranged for all of the Rosens to leave Denmark and go safely to Sweden. Anne Marie shows courage and determination in helping her friend.

Summary: During World War II, the Danish people try to smuggle in as many Jews as possible to rescue them from the Nazis. Ellen is one of these Jews, and she is taken in by the family of her best friend, Annemarie. This story tells of their courage, and is a true testament of friendship between two girls who will do anything to keep one another safe.

Reflection: What a touching book. I couldn't put it down. I'm not much of a history person, but my grandfather was a Nazi soldier, so I'm often drawn to stories about the people during World War II. Not only is this a great book that is historically accurate, but is is also a great story of friendship.

Extension Ideas: This would be a good time to do some team-building activities. It would be neat to visit a ropes course, and do some trust games and team-building challenges. It's a great way to teach the children about how important friendships are. Another idea would be to have the children share with the class about their best friend, and maybe share a hardship they've been through.

Number the Stars is the story of Annebelle and her friend Ellen. There isn't much different about Annebelle and Ellen. They are both young girls who love racing and being silly. However, Ellen is Jewish and the Nazi's are coming to Denmark to relocate the Jew's. Annebelle's family help the Jew's in the town of Copenhagen, Denmark by helping them escape to Sweden.

This book was a very touching tale about true friendship. It has a strong moral that no matter how different you may be from someone, you are still people.

I would have students research the time of Nazi Germany and use this book during the Nazi Germany section.

Though this is historical fiction about a dark time in the world's history, it is also a special story of friendship. It's a wonderful account of the Danish resistance, which many people are unaware of. They were quite a united force against the Nazis who occupied their country, and there are countless real tales of courage like the one recounted in this book of members of the Johansen family. This book won the Newbery Award in 1990.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is about 10-year old Annemarie Johansen whose family is involved with a dangerous mission of saving the Jews in Denmark from the Nazis who want to 'relocate' them. Annemarie's own sister had been killed for being part of the Danish Resistance. Now Annemarie must find the courage and strength to save her best friend, Ellen Rosen's life.
An exciting book that you wouldn't be able to put down once you start reading it! ( )

Two brave young girls learn how to survive through World War II and the Holocaust with the help of each other. One Jewish, one Christian, they struggle to avoid the worst from the Nazis. Annemarie helps by sheltering her jewish friend in 1943 during the German invasion of Denmark. It is wonderful story bravery and friendship. It is also a Newbery Medal award winning book. ( )

awesome book
i have read it many times ( )

Annemarie's best friend, Ellen, is Jewish. The Germans have occupied Denmark, and will be relocating all the Jews. Annemarie's family helps Ellen's family disappear, in spite of the risk to themselves. ( )

I have been told that this is an amazing book that everyone should read and blablabla but I didn't find it to be that great. I never really got into it. ( )

When I had originally brought this book, I didn't think that it would relate to World War 2, but after I started reading, I couldn't stop.
After I read this story I began reading other World War 2 stories about the Jewish people and Holocaust survivers.
I was really touched by this novel, I had read about something that could have been avoided, but wasn't.
It really is a shame, people hating others because of what they are or what they have.
I really hate the Holocaust. ( )

Must be a classic by now - story of Annemarie, a Danish girl who helps Ellen, her Jewish friend, to escape the Nazis. ( )

This story is set in Denmark during 1940's. German has invaded Denmark, and they are just starting to "relocate" all of the Jewish people. Young Annmarie must go on a daring mission to save her best friend Ellen from the Nazi's. In the beginning of the story the girls are together, happy, going to school, and learning how to deal with the invasion. By the end of the story, however, the war is over. They are no longer together and are having to learn to adjust to freedom all over again.

I loved this book. It was a short read, but a touching story. I wanted to run for young Annmarie, and I wanted to cry for Ellen. I am glad to know that the story has a "happy" ending.

In my classroom this book would be used as a way to introduce our Holocaust unit. After reading the limited information given in the textbook about the subject we would read the book as a class. This is a great way to give the students a way to relate to what some of the people went through at that time. When we have completed the story, the students will then write a review on the book. They will answer questions such as: How did this make you feel? Did you like the book? The students could also create a collage of important words used in the book. To tie this back into social studies, the students will create a time-line of the German invasion of Denmark, to include the "relocation" of the Jewish people.

This story is place in the year of 1943. The story is about a little girl who is brave. She is living throught the time where Nazi soliders were present on every street, shortage of food, and strict rules. She is best friends with a Jewish girl and one night she had stayed with them while her family was in hiding as well. The Jews had to into hiding because the Nazi soliders were capturing them. The day after her friend stayed with her they took her to their uncle's house in the country. That day they played outside and noticed that Sweden was across the sea. When night came Jews were smuggled into the uncle's house and then hurried through the forest and placed on boats. Nearly 7000 Jews were smuggled to Sweden for freedom!

I absolutely loved this book. The way the author used descriptive words made me think I was in that time period.

I would read this story aloud to older children. I would read a chapter or two at a time. It would be a great accessory to a history lesson over Nazis and Jews. ( )

In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie and her friend Ellen Rosen live in a world filled with school, food shortages, and Nazi soldiers marching through town. Ellen goes to live with Annemarie and pretends to be one of the family. Ellen is Jewish and Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. This was a good little story. It is heart breaking to think that many of people lived like this once upon a time. This book really makes you think about what you have and what you think are "problems". I am sure they are nothing compared to what these two young girls went through.
This is an upper level book and could be used as a bases to a report on the war that is covered in the book. ( )

This book goes straight to my list of top reads for the year, and is another fantastic example of children's fiction that confronts heavy issues head on. Lowry writes about the Holocaust in a way that is accessible for children, and still moving for adults.

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is the protagonist of Number the Stars, a short novel set in 1943 Denmark. Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, is Jewish; up until now, the Nazis, who occupied Denmark from 1940 until the end of the war, had left Danish Jews alone. In October of 1943, however, word was leaked to the Jewish community that they would soon be "relocated" by the Germans. Like many Danish families, Annemarie's parents and uncle plan to send their Jewish friends to safety in unoccupied Sweden. Soon Annemarie is called upon to demonstrate her bravery, as she must play a role in saving the life of her friend.

Lowry places Annemarie in a realistic situation - Annemarie does her part to help Ellen and her family, and the role that she plays is one that suits a ten-year-old. I really dislike it when characters in children's novel act like adults, but in Number the Stars Annemarie has thoughts typical of someone her age. She is scared by Nazi soldiers, and knows that Ellen's situation is serious, but that does not stop her and Ellen from laughing and having fun too. She struggles with the idea of courage, but learns that being afraid does not make one a coward - instead, being courageous is taking action despite being afraid.

Number the Stars was a wonderful book for a very rainy, grey day - it is a touching book about courage, friendship, and hope, and is sure to bring the reader some sunshine. ( )

This book really proved the points of the Holocaust gently, so younger readers can understand that there was a war without going into the terrible details. It was written well, and had well-developed characters. I finished in just hours, if that's any gauge. All in all, a good book. ( )