Number the Stars

Title: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Historical Fiction (chapter book)

Number the Stars is a historical fiction chapter book that takes place in 1943 in Nazi occupied Denmark. The book centers around the struggles of a young girl named Annemarie Johansen that she, her family, and close family friends encounter in Copenhagen. These struggles cause them to consequently flee their home town so as not to be persecuted by Nazi soldiers. Prior to escaping to safety, the Johansen family takes in Ellen Rosen, a close family friend, and pretends that she is Annemarie's older sister in order to ensure her safety. While Ellen stays with the Johansen family, the remainder of the Rosen family goes into hiding elsewhere. When the Johansen family encounters a close call with a Nazi soldier who nearly reveals Ellen's true identity as a young Jewish girl, the family plans to travel to Mr. Johansen's brothers house on the coast in order to avoid danger. Shortly after they arrive at Uncle Henriks, Annemarie discovers that Uncle Henrik is involved in hiding and transporting Jewish families to safety. Annemarie's family become involved with these efforts, and Annemarie unexpectedly is required to carry out a very important task for the Jewish Resistance. Annemarie must carry a package to deliver as part of this task. Annemarie is confronted by Nazi soldiers who confiscate the package she is carrying during the execution of this task, only to be disappointed by the seemingly innocuous contents of the package. Annemarie later learns that a handkerchief that was among the contents of the package had a special chemical that would numb the Nazi dogs sense of smell. As it turns out, the remainder of the Rosen family had been hiding nearby, so the handkerchief that numbed the dogs sense of smell allowed their safe return to reunite with Ellen at Uncle Henriks.
After the close of the war, both the Johansen and the Rosen families return to Denmark.

Number the Stars is a suspenseful narrative of a young girl's experience during Nazi occupation. Though this book has mature themes, it provides an insightful perspective of an important time in world history. This book is an ideal choice for students who are studying the holocaust, or any unit that concerns social justice. Number the Stars also addresses several strong examples of character traits such as perseverance, courage, and responsibility.