Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
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Book Reviews of Number the Stars
Book Review: Hide For Your Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Number The Stars is an amazing book by Lois Lowry. Number The Stars has several awards such as Newbery Medal. This book is a pretty short read with a total of 137 pages. Number The Stars is historical fiction and takes place in 1943 during World War II. Lois Lowry has written 25 books so far. One book that she wrote was called All About Sam, but no other books could beat Number The Stars.
Number The Stars is about a girl who is running in the street and gets caught by Nazi soldiers who are looking for the Jewish people. Annemarie has to hide her Jewish friend, Ellen, in her apartment so she doesn't get taken away by the soldiers. Annemarie, Annemarie's mother and sister, and Ellen go to their Uncle Henrik's house because there are not many soldiers there. They have some Jewish people come to their house and they take them to Uncle Henrik's boat so he can take them to Sweden to be free. There is one thing wrong; Uncle Henrik forgot something that he needs in order to get the Jewish people to Sweden. Will Annemarie make it to Uncle Henrik's boat in time before it leaves? Read Number The Stars to find out.
Number The Stars has many characters that have clever traits. An example of this is when the characters put a scent into the handkerchief so when the characters hide Jewish people in their boat the dogs won't smell them. Another example of how the characters were clever was when Annemarie hid Ellen's necklace in Lise's trunk so it looked like Ellen wasn't Jewish. The characters in Number The Stars are also very nice and caring. It was very sweet of Annemarie's family to take Ellen in and protect her from the soldiers.
Number The Stars has a great description. I loved how I could make a picture in my head. I liked how they described the soldiers on the street corner with their skinny and shinny black boots, rifles by their sides, with helmets, and cold eyes in their red uniforms. Lois Lowry also described the cow with big brown eyes and a wrinkled mouth like an old lady adjusting false teeth. The description that I least liked because it was kind of gross was when the dogs were standing by the soldiers in the woods with drool coming down their nose.
Number The Stars is a big page turner. It has great description and fantastic detail. I would highly recommend this book for any age. I would give Number The Stars 5 stars out of 5 stars. In this book you can really relate to the characters. You should check out Number The Stars really soon if you want to read a phenomenal book.
Book Review: Lives in the Balance
Summary: 5 Stars
This book provides a wonderful opportunity for both kids and parents to read a good story together and study history from a children's perspective. I always enjoyed reading historical novels, even as a kid, and my daughter, who isn't real crazy about reading, is beginning to change her mind because this story speaks to her. That it takes place in a country she never heard of before isn't relevant.
This is no fairy tale-it's the story of two Danish families, friends before the war, one Jewish and one Christian, who fight the effects of the German invasion of their country and the subsequent attempt to eliminate the Jewish population.
Through the pages of this book, we are given the story of the Rosens and the Johansens, who, on the eve of the Jewish New Year in 1943, wisely act to avert tragedy. The Rosens are blessed by the knowledge that the Nazis are beginning to move in and not paralyzed by fear into inaction. The Johansens are blessed by the knowledge that, as Danes, they could do nothing less but protect their friends and fellow Danes.
There are some scary moments, certainly, but not so frightening that children should avoid this book. Some books can be read without parents nearby; this one I recommend be read either by or with parents because some explanation of history is helpful.
One of the aspects of this book that I particularly liked was how it helps children to think and spot upcoming events.
At one point, for example, there's a reference to the Star of David necklace worn by one of the children. As the German soldiers barge into the Johansen home where the Jewish girl is hiding in plain sight, my daughter exclaimed that someone should hide the necklace before the soldiers find it. That's exactly what happens-the girls remove the necklace and the Germans are, temporarily, fooled into leaving them alone.
Luckily, the Johansens know that they've been granted a only a temporary reprieve, and so the rest of the story tells of Ellen Rosen's escape, along with most of the rest of Denmark's Jews, to Sweden and safety.
There are just enough ordinary details--the annoying younger sister, life in the shadow of a past tragedy--to leaven the story about the Nazis.
While the characters are fictional, the story, of course, is not, and so it is a great way for children to feel, rather than just hear, about the lives of people who fall victim to brutality and what individuals can do to combat evil.
I can't think of a better lesson for children to learn. Or grownups.
Book Review: Biggest Friendship
Summary: 5 Stars
"Hold still," Annemarie commanded. "This will hurt." She grabbed the little gold chain, yanked with all her strength, and broke it. As the door opened and light flooded into the bed room, she crumpled into her hand and closed her fingers tightly.
Terrified, the both girls looked up at the Nazi officers who entered the room.
The book, Number the Stars is about two eleven year old girls who are best friends. One of the girls is named Annemarie who is helping her friend Ellen to not get captured by the Nazis who are capturing the Jews because the Nazis are against them. Annemarie and Ellen have great and exciting adventures.
This story takes place in Copenhagen on Osterbrogade Street. The girls like to run there but the Nazis stop them and tell them not to run anymore. There is a war going on and they're trying to keep people off the streets. This is a part of the problem. The main problem is that Annemarie has to be always safe with her friend Ellen and doesn't get to be a normal girl because her friend is Jewish. Also the Nazis are taking over Copenhagen because of the war; Annemarie's family doesn't have things like coffee, sugar, butter, or cigarettes. They have to live only on bread and water.
I felt hopeful when I was reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry because I hoped the girls and their families would be safe. There was this moment in the book when I was confused because they called the uncle of Annemarie on the phone and their dad said, "Is the weather good for fishing?" Annemarie didn't understand that and then I just kept on reading and I saw what they were talking about. I can't tell you or then I will ruin the surprise. They were talking in code.
When Annemarie went to sleep with Ellen she was seeing the stars and that's when thought about the title Number the Stars. I felt scared when Annemarie couldn't find her mom and when I knew what happened I felt relieved. When Annemarie saw her mom where she was I started to feel bad and I also started to cry. I was so emotional at that very moment. If I was there I would have cried harder than I did just reading about it. I felt very sad when I was reading the book and so amazed at the same moment. I recommend this book to a reader who is determined to read about adventure and fun and also a reader who likes excitement. From my thinking, there is a possibility you will cry also.
Book Review: Number the Stars by Peter from Cutchogue
Summary: 5 Stars
Imagine that it is the 1940s. You are a young Jewish girl in Denmark and the Nazi soldiers are all over the place! Now your parents are being taken away! The only way that you can live is to pretend to be a part of your best friends family. How do you think young Ellen sill live? Annemarie and Ellen are best friends and now they have to be sisters! What could be better? Actually what could be worse? Having to protect a true friend and a family from breaking up? Read Number The Stars a Newbery award-winning novel by Lois Lowry, a true thriller.
German Jews gained knowledge and created a culture of pride and success. They became so involved with the culture of Germany that when the Holocaust came they could not understand how it happened because they considered themselves first and foremost. The Nazis soldiers are collecting up all if the Jews now and putting them in concentration camps. Ellen is one of the Jews. She has no one to protect her from being taken into a concentration camp but the Johansson family.
Young Ellen and her best friend Annemarie are living together. One night a couple of the Nazi soldiers came into Annemarie's house bursting in without anyone caring. It was around 4:00 A.M. Mother was screaming, "please don't wake my children!" But he didn't care one bit! He marched up the stairs to the girls' bedroom. The girls were all now awake and saw him coming. Ellen had her necklace of the Star of David on. She has never taken it off before and now she doesn't know how too. Quickly Annemarie ripped that necklace off her neck. The soldiers had now entered the room... The big disgusted soldier immediately went to Ellen saying, "who is the dark haired one" grabbing her hair. Annemarie had an older sister and she has now passed away. Her parents quickly gave her the name Lise. They even had pictures of Lise when she was a baby and luckily she had dark hair at the time. They left the room after hitting the mother in the face... Annemarie was so nervous that she had squeezed Ellen's necklace so hard that the Star of David was imprinted into the palm of her hand.
I LOVED Number the Stars. It was one of the best books that I have ever read in my whole life! Find out more about the life of young Ellen and Annemarie and more exciting, unbelievable moments of pain by reading Number the Stars. If you are a person that loves a true thriller and historical fiction then Number the Stars is definitely a book for you.
Book Review: A moving, memorable book
Summary: 5 Stars
Title: Number the Stars
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf
Author: Lois Lowry
Date: 1989
Reading Level: 4.9
Pages: 137
Genre: Historical Fiction
This poignant book tells the story of Annemarie Johansen, who is 10 years old and her friend Ellen Rosen in Copenhagen in 1943 (near the beginning of World War II). The story 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.
While the book has an amazing story to tell, there are a few things about the book that might not appeal to some readers. One is that, for history buffs, there isn't a lot of information about the Holocaust, and very little about its politics. Because the book takes place in Denmark, the incredible violence and inhumanity of the Holocaust is not addressed. To some, this may be a positive aspect of the book (especially for younger readers), but it should be paired with some historical information for older readers. Keeping a computer nearby for internet searches would be a great idea.
Number the Stars was a favorite of mine through middle school, and a book I loved revisiting, I would not hesitate to recommend it to people of any age. Very little young adult fiction about World War II is written from a perspective like this, an innocent bystander rather than a direct victim. It is easy to relate to Annemarie as she wrestled with the normal problems of being a 10-year-old, an older sister, and a daughter in school and at home. In addition, Annemarie's questions and thoughts about what was happening to her friend are the same questions I have looking back. Why did this happen? What can I do? What is the right thing to do? These questions not only are a good reflection on what happened during World War II, but can also help as a guide to thinking about current issues in the world.