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Number the Stars (by Lois Lowry)

common sense media says

Brave girl helps smuggle Jewish friends to safety.


parents & educators say
  • 31% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Lois Lowry's sense of timing and choice of details put readers in the middle of the story. A riveting read, but your kids may have questions afterward.

Positive messages: Persecution of the Jews during WWII is the issue explored in this thoughtful and memorable story.
Positive role models: Tells the story of a brave Danish girl who helps to save lives during WWII.
Violence: Fear of capture, several confrontations with Nazis. Annemarie's best friend is in terrible danger.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Number the Stars

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about lying. Is it OK for Uncle Henrik to lie to Annemarie, or for Annemarie to lie to the soldiers?
  • Why or why not?
  • What other choices did they have?

What's the story?

What's the story?
This stirring World War II novel personalizes the story of Denmark's heroic rescue of its Jews from the Nazis, telling of a brave ten-year-old Danish girl who helps her family smuggle her Jewish friends to safety in Sweden.

 

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Lowry doesn't waste a word in NUMBER THE STARS, starting with Annemarie and Ellen's frightening run-in with German soldiers in the opening chapter. In quick strokes, Lowry establishes the setting and characters and foreshadows Annemarie's subsequent encounters with soldiers, each of which increases the tension. The symbol of stars weaves in and out: When the crowd of escaping Jews gathers, they are comforted with the words of Psalm 147: "O praise the Lord ... he who numbers the stars one by one." "How can anyone number the stars?" Annemarie wonders.

But she is one of the brave Danes who save their Jewish neighbors, one by one. The ending, in which Annemarie vows to wear Ellen's Star of David necklace till her friend returns, would be hokey in the hands of a lesser writer; instead, it leaves a lump in the throat. So does the Afterword: Crafted as carefully as the novel, it makes the point that these fictional characters represent real people whose idealism was a gift to the world.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
Publication date: January 1, 1989
Number of pages: 137
Hardcover price: $9.00
Paperback price: $5.99

This review was written by Cindy Kane
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10
Based on 13 parent & educator reviews:
  • 31% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

Ericasdinardo
kid, 11 years old
 
Amazing book about truth
This book was amazing it talks about the truth of WWII and how hard it was to live. Any child who reads this will be left wanting more . Annemarie is a role model to me because she can stand up for what she fells is right so she risks her life for her best friend .

LaynieSkywalker
teen, 14 years old
 
e.g. perfect for some kids but not all sense some kids don't do violent books
I was a little iffy because it needs more of a ending at the end and it needs more detailed words to entice the readers. Number the Stars has some bad words but that only happens once in the chapter my dog smells meat. the violent things are that the Nazis soldier slapping AnneMarie's Mother and that they have to keep AnneMarie's friend Ellen Rosen away from danger at all costs sense the Nazis are "relocating the Jews"

musicforver
teen, 14 years old
 
a great book for kids

נαηє
teen, 17 years old
 
The Tween Range
I think that this book is for tweens and up. If you are older than 10, then all ages will love this book. It's about your two typical girls, best friends. Annemarie must do whatever she can to protect her best friend, Ellen Rosen, a Jew. Ellen's parents leave to protect Ellen, and ask the Johansens to let Ellen stay with them. Annemarie and her family of course say yes, and the adventure begin. In the end, Peter risks his life, being discovered by the Nazis and remembered on the night that his girlfriend, Lise, and him escaped. The Nazis remembered them, and realized that Peter wasn't killed that night. In the very end, everything is almost happy. No one knew when the Rosens would return, but they were safe - escaped. I thought it was a great way to end the book, knowing that everyone was safe. The letter of Peter written on the night before he would die was the saddest and most depressing. A story of true friendship. I read this in 5th grade and thought it was great. It's really awesome for using to teach children of literature in English class. It's a great book that will keep young children interested, even if they are in middle school / high school. A great educational value as well.

lollipop_luver
kid, 12 years old
 
SUPERB!
AMAZING!!! My teacher read this book to my class and we couldn't resist it!!!! The author really had a way to always make you want to keep reading and the story was amazing! I think it's a great way to introduce kids to WWII because its not TOO heavy or violent. In the end I found knew so much more about WWII. Also, Annemarie is a great role mode for tweens! I know I put that role models aren't so good too and I was referring to the Nazis. At one point in the book they say the "D" word and i think i recall them using idiot a couple times too. This book taught me a lot and I think it's a phenomenal and greatly written book! I also think it would make a really good movie......

caribbean girl
teen, 15 years old
 
for everyone over the age of 9 and up
i think for me who is a 13 year old girl. i find it a lot innterresting

♫Musiclover♫
teen, 14 years old
 
9-12.
I had to read this book for 8th grade Language Arts in FLVS. Anyway, I used to love reading when I was 10 or 11ish, I would read like 400 books a year, but I've lost my interest for it. Since I don't enjoy reading, and it was a required thing, I didn't really get INTO the book and study it, I was just kind of skimming to get it over with. I did like the basic story, I think it had many possible 'themes' and morals, I found it kind of funny because I had just gotten into an issue where I had to lie for my best friend, and then here's this book I have to read, about some chick that lies for her best friend. Anyway, I think the book is somewhat short and probably meant for 9-12 year olds, I don't think it's very interesting for 13+. The book is very well written, and it's a good story. I think it would of been much more interesting if I were a few years younger though. So 9-12, definitely, 13+, you may want to pick something a little more age appropriate. It does include the 'd' word once, but I was totally expecting it closer to the beginning of the book since it's dealing with Nazis... you kind of expect adult male soldier peoples to curse. As for all this crud people are saying about "language, violence, bad content...." they're really picking on every single thing they can use as an excuse to give someone else's brilliant work a bad review. Don't listen to them, this book is outstanding for younger readers.

mrs.mcadams
teen, 15 years old
 

Pinkalicious28
kid, 13 years old
 
GREAT BOOK
I read this in social studies and i loved this book! A mention of the word d - - -, but I didn't mind one single bit! <3ed it!

krissa
parent of 11 year old
 
Great book!

iko92
kid, 12 years old
 
Read it for LA
Interesting

Americangirlfo ...
teen, 14 years old
 
Great book love it!
This is a wonderful book there is nothing bad about it has positive messages, Good role models and its educational. And teaches a lot about the 1940s 5 out of 5.

bob897
kid, 12 years old
 
perfect for everyone to enjoy
I think this book is great. I read it when I was in 2nd grade and understood it perfectly. Suprisingly right now I am in 5th grade and ever since 2nd grade it was my favorite book. The weird thing is that I hate reading but this book was the best book ever.

marthe
parent of 18 year old
 
it is a realy good and educational book

AwalkeratCSM
teen, 14 years old
 
Right on for ten and up!
One of the best Newberry Award books out there; I would readily recommend this to anyone who asked about it. As CSM says, Lowry doesn't waste a word in this detailed story of a young Danish girl helping her Jewish friend and her family escape to Sweden from the Nazi regime. If I remember right, it took me only about a day to finish this eye-gluing book and even within the quick read there is so much depth and history embedded in the pages. Parents will be thrilled to find such a good and gripping book for their children. There isn't much to look out for except a bit of violence and suspense here and there. Basically, this is one of the safest books you'll find that deals directly with the Nazi regime. If your children are older when they read this book, say about twelve, and they enjoy this book's topic on the Nazis, they would probably enjoy "Daniel Half-Human and the Good Nazi" or "Parallel Journeys", which is nonfiction. Enjoy the book!

addon
kid, 13 years old
 
okay
okay book. Nazis suck. I read it for school.

Softballlover
teen, 14 years old
 
I justed loved that book! Really a good one. If you read it you wouldnt be wasting your time!

angel6757
teen, 14 years old
 
sad vilent......

isabella484
kid, 10 years old
 
not for yoth chidlen
It a good book but it not for ages ten and down so do not pick this book for and eight year old no matter how good she/he reads so that what i have to say about this boook

Budds
adult
 

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