Number the Stars (Yearling Newbery) [SCM]
by Lois Lowry Author
(From Amazon): It’s 1943 Copenhagen and the Jews of Denmark are being “relocated,” so Annemarie Johansen’s best friend, Ellen, moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. When Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission, she must find the courage to save her friend’s life.
Additional Details
- Resource Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0-440-40327-8
- Print Status
- In Print
- Chapters
- 18
- Pages
- 137
- Suggested Grades
- 6th - 9th
- Geographical Setting
- Denmark
- Historical Setting
- 1943 - 1943
- Publisher
- Yearling
- Edition
- Reissue
- Copyright
- 1990
Chapters
- 1 Why Are You Running?
- 2 Who Is the Man Who Rides Past?
- 3 Where Is Mrs. Hirsch?
- 4 It Will Be a Long Night
- 5 Who is the Dark-Haired One?
- 6 Is the Weather Good for Fishing?
- 7 The House by the Sea
- 8 There Has Been a Death
- 9 Why Are You Lying?
- 10 Let Us Open the Casket
- 11 Will We See You Again Soon, Peter?
- 12 Where Was Mama?
- 13 Run! As Fast As You Can!
- 14 On the Dark Path
- 15 My Dogs Smell Meat!
- 16 I Will Tell You Just a Little
- 17 All This Long Time
- 18 Afterword
User Reviews
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Reviewed by Parent/Teacher
This is definitely a good story that conveys the emotions and tension included in smuggling Jewish friends out of the country. The author does a great job of giving the "feel" of the issue while still making the storyline appropriate for 4-6 grade.
Unfortunately, the author also felt compelled to include two instances of language that seem a bit out of place for a book written for those ages. In one scene, the mother discovers an important errand was not accomplished and she utters twice a phrase that could be taken as either an expression of piety or breaking the third Commandment. The reader is left to decide which.
In another scene, the uncle employs a strong word when referring to the dogs that the Germans were using to sniff out Jews in hiding ("those d--- dogs"). It is the only time that word is used in the book and could have easily been omitted.
So keep those caveats in mind when deciding whether and how to use this living book.