Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Set in Denmark during WWII, 10-year-old Annemarie is coming home from school with her best friend, a Jewish girl named Ellen, when German soldiers stop them. The already dismal situation in Denmark grows tenser as Jewish shops are closed down, and talks of more closers are imminent. At times, Annemarie thinks about her older sister, who died. She is curious, even hurt, when her parents never seem to talk about her.

As things escalate, Ellen’s parents decide it is time for them to leave town, temporarily leaving her in the care of Annemarie’s family. During this time, Annemarie remembers a conversation with her father about the Danes being bodyguards for the king. She decides the Danes must now be the bodyguards of the Jewish people. When German soldiers show up in the middle of the night inquiring about the whereabouts of Ellen’s family, they all pretend Ellen is Annemarie’s late sister.

After this close call with the German soldiers, Annemarie, her mom, younger sister, and Ellen visit her uncle by the sea. But as Annemarie discovers, it is not a routine visit but a plot to help several Jews escape to safety. On the night of the escape, something goes awry that jeopardizes the whole rescue mission. Annemarie must quickly get a mysterious envelope to her uncle before it’s too late. Putting aside her fears, she does what she is called on to do to prevent the plan from being thwarted. In the end, her bravery saves the lives of several people, including that of her best friend. At the end of the story, Annemarie holds on to Ellen’s Star of David necklace, hoping to return it after the war.

Reading Level: 9-12 years old
Read A Loud Age: 9+

Based on a true story adapted into this Newbery Medal-winning book, Number the Stars paints a realistic depiction of what goes on in the mind of a 10-year-old girl in WWII. When I was a young girl, I loved books like The Diary of Anne Frank and stories from this era of history. They made me want to be brave and bold like the characters I read about. Number the Stars is a beautifully written story showing Annemarie’s character development in becoming a “bodyguard for the Jewish people” as she said the Danish people must be. I appreciate the book putting this in a realistic light. She struggles with fear and doubts her own courage. At times, it seems she does not want to be called on to be brave.

This book handles a heavy subject, so adults might want to gauge the child’s maturity level and readiness as they consider this book. Number the Stars does not shy away from portraying what might have been some of the Danish people’s feelings about the German occupation or the hardships war caused. Lowry’s book is about a beautiful friendship between two young girls – one Christian and one Jewish.

Overall, a few things might make Christian adults uncomfortable with children reading the book. The first thing is the language (one curse word). At the end of the story, Annemarie wants to wear Ellen’s Star of David necklace until she can return home after the war. The fact that she (a Christian) wants to wear her friend’s necklace, which is a symbol of the Jewish faith, could be troublesome for some people. Adults may want to be prepared to address religious symbols and their meaning with children, especially with our proximity to people of different religions. The slightly derogatory tone people use regarding people from other nations was very noticeable for me. I am an expatriate who has had to learn a difficult language. Some of the characters’ reactions to foreigners who couldn’t speak the language well or their wishing they would leave hit me on a personal level.

As I read this book, I couldn’t help but think how relatable it is to what is going on in our world today, even though WWII happened generations ago. Our world is currently experiencing the highest number of refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people in history. A secular book like Number the Stars can help us as Christians evaluate if we will be brave in choosing a biblical response to refugees and immigrants. A book like Number the Stars can open the door for a conversation between parents/caregivers and children on this issue permeating our current newsfeeds.*

One Step Further:
*Women of Welcome has a family toolkit designed to help engage your child on the topic of refugees, immigration, and more.

*After reading the book, consider baking some Danish cookies with your child and deliver the treats together to an international neighbor.

Language:
Words: One occurrence of “damn”, one “Oh my God.” “Silly” is used several times negatively.

Name-calling or referring to people using words like idiot, stupid, dumb, a dope, someone having thick glasses, foolish, empty-headed.

Siblings refer to the other as stubborn or pest and speak to each other sarcastically. German soldiers are called the “enemy.”

Henrik says he hopes the soldiers choke on the bread they took from the lunch basket.

Questionable Behaviors:
Kirsti scowls at people. She also exaggerates stories and has an outburst over “ugly” shoes she receives. Annemarie rolls her eyes at something Kirsti says.

Annemarie and Ellen decide not to tell their parents about their encounter with the German soldiers.

Peter brings Annemarie’s parents newspapers deemed illegal at that time, which they burn after reading. He visits the family late at night, well after the imposed curfew. He also gives a small baby something to sleep – against its mother’s wishes – so it won’t cry during an escape.

Peter brings the parents beer, which they drink in front of Annemarie. There’s some references to smoking and cigarettes.

Annemarie’s mom tells Kirsti that the explosions are fireworks for her birthday. Ellen and Annemarie are told to “pretend” they are sisters. Other adults skid around the truth and talk in code to conceal what is happening (such as a fake funeral). At times, characters lie to German soldiers or do not disclose all the information to protect people.

Sexual Content:
Peter, who would have been Annemarie’s brother-in-law, kisses her and her mom on the cheek in a familial way. This is a common practice in several countries between very close friends and family members.

A soldier strokes Kirsti’s curls, saying she is pretty like his own daughter. (The book mentions how his demeanor softens while saying this, probably implying it isn’t meant to be taken negatively.)

Annemarie and Ellen reenact Gone With the Wind with their paper dolls, which is deemed “more interesting and romantic” than fairy tales and where the characters hope to see handsome men.

One German soldier asks the parents if Ellen (pretending to be Lise) got her dark hair from the milkman.

Other Things to Know:
The book has several references to Nazi soldiers, depicted as having “cold eyes” and guns and dealing harshly with others. It also mentions the swastika symbol and the relocation of Jewish people.

The book mentions the Resistance. People in the book are part of the Resistance fighters, with characters dying because of their connection with this group.

War brings financial hardships on the people of Denmark. This is represented in a lack of basic staple foods, rationed electricity, and food or items that German soldiers take from the Danish people.

Negative stereotypes: Annemarie thinks about the German soldiers “with contempt” because they still could not speak her language after three years of being there. Her mother asks out loud why they can’t go back to their own country.

There are references to fairy tales (like Little Red Riding Hood) and Hans Christian Anderson (who is Danish).

Lise, Annemarie’s older sister, has died before the book begins. The parents don’t talk about her (something that bothers Annemarie) or the full details of her death until the end of the book.

The book contains some elements of Jewish and Christian religion, religious holidays, and symbols. Kirsti seems to complain that they have to sit still in church, but Jewish holidays are spoken of reverently and as meaningful. God is mentioned, and someone reads from Psalm 147. The book gets its name from this psalm.

There is a short reference to Ellen playing a “Dark Queen” in a school play, but the play’s name is not mentioned.

A German soldier slaps Annemarie’s mom.

Annemarie wants to wear Ellen’s Star of David necklace until she sees her again after the war.

This review was written by contributor, Melanie. To read more about Melanie, click HERE.

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