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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Lois Lowry Brand: Laurel Leaf Edition: Mass Market Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1998-02-09 ISBN: 0440227534 Number of pages: 136 Publisher: Laurel Leaf Product features: - ISBN13: 9780440227533
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Number the StarsBook Review: My review of Number the Stars Summary: 4 Stars
Number the Stars takes place during World War II and is about one family's struggle to protect the Jews from the Germans. The main character is Annemarie Johansen. Her best friend, Ellen Rosen, is Jewish. Annemarie and her family try to save Ellen's family and other Jews by smuggling them to Sweden.
Annemarie is a brave girl who thinks she is a coward. She is tall, blond haired who is about eleven years old. Annemarie has a little sister who speaks her mind (like most young kids). Annemarie likes to protect Jews. She is protective by nature and is a strong Christian. Throughout the book, Annemarie and her family experience conflict.
The Johansen's experienced conflict when their daughter, Lise, was killed when fleeing the Nazis. They ran her over with their vehicle. Lise worked for the rebellion against the Germans. Her death made her parents sad and because of the secrecy of her death, Lise wasn't talked about. This put a strain on the whole family. In the same way, Annemarie experiences conflict because she misses her sister and doesn't know how she died; she doesn't feel comfortable asking her parents. Eventually, Annemarie's uncle tells her the truth; that Lise was run over by the Nazis following a secret meeting of rebels. Also the German's invasion on Denmark caused conflict for everyone in Denmark. Their presence made it unsafe for the Danish, but in particular, for the Jewish families. In fact, Nazis hated the Jews and treated them savagely. Moreover, Annemarie's friend, Ellen, was Jewish. Annemarie felt enormous conflict because she cared for Ellen and wanted her to be safe. For this reason, the Johansen's smuggled Ellen's' family to the coast where Annemarie's uncle, Henrik, lived and was a fisherman. A plan was hatched. Ellen's family was to be smuggled to Sweden. In the end, Annemarie became the one to save Ellen's family. She had to face the German soldiers alone and get past them, for the sake of the Rosens. She succeeded in her mission and the Rosens made it to Sweden.
The author uses the reoccurring theme of bravery in her novel. An example of this theme is shown when Annemarie cleverly rips Ellen's Star of David necklace off Ellen's neck just when Nazis soldiers burst into her bedroom. This shows bravery because Annemarie could have been caught and severely punished. Another example of Annemarie's bravery was seen when she encountered Nazis on the road and quickly created a false story so she could get past them.
The author's style in the book Number the Stars finds her utilizing strong adjectives in describing people, places, and things. For example, when describing something, she doesn't leave out any details: "The little red-roofed farmhouse was very old, its chimney crooked and even the small, shuttered windows tilted at angles. A bird's nest, wispy with straw, was half hidden in the corner where the roof met the wall above a bedroom window. Nearby, a gnarled tree was still speckled with a few apples now long past ripe." She has a fluent way of writing clear sentences for the readers. "The girls sat on a rock and took off their shoes and socks. They tiptoed across the damp stones and let the water touch their feet. It was cold. They giggled and stepped back." She also uses abundant dialog throughout the book. This allows the reader to get to know the character more. "Ellen giggled, `A little girl wouldn't go to a ball. Let's make them go someplace else. Let's make them go to Tivoli!'" These are all examples of Lois Lowry's writing style that make her such a good read.
Number the Stars conveys a message of courage and friendship. Annemarie's character demonstrated these traits well. The Germans' abuse of the Jews was clearly conveyed in this book. Ms. Lowry's use of words detailed this abuse. This book taught me about the German's occupation in another country and how their presence affected everyone; especially Jewish people. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy adventure and want to learn more about historical events surrounding World War II.
Summary of Number the StarsTen-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life. The evacuation of Jews from Nazi-held Denmark is one of the great untold stories of World War II. On September 29, 1943, word got out in Denmark that Jews were to be detained and then sent to the death camps. Within hours the Danish resistance, population and police arranged a small flotilla to herd 7,000 Jews to Sweden. Lois Lowry fictionalizes a true-story account to bring this courageous tale to life. She brings the experience to life through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen, whose family harbors her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve of the round-up and helps smuggles Ellen's family out of the country. Number the Stars won the 1990 Newbery Medal.
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