Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
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Book Reviews of Number the Stars
Book Review: Ara's Thought
Summary: 5 Stars
NUMBER THE STARS¡°Number the Stars¡± was set during the German occupation and indeed was a hard time for all who lived in Denmark. Annemarie Johansen life is falling apart when the Germans start to relocate the Jews. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie you encounter heroic acts by citizens and heart pounding journeys. So the war goes on and Annemarie¡¯s parents take responsibility for Annemarie¡¯s best friend Ellen Rosen, while Ellen¡¯s family runs to safety. Later on Annemarie takes part in a daring scheme, which involves her helping, smuggle the Rosens and other Jews to across the water to Sweden. Not too long ago Annemarie lost her sister in a car accident. So when the Germans are relocating the Jews they come upon Johansen¡¯s home with the birth certificates and information ready to see who is there and not there. Luckily, again the will of them they do not see that the older sister was 19 years of age yet Ellen is way younger. Not noticing that, they believe Ellen as part of the family. Another act of courage that inside they had made brought them over this obstacle. Annemarie finds out why his father would to die to protect his King. To me courage, loyalty, and humanity are the main themes in the story. In the book these adult like themes are put to a child¡¯s perspective. The Holocaust was a very horrible in the story. The outcome of the failure is not spelled out, however it seems like the readers bring in their imagination to the outcome of the even kids feel like even if the plan does not work out there is potential consequence. That is why this book is good for people who like history and WWII and so on. The plot of this story is very strong but the real thing going on is the friendship between Annemarie and Ellen. These two girls are close and so close that they decide to help each others families and in doing this they have a made a big choice. There is one point where they are close to being caught in Uncle Henrik¡¯s boat. They are transporting some Jews to Sweden when the Germans arrive and they think of putting some handkerchiefs scented with rabbits blood so the dogs would be distracted from smelling humans in a secret place in the boat. It is the courage and loyalty in them that takes lets them going on in their rescue procedure. The moral of this once again is loyalty, friendship, courage, and humanity, and this is conquered in the book and that is why ¡°Number the Stars¡± is serious my favorite book ever and I recommend it to all kids who can read and who know what friendship is.
Book Review: Number the Stars
Summary: 5 Stars
Annemarie must take an important package to her uncle. Nazi soldiers with dogs stop her and search her basket then find the package. They rip it open only to find a mere handkerchief. Annemarie and Ellen are best friends that live in Copenhagen, Denmark. The only problem with their relationship is that Ellen is Jewish. Ellen's family must flee in fright of being caught by the Nazis, so the leave Ellen with the Johansens. The next day both of the girls were taken to Henrik's home in Gilleleje, Denmark. Henrik creates a fake funeral for some Jew families to gather together to flee the country to Sweden. At the funeral Ellen is reunited with her parents. The Nazis soon raid the gathering and demand the coffin be opened. Thinking quick Mrs. Johansen tells the soldiers that the person in the coffin died from a highly contagious typhus, so the soldiers were convinced to leave. Before leaving on Henrik's boat Annemarie must deliver a package to her uncle. On the way soldiers stop her and check her basket only to find a handkerchief. So Ellen and her family flee to Sweden and the war soon ends. I found this historical fiction very inspiring and would defiantly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction novel.
In the story I would have to say that I really admire Annemarie's characteristics. Even though her best friend Ellen) was Jewish she never stopped being her friend till then end. Even if being her friend may of meant imprisonment or dead by the Nazis. She stuck by her side though the bad and the good no matter the conditions.
Since Ellen was Jewish you would think she would a least a little bit afraid of the thought of being put though torture, but she wasn't. Ellen is a very courageous and brave little girl for doing the number of things she has done. Like coming face to face with the very people that could make your life a living hell, and not flinching or a bit of fear in her eyes.
Henrik is one of those people that you could use the term, "more than meets the eye." He was just a simple man that had a job as a fisherman, but you wouldn't think he would be someone to risk his own life for another. He wasn't the least bit of a selfish person. He saved the lives of several Jewish families at the risk of his own by transporting the out of the Nazi ruled land to Sweden.
This historical fiction novel was very insightful and filled with many different surprising twists and turns. So if you would like a good read pick up the book Number the Stars.
J.Liverman
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.