As the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism … The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.
Winner of the 1990 Newbery Medal.
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This was an emotional and poignant read. Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen lives in Copenhagen with her family. When the German troops make plans to ‘relocate’ the Jews of Denmark she is caught up in helping save her best friend, Ellen. The story is beautifully told and tugs at the heartstrings. The author plays around with the concept of story, moving between fairytale and real life at crucial points, raising questions as to what it truly means to be brave. I’m glad to have this classic on my shelf.
“Number the Stars” is a Holocaust novel aimed mostly at the YA readers, but it’s actually a perfect read for everyone. Told through the eyes of a young girl, Annemarie, it teaches love and compassion, courage and determination to fight for the right cause, and it’s such a universal message that is still relevant today and which people need to be reminded of more often. When the Germans came, it would have been so easy for Annemarie to turn a blind eye to the danger in which her best friend, Ellen’s family finds itself; yet, just like her parents, Annemarie chose to protect their Jewish neighbors and friends instead, even though the punishment for aiding the Jews was quite often incarceration and even death. This is a novel that not only teaches history but which makes one ponder: how often we turn a blind eye to the sufferings of minorities? How often we choose to say, “welp, it’s the law/not my business/some other suitable excuse here” and pretend that those people don’t even exist? “Number the Stars” teaches its readers to refuse to be indifferent bystanders, and that’s what makes it such an important read, and particularly for young readers during their formative years.
I think the characters are wonderful because the eye color and how they act in the book.
it is a really good book about the children of the holocaust.
I just read this with my eight year old. I’ve read The Giver before, by Lowry, and this didn’t disappoint. She’s such a good story teller. And my son has been asking me a lot about WW2 and Nazis lately (due to the news as of late) so this was an excellent way to weave in a little history by focusing in one family’s experience with loss and resistance.
i just love the way this book is set up
What a nice story
This book was a recommendation from my daughter. She read it for school and thought I would enjoy it. I am happy to say she was correct. This is the 2nd book about this time period I’ve read that is more about that sympathizers instead of the actual Jews. I find that I relate to that since I, myself, am not Jewish, but still horrified at what the people went through during that time in history. I was also touched by the friendship of the girls and the loyalty that was shown, not only by the main characters, but the supporting characters as well. I’m definitely a Lowry fan.
It was a good read. I liked it.
amaizaing
I LOVE this book……..
It was funny the way Christy acted, and how their was so kind to protect Ellen.
it was realistic, in the way that not all is life is flowers and candy.
they gave the best happily ever after I could ask to.
I LOVE THIS BOOK (:
The Handkerchief
This is a story of the rescue of the Danish Jews in WWII. It tells a story of how one resistance member and a brave Danish family saved a group of Jewish Danes escape Denmark to the free country of Sweden.
The fishermen built false bottoms in their boats and hid the Jewish Danes in the space below. The Nazi’s knew that somehow Jews were being smuggled across to Sweden and they suspected the fishing vessels. The Nazi’s started using dogs to find the hiding Jews. Danish scientists came up with a formula of rabbis blood and cocaine that could be put on a handkerchief and ruin the smell of the dogs so they could not smell the Jews hiding.
Because of the caring Danish population, most of the Jewish population of Denmark escaped the Nazi’s.
This is a story of courage of the Danish people that risked their lives to save the lives of their Jewish friends and neighbors. The book is written for younger audiences, but it is good for all ages. I would recommend this book.
The book itself was pretty decent, i liked it because it was about the holocaust and the change of setting just made it a good book. The ending wasn’t the best.
Awesome Book!
This is a book with a timeless message.
It is so fun to read!!Perfect for everyone!!
i loved it
I love the story and how informative it is
Great book to help fourth graders understand what it was like to be Jewish in world war 2 and how non-Jewish people risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbors.