LS 5603/Spring 2010
S. Vardell
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989. ISBN 0395510600
PLOT SUMMARY:
In 1940, Denmark surrenders to German under King Christian X. The Danes aided their Jewish Dane neighbors in escaping from Nazi persecution saving nearly 7,000 people by smuggling them to Sweden. Based on true stories told by a friend, Lois Lowery relates the story of fictional Jewish Dane Annemarie Johanson and her family in the novel Number the Stars.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Set in Copenhagen during World War II, fearless, heroic efforts by the Danish people under the leadership of King Christian X, Jewish men, women and children are saved from the persecution of the Nazi Regime. This book is a courageous story of the Danish people who choose to make a difference. Lois Lowery's friendship with Annelise Pratt, a Danish Jewish survivor, lead her on a personal journey to tell a story through the eyes of Annelise's (the real life reflection of Annemarie), an innocent child suffering against the backdrop of World War II.
"..I created little Annemarie and her family, set them down in a Copenhagen apartment on a street where I have walked myself, and imagined their life there against the real events of 1943"
Lowery employs exposition presenting essential information necessary for readers to experience and appreciate the peril of Annemarie's impossible situation. The first person point of view allows young readers to relate to the events surrounding her. Lowery uses age appropriate language without patronizing readers. This is not a violent account, but a true account of the happenings during the Nazi takeover of Denmark. Lowery's story follows the universal theme of helping others, making sacrifices for what is right, having courage, faith and love for mankind. 
The "Afterword" by Lois Lowery is located in the back of the book. Ms. Lowery documents her research and the influences that prompted her to write this book of historical fiction. This is a great novel to use when introducing the young to this reading genre. It is not overwhelming at 132 pages. The language is clear and the chapters manageable.
Finally she shares a paragraph from the letter written by the Danish young man, Kim Malth-Bruun to his mother:
"...and I want you all to remember--that you must not dream yourselves back to the times before the war, but the dream for you all, young and old, must be to create an ideal of human decency, and not a narrow-minded and prejudiced one. That is the great gift our country hungers for, something every little peasant boy can look forward to, and with pleasure feel he is a part of-something he can work and fight for."
Images Credited to:
http://www.teachers.saschina.org/
www.bgsu.edu/.../Jewishcitizen.html
http://isurvived.org/Denmark-Holocaust.html
http://www.bredalsparken.dk/~drabssageridanmark/html/drabssager_-_1942_-_1945.html
AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, 1991-1992 Winner Grades 4-6 Arkansas
Charlotte Award, 1992 Winner Grades 3-5 United States
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 1991 Winner Vermont
Golden Archer Award, 1990 Winner The Golden Archer Award Wisconsin
Jane Addams Children's Book Award, 1990 Honor Book United States
John Newbery Medal, 1990 Winner United States
Maine Student Book Award, 1991 Winner Maine
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 1994 Honor Book Massachusetts
National Jewish Book Awards, 1990 Winner United States
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 1992 Winner Illinois
Sydney Taylor Book Awards, 1989 Winner Older Readers United States
Tammy (BookHive (http://www.bookhive.org/))
Annemarie Johansen lives in Denmark in the year 1943 and there are Nazis occupying her country. One night, Annamarie’s Jewish friend, Ellen, comes to stay in her home. That very night Nazi officers come to the home and the Johansen family pretend that Ellen is Annemarie's sister, Lisle. Since it isn't safe in Copenhagen, the girls go to visit Uncle Henrik in Gilleleje and stay in his house near the sea. It is there that Annemarie discovers her uncle, her mother, and other people are taking Jews across the sea to Sweden, where they can be safe. When the opportunity comes, will Annamarie help, too? This is a moving story of friendship and bravery. Category: Adventure; Award Books; Historical; Realistic Fiction. Grade Level: Intermediate (4th-6th grade). 1989, Houghton Mifflin. Ages 9 to 12.
Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
This Newbery-award winning book is the story of a ten-year-old Danish girl who courageously helps to save the family of her Jewish friend. Lowry was inspired by the letter of a young Dane, who, on the eve of his execution, reminded young and old to remember and from that remembering "to create an ideal of human decency." 1994, Houghton Mifflin/Dell, $14.95, $8.40, $4.99, $2.49, $3.99. Ages 10 to 13.
CONNECTIONS:
Lois Lowry Official Website
Additional Subjects provided by CLDC
- World War, 1939-1945--Denmark--Juvenile fiction.
- World War, 1939-1945--Denmark--Fiction.
- World War, 1939-1945--Jews--Rescue--Fiction.
- Friendship--Fiction.
- Denmark--Fiction.
Teaching / Literature Guides:
- A literature unit for Number the stars by Lois Lowry. 1993 written by Kathy Jordan ; illustrated by Sue Fullam and Keith Vasconcelles. Teacher Created Materials, Huntington Beach, CA : U.S.A.
- Teaching guide for Lois Lowry's Number the stars.1995 Haggerty, Brian A. [ ] Addison-Wesley Pub., Nurturing intelligences core literature series
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