Detail
Title: Number the Stars ISBN: 9780440227533Published February 9th 1998 by Laurel Leaf (first published April 24th 1989) · Mass Market Paperback 137 pages
Genre: Historical, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Classics, Childrens, Middle Grade, World War II, Holocaust, Academic, School, War
Must be read
User Reviews
jessica
i was clearing out my closet over the weekend and found a box of old books that i read as a kid!
i originally read this when i was about 10 years old and i can tell you that, at that age, there was no way i understood the depth of horror and severity of the holocaust. and i wouldnt have been exposed to that in this story as its rather on the tame side (if thats possible for such a tragic event in human history). i just remember really wanting to be like annemarie, wanting to be the type of friend who would be brave enough to help someone she cared about, even when it was seen as wrong.
and so after a quick re-read, i feel comforted knowing that i grew into a strong enough person who is brave enough to do everything in my power to help those who need it, and to also stand up for what i know to be right, even when it might be hard or dangerous or unpopular.
and i hope 10 year old me would be proud.
↠ 4 stars
Candace
See more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
The second of the books that we listened to on my recent multi-generational, girls road-trip, was 'Number the Stars'. I could not have chosen better. This story was suspenseful, educational and deeply emotional. With an age range of 5 years-old to 88 years-old in the car, this book managed to hold all of attention.
Like most readers, I've read plenty of books set during the WWII era. Some were graphic and shocking in their descriptions of the horrendous acts that took place. Others, like 'Number the Stars' go a far more subtle route, choosing to leave much to your imagination, while providing just enough information so that the reader can figure out exactly what is going on.
With two children in the car, subtle and less graphic was an obvious benefit. However, I was amazed by the depth of understanding my 9 year-old had of the story that unfolded. I was incredibly impressed by the way the author was able to craft a story that appealed to such a broad audience.
Set in a German-occupied Denmark in WWII, 'Number the Stars' tells the story of a teenaged Annemarie Johansen. She and her family helped rescue her best friend, Ellen Rosen, and her family. The two girls had grown up together. Like their daughters, the parents were best friends also, having been neighbors for years.
When the German occupation becomes increasingly hostile, the writing is on the wall for the Jews. The Johansen's are ordinary people that took extraordinary risks to stand against injustice in the only way they knew how. They become active in the resistance movement, helping to smuggle targeted groups of people to safety.
I don't want to give too much away, because this is a story that I believe should be read and experienced by everyone. I will say that it was deeply sentimental and thought-provoking. There was plenty of action and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, but nothing too terrifying or gory for children.
This is the first WWII book that I've read about the Danish resistance movement. I greatly enjoyed learning about the Danish culture and the role that Denmark played in WWII. The stories about the King of Denmark were especially inspiring.
Mostly, this story was inspirational. It is about everyday people that do incredibly courageous things when backed into a corner. It is about the strength of the human spirit. This is the kind of book that makes you reevaluate your values and what you consider important in life. Everyone needs a reminder every once in a while, especially as the holidays approach.
I loved every minute of this story. It is another one that should probably make the "mandatory reading" list for school-aged children, lest we forget the lessons of the past. The audio was fabulous as well. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
stephanie
i read this in hardback, when it first came out, and i'd say it was probably the reason i became addicted to WWII/holocaust literature/history at such a young age.
i think it helped that i was so young when i read this, as imagining a ten year old standing up to nazis was something remarkable, but imaginable for me. i loved annemarie, i identified with her in ways i can't really explain. i read this book again and again, and it never changed. there are scenes burned into my memory: the fake funeral, the ripping of ellen's necklace, annemarie with the special packet, the idea of all the jews packed into uncle henrik's boat. and annemarie running, running fast like she did at school when she beat all the boys, running with a basket and a red cape (only later would i figure out the clever little red riding hood allusion), her blond hair trailing.
it also helped that i had great-grandmothers who remembered the war, a swedish au pair who told me about seeing denmark from sweden, and an insatiable curiosity about things like this - so i was looking up things on maps and reading about german shepherds and the "scent rags" and. even when it was card-catalogs and old books, i was a cross referencer. i have notes somewhere of my favorite quotes from the book.
i also love the ending - because it doesn't condescend. the ending, unlike the book, is ambigious in its ending. we know the war is over, we know annemarie survived - but what does that mean for a little girl, after all?
Ahmad Sharabiani
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry
Number the Stars (1989) is a work of historical fiction by American author Lois Lowry, about the escape of a Jewish family (the Rosens) from Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. The story centers on ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen, who lives with her family in Copenhagen in 1943. She becomes a part of the events related to the rescue of the Danish Jews, when thousands of Jews were helped to reach neutral ground in Sweden in order to avoid being relocated to concentration camps. She risked her life in order to help her best friend, Ellen Rosen, by pretending that Ellen is Annemarie's late older sister Lise, who had died earlier in the war. Lise had been killed by the Nazi military as a result of her work with the Danish Resistance, though her former fiancé Peter, based in part on Danish resistance member Kim Malthe-Bruun, continues to help them.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز نخست ماه سپتامیر سال2017میلادی
عنوان: ستارهها را بشمار؛ نویسنده: لوئیس لوری؛ مترجم: پروین علیپور؛ ویراستار: احمد پورامینی؛ تهران: نشر افق، سال1395؛ در137ص؛ شابک9786003532359؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
در کتاب «ستاره ها را بشمار»؛ «آنه مری» دختر دهساله ای ست، که با پدر، مادر، و خواهر کوچکترش «کرست»، در جنگ جهانی دوم در «کپنهاک دانمارک» زندگی میکنند؛ او دوستی دارد، به نام «آلن»، که دختری یهودی و پدرش آموزگار است؛ سه سال است که «دانمارک» در اشغال آلمانیهاست، و برای «آلن» و خانواده اش، که یهودی هستند، مزاحمتهای آلمانیها نمایان است؛ «آنه مری» و خانواده اش، پس از باخبر شدن از یورش احتمالی نازیها، برای دستگیری یهودیان، «آلن» را، به خانه ی خودشان میآورند، و در برابر نازیها وانمود میکنند، که «آلن» نیز دختر خانواده ی آنهاست؛ آنان با یاری دایی «هنریک»، که مرد مبارزی است، یاری میکنند تا بسیاری از خانواده های یهودیان، از جمله خانواده ی «آلن»، به «سوئد» بروند، و نجات پیدا کنند؛ سرانجام جنگ به پایان میرسد، و «آلن» و خانواده اش، به «دانمارک» و خانه ی خویش برمیگردند؛
این داستان واقعگرای ضد جنگ، نوجوان خوانشگر را، با مصیبتهای یهودی بودن، در زمان اشغال «دانمارک»، توسط نازیها در جنگ جهانی دوم، آشنا میکند؛ تصویر کتاب در روی جلد، که چهره ی نگران یک دختر یهودی است، نشان از این مصیبت دارد؛ داستان پر هیجان و جذاب است؛ روابط صمیمی افراد خانواده را، با هم و با سایر همسایه ها، به زیبایی بیان میکند؛ به نقش نهضت مقاومت «دانمارک» اشاره دارد؛ حس وطن پرستی، و دوست داشتن سرزمین، در کتاب روشن است؛ اثر به سختیها، محرومیتها، نبود مایحتاج و ایستادگی در برابر دشمن در زمان جنگ، میپردازد؛ کتاب پیام آور صلح و امید برانگیز نیز هست؛ بیان زیبای دوستی، بین یک دانش آموز مسیحی، با یک دانش آموز یهودی، و تلاش برای نجات جان او، بدون هراسیدن از دشمن را، در خود نهفته دارد؛ این اثر در سال1990میلادی، برنده جایزه «نیوبری» و همچنین کتاب برگزیده ی سال به انتخاب «انجمن کتابداران امریکا» و مجله «اسکول لایبرری» بوده است؛ «لوئیس لوری» نویسنده ی آمریکایی بیش از سی رمان، برای نوجوانان بنوشته است؛ «لوری» برای رمان دیگری، با عنوان: «بخشنده» هم، جایزه «نیوبری» را بگرفته است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/03/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 20/02/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Duane
4.5 stars for this jewel. One reason I enjoy historical fiction is the educational aspect; learning about something for the first time. This is not your typical WWII/Holocaust book. This one tells the story of how the Danish people, after their small country was invaded by Germany, smuggled nearly the entire population of Jews (7,000) across the sea to Sweden, saving them from deportation and almost certain death.
The story is told through the eyes of 10 year old Annemarie Johansen, and how her family participated in the hiding and smuggling of the Jewish people, and their involvement in the Danish Resistance. Well done Lois Lowry. Winning the 1990 Newberry Medal for outstanding children's literature was well deserved.
Dem
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written Historical Fiction story which I believe was written for children and yet adults may well find it such a worthwhile and enjoyable read as well
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.
A short book will just enough historical detail to educate a young (and not so young reader) and interesting and likeable characters, I loved the bravery and courage of Danish people and how they looked out for their neighbours.
Its a beautiful story full of hope and suspense and I certainly enjoyed every moment. I look forward to reading some Non Fiction books about this time in Denmark's history.
I listened to this on audible and at under 3 hours its such a great book to escape with back to a different time.
James
As part of a children's book readathon I am hosting on my blog, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry was voted as a winner in the poll. We assigned this stellar Newbery Medal winner to this week and have been sharing all our reviews. Normally I'm not a fan of reading literature that delves into this subject matter, but given it was written for young adults / children, I thought it would be less painful. While it was definitely less harsh than a few other books I've read on the topic, it was still quite emotional. To think what cruel people condoned because of differences in humankind is atrocious, but this book was wonderful.
Lowry provides the right balance of positive and negative emotion ensuring readers aren't swept up entirely in pain. The beautiful tale of unconditional love and support versus horrible actions and words from soldiers standing guard in a foreign country really conveys the message to kids around ten years old. There were atrocities in the past and we can't hide them, but we can showcase them as tastefully as possible. Kudos to Lowry. I can't wait to take on more of her books later this year / next year!
Werner
C. S. Lewis famously wrote something to the effect that a children's book so bland and simplistic that it could appeal only to children probably has nothing of much real worth to offer to a child reader, either. He was right; the best and truest (in the sense of Mary E. Wilkins' Freeman's comment that "All fiction should be true") stories written for children speak just as profoundly to adults. This book is a powerful illustration of that reality. At 137 pages (counting the Afterword) of fairly large print, it's a quick read, which I blazed though in three days; and the language and diction, while not dumbed down in any sense, is simple enough for readers as young as the 10-year-old protagonist to understand. But the depth of meaning in a story isn't determined by the length of time and verbiage it takes to tell, and the very simplicity of the tale heightens its impact immensely. (It's the perfect length for the effect Lowry wanted to create.) Like all great fiction, it's set in a particular time and place (here, Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943), and happens to a viewpoint character with particular demographic characteristics --a little girl-- but it leads all of us, of whatever age, gender, and nationality, to identify with her in the universal human issues and experiences that lie behind the particulars.
The Holocaust is a subject that's inherently harrowing. Until now, I've avoided Holocaust fiction (and read very little nonfiction devoted to it, except for The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom), simply because I already know what happened and don't want to drown myself in stark tragedy. This book, however, manages to bring a ray of light into that dark time: it's fictionalized, but it focuses on the real-life rescue of virtually the entire Jewish population of Denmark, smuggled by the Danish Resistance to safety in Sweden. (This isn't a spoiler, since the jacket copy provides that information.) It remains a story that looks human evil full in the face; incidents large and small drive home to the reader the ugliness of the Nazi's treatment of both Jews and Danish Gentiles. And even for readers who've read the jacket, Lowry conjures a palpable atmosphere of gripping tension and danger, especially in Chapters 8-15. But ultimately this is a story of the triumph of the human spirit and of human decency.
Lowry's messages are about toleration of differences between people, about cross-cultural and inter-religious friendship, and about the obligation of "ordinary" people to find the stuff to be heroes and heroines when circumstances call for it --lived out here in the object lesson, especially, of a small girl who's believably called upon to face enormous danger, in the face of her own fear. (The plot is excellently crafted.).
Lowry (1937- ) has twice won the coveted Newbery Award, once for this book. (IMO, that award was well deserved.) She's writing here of events in her own lifetime; but because she's going back to the time when she was an even smaller child than Annemarie here, and lived through World War II in the U.S. rather than in Denmark, she didn't grow up knowing the background of this book, and had to research it much as she would have a historical fiction novel. (The Afterword tells how she came to be inspired with this project, and what aspects of the book are factual --and a LOT of it is.) She did her homework well. I'd recommend this book to readers, young and old, who like World War II historical fiction, as well as general fiction; but really, to every reader. And this late-in-life first introduction to Lowry has definitely whetted my interest in reading more of her work!
Mischenko
Please visit my blog www.readrantrockandroll.com for reviews on children's books like this regarding the Holocaust and WWII
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is a book I read years ago. It's historical fiction but highlights the horror of WWII. It's a meaningful story that demonstrates what friends will do for each other when in need.
This is an easy chapter book for middle grade students and older. I have recently re-read it as an adult and was captivated once again.
5*****
Jennifer
I know- I can't believe I'm just now reading this. What kind of a children's librarian am I?
This is a nice little story about a family who smuggles some Jewish friends out of Denmark during the Nazi occupation in 1943. I always avoided reading this because it looked depressing, but it wasn't. It wasn't a light story, but it didn't have the horrible scenes that fill most holocaust books.
However, the author's note at the end affected me deeply. I don't know a lot about my Danish heritage- I've always thought it was a sort of boring one. Most people I've known are descended from Danes, or some Scandinavian mix. Other than the Vikings, there's never seemed to be much of interest there. I've always envied my non-Scandinavian friends' more (in my mind) exotic backgrounds.
I was amazed to read, though, of the courage and kindness of the Danes during WWII. The afterword spoke of the weeks in 1943 when the Danes smuggled almost their entire Jewish population out of Denmark- nearly 7000 people- to save them from the Nazi death camps. Astonishing. It makes me want to learn more about where I came from.
Janete on hiatus due health issues
I loved this book. I didn't know the Danish Resistance had smuggled about 7,000 Jews during World War II, transporting them to Sweden hidden in private boats, at the risk of being arrested and killed by the Nazis. Read it along with Scribd audio to improve my English learning.
Chris Horsefield
Lowry doesn't waste a word in NUMBER THE STARS, starting with Annemarie and Ellen's frightening run-in with German soldiers in the opening chapter. In quick strokes, Lowry establishes the setting and characters and foreshadows Annemarie's subsequent encounters with soldiers, each of which increases the tension. The symbol of stars weaves in and out: When the crowd of escaping Jews gathers, they are comforted with the words of Psalm 147: "O praise the Lord ... he who numbers the stars one by one." "How can anyone number the stars?" Annemarie wonders.
My favorite part of the book is when Ellen and AnneMarie are looking out over the bay and they say that's Swedan over there. The fact that they talk about Swedan shows me that they are hopeful, curious, and anxious.
Anyone who is interested in the Holocaust or the lives of Jewish families and their friends should read this book. I think this is a book I will always remember. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for a good read.
Gary
A wonderful novel for young readers about friendship, love, courage and fortitude.
In 1943 the Nazis have occupied the peaceful little country of Denmark, ten year old Annamarie Johanssen and her family live through the deprivation and fear of Nazi tyranny. The Jews of Denmark are being rounded up and sent to death camps.
Annamarie's best friend Ellen is taken in by Anna marie's family but the Nazis become suspicion of Ellen's dark hair contrasted to Annamarie and her sister's silver blond hair.
Annamarie and her family try to help to smuggle Ellen and her family, among other Jews to neutral Sweden.
Wonderful characterization for readers aged 8 and up, in a touching, stirring novel about how true friendship and love can resist the most ruthless evil.
. On the cover of the book is the Star of David necklace hidden by Annamarie for her friend Ellen, so as not to betray who Ellen is.
The title of the book is named for the stirring line of Psalm 47:
"The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem; he gathers in the scattered sons of Israel. It is he who heals the broken in spirit and binds up their wounds, he who numbers the stars one by one"
emma
this was one of my very favorite books when i was a kid, and simultaneously the scene where the child protagonist has to go through the woods at night alone in the pitch dark gave me a recurring nightmare in which i was doing the same and then i looked over at a pile of logs/branches/etc. to see the wicked witch of the west's eyes peering out from between two, a sight that petrified me so much that i saw it every time i closed my eyes for years to come.
this is not the only recurring nightmare i had about the wicked witch of the west.
i forgive this book, though. on the basis of excellence.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read ages ago and we all pretend it's doing something for us
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
I had to read this one to fit a challenge I was taking part in – had to find a book set in Denmark, and my options for that were slim. I’m happy I chose this classic children’s story – it left a positive and lasting impression on many for a good reason. It mainly focuses on Annemarie Johnansen and her parents helping another family during the dreadful Nazi period in 1943. Apparently her uncle is part of an underground support group for Jews in the area as well. Despite it being such a dark period in history, reading about the experiences – especially with people who make a difference – are interesting.
The author keeps it relatively short due to the age group, but a full fledged story happens in the 137 pages. The beauty of the title is tied into scripture verses relating to the stars, as the main character sits in wonder and asks herself how it would be possible for someone to be able to number the stars. The drugged handkerchief helping throw off the scents from hunting dogs was a new one by me.
The simplistic writing style fits well with children’s fiction but the author has a healthy hand with foreshadowing and putting a lot of hope into the words. Not everything is realistic but that’s not unusual with Historical children’s fiction either.
It may inspire blurry eyes a time or two, but it’s not overly depressing - there’s a redeeming hope. It would be a good introduction for children who aren’t quite ready for the excellent but little dryer Diary of Anne Frank or older, more explicit holocaust fiction and non-fiction they may not be fully mentally ready for.