Number+the+Stars

Emily Smeriglio

From []
 * __Biographical data: __**
 * **Reading level: ** Ages 9 and up
 * **Paperback: ** 156 pages
 * **Publisher: ** Sandpiper; Reissue edition (May 2, 2011)
 * **Language: ** English
 * **ISBN-10: ** 0547577095

__**Author biography: **__ Lois Lowry was born in Hawaii and grew up in grew up in New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan. She studied for several years at Brown University and after graduating, she began writing. Lois Lowry is the author of more than thirty books for young adults. She has received many honors, among them the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader’s Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, __Number the Stars__, and __The Giver.__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Number the Stars __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> is told from the point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen. The story is set in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark in September 1943, the third year of the Nazi occupation of Denmark. <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Annemarie and her friend Ellen who is Jewish are stopped one day on their way home from school by a couple of Nazi soldiers. After they are stopped, a series of occupation events begin. Stores are closed down, and Ellen’s family flees, leaving Ellen with Annemarie’s family. The first night of Ellen’s stay, the Germans raid the Johansen household. Ellen pretends to be Annemarie’s late older sister Lise, who she believes passed away in a terrible accident. Annemarie makes sure to hide Ellen’s Star of David necklace. After the house is raided, Mrs. Johansen takes the girls to her brother’s house where Ellen is reunited with her family. Ellen and her family are taken to safety by boat to Sweden. The war ends in May, <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">and Annemarie and her family watch from their balcony as people parade in the streets with the Danish flag. Annemarie remembers Ellen and her family and realize that they will hopefully soon be returning home. She later finds out that her sister was not killed in an accident, but rather was killed by the Germans for being involved in the Resistance. Annemarie still has Ellen’s Star of David necklace, and vows to wear it until her friends return.
 * __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Summary: __**

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">This book is one of my favorites. It is because of reading this book that I have always had an interest in World War II. I feel that major themes of this book include bravery and courage. Annemarie needed to be very brave and courageous to save her friend multiple times throughout this story. I believe that by reading this story, children will not only gain knowledge of the German occupancy, but also be able to better understand these themes. It is often important for children to be brave and courageous. A teacher could even break this book down into the theme of bullying, and explain that by being brave and courageous, Annemarie was sticking up for her friend. Now more than ever, bullying is a large problem in schools, and with the help of understanding how to stand up for the rights of ourselves and others, it is something that can be stopped. Although the characters in this book may be fictional, the overall theme of the Holocaust is not, and by reading this book, students will definitely gain an understanding of this awful time period of history.
 * __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Review: __**

__**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Analysis of literary element (theme): **__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">I believe that the overall themes of this story are courage and bravery. These themes are depicted through a series of events that are faced by a couple of best friends, Ellen and Annemarie. Annemarie must often be brave and courageous for her friend Ellen who is Jewish. This story takes place during the Holocaust, and since Ellen is Jewish, Annemarie must often times ensure that her friend is safe.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Another theme of this story would be the Holocaust itself. Because of how this story is written, it makes a historical event thrilling and interesting. Although the characters of this story are fictional, the facts are not. Through this story, young readers can learn ample amounts of information about the Holocaust and the fact that __Number the Stars__ is written in the point of view of a young girl growing up, also allows students to relate.