Genr 5- Historical Fiction- Book 1

Historical Fiction Book Review

Number the Stars

By: Lois Lowry

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0440403278

Plot Summary
Lois Lowry’s novel Number the Stars tells the story of a young Danish girl, Annemarie Johansen living during World War II. This story opens in the year 1943; three years after Germany had moved in to occupy Denmark. Annemarie and her Jewish friend Ellen become accustomed to the difficult life with soldiers on every corner. But now their innocent childhood friendship is disrupted when the Germans decide to start “relocating” all of Copenhagen’s Jewish citizens. Annemarie’s family takes in Ellen and presents her as one of their daughters to the snooping soldiers. Sensing alarm Mrs. Johansen then takes the girls on a journey to visit her uncle, a fisherman who lives the countryside besides the shores of Denmark. Little did Annemarie know that her family and many others were assisting the Danish Resistance by helping smuggle Jews to safety in Sweden. Even at the young age of 10, Annemarie finds courage and maturity to save her best friend’s family.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lowry’s backdrop correctly recreates the time and place of Number the Stars. She simply blends her facts throughout her novel. Lois Lowry brings the harsh times of food rationing, shoes made from fish skins, as well as, small triumphs such as the underground newspaper “De Frie Danske”, the bombing of the entire Danish navy fleet, tireless work by scientists and the patriotic King Christian that rode the streets alone to greet his people.

Lois Lowry tells the story through the eyes of a ten year old girl named Annemarie. She creates a character that young readers can connect to. When hard times come to children they escape and remember the good times. Lowry understanding of this is evident by having Annemarie remarks that she can remember family trips to “Tivoli Gardens” where she remembers the “music and the brightly colored lights, the carousel and the ice cream” but she is coming of age and is struggling with adult ideas. “Now that she was ten, with long legs “and “now she – and all the Danes- were to be bodyguards”. She pulls the reader in by examining big thoughts like “Would she die to protect them?” Lowry cleverly grows her character right along with the reader reaching deep inside making Annemarie brave, even if she didn’t know all the facts. Her character is not only thrilling but believable as her courage blooms even in the face of danger.

Readers will enjoy Lois Lowry’s afterword where she speaks frankly with to the readers about what is fact and where fiction begins with her story. This book will grab the reader’s interest and comfort them to know that even the young people can be heroes.

Awards
Newbery Medal

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal- Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.

CONNECTIONS

This novel would provide a great opportunity to write a letter to Annemarie from Ellen after she has been in Sweden in two weeks. Tell her about her boat ride and what her life is like.

Other Books By Lois Lowery:
Lowery, Lois. Gathering Blue. ISBN 9780786230488.

Lowery, Lois. Anatasia Krupnik. ISBN