Number the Stars (Laurel Leaf Books)

by Lois Lowry

book data

17,791 ratings, 4.14 average rating, 1,818 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		39%
4		38%
3		18%
2		2%
1		0%

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published

February 9th 1998 (first published 1989) by Laurel Leaf

binding

Mass Market Paperback, 144 pages

characters

Annemarie Johannesen, Ellen Rosen

setting

Denmark

literary awards

Newbery Medal Winner (1990)

isbn

0440227534 (isbn13: 9780440227533)

description

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 ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 21,003)

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12/19/07

Presley rated it:

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: Anybody!

Number the Stars Bantam Doubleday Dell,1989, 152 pp., $5.99
Lois Lowery ISBN 0-06-447073-3

“Annemarie looked up, panting, just as she reached the corner. Her laughter stopped. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. ‘Halte!’ the soldier ordered in a stern voice ” (2, Lowery). And so begins Lois Lowery’s Number the Stars. When I first began to read Number the Stars a few years ago, I fo...more

Like this review? yes (9 people liked it)

7 comments

06/08/07

furies rated it:

bookshelves: childhood-favorites, classics, good-more-than-once, historical-fiction, holocaust, prize-winners, would-rec, young-adult

Read in January, 1990

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: t...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

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08/16/08

Mulligan rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: Those who like historical fiction and/or terrific characters

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry takes place in Denmark during World War II and the Holocaust. The story begins with an introduction to the cruelty of German soldiers who are occupying Denmark, the story's heroine, Annemarie, her younger (and more bratty), and her best friend Ellen Rosen. From there, this young adult novel tells a tale of bravery.

Soon after the beginning of the story, the Nazi soldiers begin attempting to take Denmark's Jewish citizens away to concentration camps (re...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

1 comment

01/30/08

Sara Davis added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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08/08/08

Jennifer rated it:

bookshelves: kids-books

Read in August, 2008

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 ...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

10/18/07

Adam rated it:

recommends it for: no one

Is it just me, or do most books about Jewish girls during World War II suck? I'm serious, it's like this book and "Summer of my German Soldier" were written with the same purpose in mind: educate students about the Holocaust in just about the most boring way possible. Thank God there's the History Channel, or else my generation would've have thought the Holocaust as if it were simply a story about little girls and their twisted lives. I'm probably overexaggerating a bit, but ut's the b...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

2 comments

10/24/08

Jennifer rated it:

I love books about WWII and this has been one of my favorites since I read it in 6th grade!

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

2 comments

11/25/08

Beth rated it:

On the back of the library's copy of this book is a review from The Horn Book Magazine that says "the whole book is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget." Well, I was about to put that bold statement to the test: "difficult to forget," huh? What if you read this twenty years ago and have had two kids and subsequent serious sleep deprivation since then??

Well, I can't remember items on my shopping list while I'm at the...more

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04/20/08

Jordan B Blanzy rated it:

Online Book Review
Number the Stars
Jordan Blanzy

The book “Number the Stars”, by Lois Lowry is an excellent book, especially if you like non fiction stories. “Number the Stars” is non fiction is told mainly in third person. The theme of this story is that you must appreciate what you have and always remember that friends help each other out. Also, the plot is that Annemarie, the main character, and her best friend, Ellen, who live in Denmark have a perfectly ...more Online Book Review
Number the Stars
Jordan Blanzy

The book “Number the Stars”, by Lois Lowry is an excellent book, especially if you like non fiction stories. “Number the Stars” is non fiction is told mainly in third person. The theme of this story is that you must appreciate what you have and always remember that friends help each other out. Also, the plot is that Annemarie, the main character, and her best friend, Ellen, who live in Denmark have a perfectly fine life. Unfortunately, it didn't last long because in 1943 the German soldiers invaded Denmark searching for any Jewish citizens to be relocated. Worried and scared, Ellen’s parents flee their apartment together to hide for awhile leaving Ellen to stay with the Johansen’s. Ellen and her family have to do everything in their power to hide from the German soldiers and flee to the nearest free country of Sweden. To do this the whole family goes to Uncle Henrik’s house in which they can sail to Sweden while hiding in the bottom of the boat. Something terrible eventually happens and Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend’s life. She does something that will change her life forever.
“Number the Stars” really was a great book for me. One of the things that I liked most about this story was getting a feel for what the Jewish people’s life was like during the war. I really never wanted to put the book down. The only thing that I didn't like was the lack of detail that the author gives us on the main characters in the book. If given enough details I can usually come up with a mental image of what I think the characters would look like.
The book “Number the Stars” has a very good example of irony because it is a story in which Annemarie thinks that she is a very frightened person and is always scared of the German soldiers. Uncle Henrik actually makes her realize that she is a very rave person and in the end we eventually find out why. Also, the tone of this book is that the reader is supposed to feel like you are in a very violent, angry world during a war era. Lois Lowry does a great job of displaying this. The kind of person that might enjoy this book is someone who likes learning about the past and learning about the jewish way of life. I would give this book four stars on goodreads.(less)

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

09/14/07

Briynne rated it:

I read this book compulsively as a child. It was my introduction to the Holocaust. Like so many book-nerds, I read precociously and therefore got to a lot of books before I reached the prescribed grade-level. So, I read this book before the words "World War" or "genocide" ever reached my ears in a classroom. I was fascinated by it all in a very child-like way. I couldn't really understand why the Rosens were in danger, so when Annemarie's father explains the whole thing ...more

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10/14/07

The other John rated it:

bookshelves: schoolbook

Read in October, 2007

While I'm officially retired as a full time home school teacher, I somehow got stuck with reviewing my daughter's writing assignments. I discovered that reading the child's school books really help when correcting her papers, so I am back to reading kids' books. Ah well. Number the Stars is the tale of Annemarie and Ellen, two girls living in 1943 Copenhagen. The day comes when the Nazis decide to round up all the Jewish folks in Denmark and the girls face the challenge of avoiding the soldiers-...more

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02/14/09

Melodee rated it:

I will be reading this novel with my students over the next few weeks. This is a great young adult novel that ties in well with our studies of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement. Although it is historical fiction, it reminds the students that people have been persecuted for not just their skin color, but religion among other things.

If you teach and use this as a class read, look for the movie "Miracle at Midnight" from Disney. It is based on the true story of the Dane...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

4 comments

03/02/09

Mavrick price rated it:

Read in March, 2006

i loved this book. it was very sad but very exciting. i never wanted it to end! you guys should deffinately read it.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

01/18/08

Ginny rated it:

(review of isbn 0395510600)

This wonderful story about a Danish family involved in rescuing their Jewish friends from the Nazis is a good—-and relatively gentle—-introduction to the Holocaust for young children. It’s hard not to be inspired over and over by the incredible moral courage of the Danish people and the strong moral leadership provided by the king, the military, and law enforcement. I wish this book had been around when I was a child.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

05/13/07

Lisa Vegan rated it:

(review of isbn 0395510600)

bookshelves: childrens, fiction, historical-fiction, novels, reviewed, young-adult

Read in January, 1990

This is a safe, easy way for children to be introduced to a little of what happened during the holocaust. When I was growing up, one of my mother’s friends was from Denmark (she traveled back there once a year), and she was very proud of how her homeland had behaved during World War II. I really enjoyed this book and thought of Edna while reading it.

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03/04/09

Peachy rated it:

bookshelves: awards, family, historical-fiction, inspirational, wwii, young-adult

I have a new found respect for Denmark and its courageous and patriotic people

Number The Stars is a heartening tale of the solidarity and love shared by a country and her countrymen, even whereby divergent religions could cause no fault. It is a tale woven with endearing and inspiring characters, written in a simple yet poignant manner, by one of the most affecting Young-Adult Fiction writers of our time. Lowry is a master in the art of the subtle details that invoke elaborate and gr...more

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11/07/08

Laura rated it:

bookshelves: adolescent-lit, historical-fiction

This is a great book to share with adolescents about the Holocaust. It is well written and makes students think about friendship and how far you will go to protect a friend. It is incredibly suspenseful and sad at times. It empowers the reader to be courageous in the face of danger and that even a child can make a difference.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

11/04/08

Tyler rated it:

Read in February, 2007

recommended to Tyler by: Patrica lenord
recommends it for: anyone

This is a great book by lois lowry its about a girl who was alive when the nazis were around as the would slaughter the jewish people and seperate them from the family and of course HER FRIEND IS JEWISH a very exciting tale of friendship and true friends a very sad story.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

09/12/08

Hannah rated it:

This book is based on world war 2. It's about a girl who has a Jewish friend and has to hide her in her house preteding that she is her sister. If the soilders figure out she's a Jew, she will have to be put into a concentration camp! It's a great story about friendship.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

1 comment

02/22/09

Jackie rated it:

(review of isbn 0395510600)

bookshelves: children---fiction, friendship, historical, holocaust, newbery-award-winner, wars-wwii

Read in February, 2009

recommended to Jackie by: Max M.

In 1943, Denmark was occupied by the Germans and Nazi soldiers were present on every street corner. Annemarie Johansen lived with her parents and sister in an apartment building in Copenhagen. Her best friend was Ellen Rosen. Copenhagen was becoming increasingly dangerous for the Jews and unbeknownst to Ellen and Annemarie, both set of parents were making plans for the Rosens to escape to Sweden where they would be safe. This is the story of the brave and loyal friends who helped Jews like Ellen...more

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