Number the Stars
Lois Lowry
Published by Random House Children's Books
Copyright 1989
Annemarie Johansen is a ten-year-old girl from Copenhagen, Denmark who is questioning her ability to be brave. World War II is raging in Europe and Annemarie has little understanding of what exactly is going on around her. She begins to realize the true danger that has entered Denmark when her best friend Ellen and her family must go into hiding because the German soldiers are beginning to relocate all the Jews in Denmark. Annemarie's family takes Ellen into their care as the rest of her family goes into hiding without knowing if they will ever see each other again. With her best friend living in utter fear for her family and herself, Annemarie finds the strength and courage to get her friend and her friend's family to safety in Sweden. She realizes that she is willing to put her life on the line to save her best friend and realizes that there are some things worth fighting for. To do this has made Annemarie one brave ten-year-old.
Reading Level: Grade 4-6; Lexile: 670L
Suggested Delivery: Whole-class Read (Social Studies/History Class), Guided Reading
Suggested Delivery: Whole-class Read (Social Studies/History Class), Guided Reading
Web Resources:
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| Lois Lowry |
Author's Site: Here you can learn all about Lois Lowry and her other awards winning books. You will find interview videos, teacher discussion guides to her novels, pictures, speeches etc.
Lessons/Activities for Students All in One: This site has numerous teaching guides for this novel that include Vocabulary Lists, Activities to generate inferential comprehension of the text, Lesson plans, etc. This site also provides a number of other websites you can go to for even more information on how to use this text in your classroom.
The following links are more teacher resources to use that will help students further understand not only this text but also the Holocaust. These include lesson plans, activities, interviews with Holocaust survivors, and further readings that are age and reading level appropriate should students need or want to do more research on this topic.
Key Vocabulary: This text has a unique challenge for students regarding language; there are words in a different language. For this challenge it might be a good idea to bring up a German translator from the internet so that the student can not only see what the words mean but also what they sound like. At this link you will find a vocabulary worksheet that will help students understand the English words as well as a few of the German words.
Suggestions for Activities for Students:
Before Reading: Before reading this historical fiction text it is important to do an initiation or lecture about the time period and the events that are occurring. Students need to have background knowledge so that they can fully understand what the characters in this text are going through.
Also before reading you could have a class discussion about one of the main themes of the text which is bravery. Begin by asking the students what makes someone brave? What are the characteristics of a brave person? How can we as students be brave? The teacher should record the students comments on large chart paper.
During Reading: As the students read the teacher might give them graphic organizers and reading journals to compare and contrast characters in the text, pick out specific passages of the book that might be confusing or interesting, display the plot/climax/falling action/etc, summarize key moments or ideas, etc. These notes will help them remember and reflect on what they have read. They might also help the students make connections to further research or class lectures that they may have as they continue to learn about the Holocaust.
After Reading: To assess the students comprehension of the text the teacher may give the students questions to respond to. It could be better for the students to be asked questions that are more inferential so that they might experience empathy for those to had to experience the Holocaust. For example, have the students do a personal reflection on the text by asking them whether they feel optimistic or pessimistic about human nature. You can find this and other questions and activities at this link.
Also after reading, the teacher should go over the topic of discussion that the class had before they read the text. Ask questions such as: What made Annemarie brave and why? What other characters in the text showed that they were brave? How would you be brave to save your best friend?
Awards and Acknowledgements:
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| 2-Time Newbery Award Winner |
National Jewish Book Award, 1990
Sidney Taylor Award, 1990
National Jewish Libraries Award, 1990
Publisher's Weekly Review:
Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
School Library Journal Review:
Grade 3-7. The gripping story of a ten-year-old Danish girl and her family's courageous efforts to smuggle Jews out of their Nazi-occupied homeland to safety in Sweden. Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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