Historical Fiction

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. New York: Bantan Doubleday Publishing Group, Inc. ISBN 0440227534

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Ii is 1943 and German soldiers patrol the streets of Copenhagen. It has been three years since Denmark surrendered to Hitler’s forces. Young Annemarie Johansen, age 10, learns that her best friend Ellen Rosen, along with her family, are going to be “relocated” because they are Jews. Vowing to do all they can to protect the Rosens, Annenmarie’s parents take Ellen in and pass her off as their daughter while helping the rest of the family get away. When the Nazis become suspicious, the girls are sent to Uncle Henrik’s an the coast. Once there Ellen is reunited with her family and they are all smuggle to safety in Sweden.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lois Lowry won Newbery Award for this novel of hope and courage in an age of persecution. The well crafted story keeps the reader in suspense until the final page, never certain if t he Rosens will make it or not. This is an important novel for young people today since it reminds us of the extremes that hatred and bigotry lead to.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
“What would you do for a friend? In this suspenseful novel set in Denmark in 1943, Annemarie Johansen answers this question with true bravery. When Annemarie discovers that her best friend Ellen is in danger, she tries to save her from the Nazis before it's too late. This is a touching story about the beauty of friendship..”

(2002). Number the Stars. Scholastic Scope, 50(17), 19. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.


5. CONNECTIONS
Kathy Jordan. (2004) A Guide for Using Number the Stars in the Classroom. Teacher Created Resources. ISBN 1557344248