Number the Stars (Historical Fiction)

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry 

(Historical Fiction/Intermediate reader)

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, tells the story of young Annemarie Johansen who lives in Nazi-occupied Copenhagen during World War II. Annemarie’s best friend Ellen is Jewish, and when the German soldiers begin to separate out the Jewish families in town, Annemarie and her family must act to help Ellen’s family and others get to safety.

Number the Stars falls into the historical fiction genre, realistic fiction set in the past. The book is part of this genre because while its characters did not exist or live out this particular story, they could have. The book is set in a real time and place, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1943. Author Lois Lowry has researched her topic and setting well so that the story is historically accurate, although it is fiction. Lowry even includes an afterword that offers factual support to the information she has presented in the story. For example, a memory she gives to Annemarie’s younger sister Kirsti about being awakened by “fireworks” for her birthday is based on an actual event that took place in 1943 when the Danes sunk their naval fleet to keep the ships out of the hands of the Germans (Lowry, 1989, p. 31-32, 134).

The characters behave believably and the plot grows from historical facts, two additional characteristics of good historical fiction. The Johansen family are a fictional example of people who helped Jews escape to Sweden through well-documented methods (in this case on fishing boats). They approach the task with a realistic combination of bravery, fear, and sense of duty. Annemarie is also believable in that she gradually gains a greater awareness of the gravity of events surrounding her by observing her environment and the way her parents behave. The entire book is infused with history without letting it overwhelm the storytelling. German soldiers with rifles and helmets patrol neighborhood streets, Annemarie and Kirsti snack on bread, without butter because there is no butter or sugar to be had (Lowry, 1989, p. 9).  

Themes include war, bravery, discrimination, love, and growing up. These themes reflect the era but are of lasting value (Galda, 2010, p. 259). The book is written in English, but we know the characters are speaking other languages (Danish and German). Annemarie mentally comments on one soldier’s Danish being very poor after he asks stops she and Ellen for running in the street Lowry, 1989, p. 3). This style of writing allows Lowry to write for an English-speaking audience while being true to her characters and the story. She does include some Danish street names and other cultural references for authenticity.

There are no illustrations in this book, but the front cover has a black and white photograph of a young blond girl we might imagine to be Annemarie with a golden Star of David necklace printed over the photo. The necklace holds special meaning to the story and provides the only color on the cover, giving it a place of importance.

ACTIVITIES:

1.     Pair this book with a history segment on World War II. Assign chapters individually and read together as a class throughout the module to give students a chance to connect with characters who lived during that time. Make a poster to keep track of students’ questions, predictions, and observations while reading. Come back to these ideas as students learn more from the book and more about the era.

2.     Encourage students to keep a list of words and descriptions that paint a picture in their minds as they read. Have each student create an illustration for a different scene or setting in the book. Combine all the illustrations to create a picture book to accompany the text.

READER RESPONSE QUESTIONS:

1.     What themes do you see in the book? Can you relate to any of these themes? Give examples from your own life that connect with themes from the book.

2.     Annemarie’s late sister Lise comes up quite a lot in this book. What is Lise’s significance to Annemarie? To Annemarie’s parents? To the plot?

3.     What do you think of Annemarie’s approach to interacting with the soldiers she encounters on the way to deliver the important package to her uncle? What might you have done in the same situation?

This is a moving story filled with love and suspense. The characters are immediately lovable, and their stories keep the reader invested all the way through. I would recommend it for advanced intermediate readers because of the subject matter. Although the book doesn’t contain a great deal of violence, there is the ever-present threat of violence made more real, perhaps to readers who are familiar with WWII history. Because of this, I think it would be a good piece of literature to use when introducing WWII material.

References

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2010). Literature and the child (7th ed.). Belmont, CA:

Wadsworths, Inc.

Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co.

Cover image from https://www.amazon.in/Number-Stars-Lois-Lowry/dp/0395510600