Number the Stars

Easy read - written for youth but I read this in a College Course for Multiculturism and Child Lit. Great story, easy to follow the story lines and characters and definitely written at an age appropriate level for middle school age or possibly a bit younger depending on maturity and interest. As an adult, I enjoyed the view of Annemarie and the innocence as we see things from her perspective, that of a young girl during WWII.If you've read the Diary of Anne Frank, this is very different. There are some parts that may seem a little scary for younger children but by far, this is the best I've read for young ones. There are no graphic details of the trauma and abuse. While some things are mentioned in a way you get the idea that something bad has happened, its done in a way that is gentle for readers.

I loved this little book. Being of Danish extraction (and my husband Swedish) made it most interesting to me! I knew very little about how the Danes and Swedes helped the Jewish people during WWII, and this book made me very proud to be Scandinavian. The Danes rescued about 7000 Jews out of their country and into neutral Sweden in false bottom fishing boats. They used handkerchiefs stained with rabbit blood and cocaine to fool the noses of the German dogs who searched their boats.I loved the fact that the Danes loved their KIng Christian X so much. When asked how he could feel safe going out and riding his horse among them everyday, the answer was that all of Denmark was his bodyguard.My Grandmother's name was Ingeborg, too, as was the mother's in this story! It may be a children's book, but it is just as good for adults.

Number the stars is a wonderful story about bravery and friendship. It is set in occupied Denmark during WWII and tells the story of two families, the Johansen’s and the Rosen’s. The Johansen’s are Danish and Christian and the Rosen’s are Danish and Jewish. The families live in the same apartment block in Coppenhagen and are very good friends.The book discloses a lot of interesting facts about life in Coppenhagen during WWII including the food and other shortages. I learned an awful lot about the war in this small European country through reading this book such as:In 1943, the Danish resistance movement rescued all but 500 of its Jewish population of 7 000 to 8 000 from being sent to Nazi concentration camps by transporting them to neutral Sweden where they were offered asylum.Denmark surrendered to the German invaders in 1940 as the King, Christian X, did not want to subject his people to a slaughter. He knew his army was no match for the Germans.In August 1943, the Danes sank their entire navy in Copenhagen harbour as the German’s approached to take the ships over for their own use.There are some other fascinating historical facts included in this book that I won’t reveal as they would be spoilers.When the Jews are warned by their Rabbi at the Jewish New Year Celebration that the Nazi’s were going to start rounding them up for deportation that night, Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen are thrown into turmoil as both families act together to save the Rosen’s from deportation and smuggle them to Sweden.This book is for children aged 8 to 12 years old and is a wonderful way to introduce this age group to the horrors of war in an appropriate way. The book is not at all graphic but it does convey the fear and tragedy that is war.This book won the Newbery Award.

I chose this rating because everything is put together in the story with the resistance and the Johansens concealing Ellen. Peter Neilsen and Lise add what this family has gone through. Then Annemarie takes the drugged handkerchief to the Rosens, saving their skin and taking a heroic part in the story. Then their is Kirsti, who is an obstacle from Annemarie and her parents to tell the Nazi soldiers what they are up to. That shows how smart the characters are. They had to be smart to use their resources and get the Rosens safely to Sweden. A VERY great book. Every single part of it.😀😺👧👨👩👴👵👶👩‍🎓👩‍🏫👩‍⚖️👩‍🌾👩‍🍳👩‍✈️👩‍🚀👩‍🚒👩‍🔧👮🕵👩‍🏭👩‍💼💂👷👩‍🔬👳🎅👩‍🎤👩‍🎨🤶👼

I think this is becoming a classic read for elementary and young middle grade readers. It has historical lessons that are still powerful in modern times. Everyone should be as educated abt the impact the Holocaust had on ALL people and the impact it continues to have. Understanding the events from an appropriate angle for a younger audience makes this book a good read and a great teaching and learning tool.

A fan of Lois Lowry, I was excited to read this with my child when she was assigned to choose a historical fiction book for an assignment. This was an awesome and educational choice. Out of 4 book report assignments, this one was her favorite read, mine too. It was especially interesting reading the Afterward, learning how fact and fiction merged into this beautiful tale of courage.

I loved reading this book when I was younger and now that I am much older loved to reread it to remember the damage that the Germans influence had on the war and on the Jews at the time of the war in Europe. I would recommend everyone to read this book and let your children learn about the strives that the Jews faced and the people that helped them escape the hands of the Nazi soldier.

I bought this book for myself - because I had already bought and read The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and I sometimes think wartime stories can be more powerful if they are directed at children.Well I read this in one hit and I was charmed by it. Having studied the war and the Holocaust for probably nigh on 40 years now, I was aware of Denmark's careful handling of its Jews and I have to say they deserve great credit for their endeavour to prevent meekly handing over people of their own, who just happened to be Jewish.The depictions of the Nazi soldiers chimed perfectly with elderly Dutch people I know who were children at that time - I wish I knew why occupying soldiers felt the need to always be so nasty - but the firm need not to ask questions, because if you happen to be being bullied then ignorance is bliss, was an extremely mindful piece of advice.Thank you, Wendy Lower, for a beautiful book, a book of kindness and great honesty at a time when friends were a much needed and very blessed commodity.

This book deals with unbelievable scary story of News having to leave their homes in ways that are difficult to imagine. It's clever because the book does it through the eyes of a child therefore it retains a lighter touch enabling it to deliver the dark, foreboding story whilst keeping a warm and innocent element. It's a book that I can see is used to educate people particularly the young in the horrors of WW2. A very good read

I really enjoyed this. My second children's book of the year. It was easily enjoyed by this adult though! A WW2 story with a difference as it is told from the perspective of a young girl.It was recommended to me as an example of an excellent writing style.

Delighted that I read this story of friendship and support, when badly needed.Easy to read for adults and children alike.Would certainly recommend this book.

This is compulsory school reading for my nephew - who is 14 years old - and, loving books and literatura, any kind!, I read it to be able to discuss it with him. I loved the book - a sensitive, thoughtful and thought-provoking story about courage and solidarity and kinship in dark times. In the troubled times we find ourselves living today, with the rise of extreme right-wing movements and the spectrum of tyrannies once again raising its ugly head, this novel reminds us of the terrible consequences of prejudice and oppression - and how brave people will always find the strength to fight for freedom, theirs and their family and friends. I absolutely recommend it! For young and not so young readers.