Set in the
streets of Copenhagen, Denmark during the German Nazi
occupation, Lois Lowry''s
"Number the Stars" was (and still is!) one of
my favorite books. When I was young, my mom would buy me books usually
with the Newbery Award Medal stamp. This particular book by Lowry won
the medal in 1990. It tells of the fictional, yet very
touching and heroic story of a young, ten year-old girl named Annemarie
Johansen. What used to be "normal" for Annemarie and her younger
sister, Kirsti was changed upside down by the Nazi occupation of
Denmark. Playing on the streets became scary because of the soldiers on
every corner. It was also hard to find all the good things that they
used to enjoy, like pink frosted cupcakes and nice leather shoes! What
was still allowed, however, was the fun of playing with make-
believe stories with Annemarie''s best
friend Ellen Rosen. As the war
stretched on, Annemarie and Ellen''s story became as real as their
make-believe heroines''. The Jews of Denmark were being "relocated" by
the Nazis. The Rosens were Jewish, so the families thought up of a plan
and Ellen moved in with the Johansens and pretended to be part of the
family. This easy read follows Annemarie''s journey from a
normal Danish child to her development as a young and brave heroine
that mustered up all her strength and courage that saved her best
friend''s life. "Number the Stars" highlights the power of friendship
and sticking with one another - and for us to never underestimate the
power of one. Although the character of Annemarie and her
family and friends are fiction, the situations in the book are based on
fact. The food and electricity shortages, bombings and unreasonable
killings. We can also get glimpses of the heroism of the secret army,
the Resistance - as well as scientific discoveries that helped the Jews
escape the cruelty of the Nazis.Indeed, the book is as
educational as it is entertaining. :-) I really loved it as a child,
and I don't mind reading it over and over again up to now!