Book Talk: Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
Lowry, Lois
NUMBER THE STARS
New York : Dell, 1990
IL 5-8 RL 4.9
ISBN 0395510600
Annemarie and Ellen are friends growing up in Copenhagen during World War II. On the eve of Jewish New Year, most of the Jewish people, including Ellen's parents, flee the city. Ellen hides with Annemarie's family in the city and later goes with them to Uncle Henrik's farm near the sea. Here they become part of an elaborate plan to smuggle the Jews to Sweden, where they will be safe. The children are told little of what is going on in order to protect them, but Annemarie perceives some of the lies that are being told. She knows there is no Great-Aunt Birte, whose death the family is mourning, and she wonders why they keep talking about the weather for fishing. Annemarie's mother and uncle bravely escort several people to Henrik's boat, where they are hidden below, but in the commotion an important package is left behind. Annemarie must run to deliver it to her uncle before the boat leaves. On the way, she runs into German soldiers and must talk her way out of the situation, a task that is much easier because she knows so little of what is going on. When the war is over, Annemarie's mother and father explain that the package she was carrying was a drugged handkerchief that numbed the smell of the soldiers' dogs and that her sister was killed because she was part of the Danish Resistance to the war. It is only after the war is over and many lives have been saved that the secrets can be told.(Linda Wolfgram, [email protected], Middle/High School Media Specialist, Benton Community Schools, Van Horne, IA)
Book Talk from Nancy Keane’s website, Book Talks, Quick and Simple, found at http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/lowry_number.htm
NUMBER THE STARS
New York : Dell, 1990
IL 5-8 RL 4.9
ISBN 0395510600
Annemarie and Ellen are friends growing up in Copenhagen during World War II. On the eve of Jewish New Year, most of the Jewish people, including Ellen's parents, flee the city. Ellen hides with Annemarie's family in the city and later goes with them to Uncle Henrik's farm near the sea. Here they become part of an elaborate plan to smuggle the Jews to Sweden, where they will be safe. The children are told little of what is going on in order to protect them, but Annemarie perceives some of the lies that are being told. She knows there is no Great-Aunt Birte, whose death the family is mourning, and she wonders why they keep talking about the weather for fishing. Annemarie's mother and uncle bravely escort several people to Henrik's boat, where they are hidden below, but in the commotion an important package is left behind. Annemarie must run to deliver it to her uncle before the boat leaves. On the way, she runs into German soldiers and must talk her way out of the situation, a task that is much easier because she knows so little of what is going on. When the war is over, Annemarie's mother and father explain that the package she was carrying was a drugged handkerchief that numbed the smell of the soldiers' dogs and that her sister was killed because she was part of the Danish Resistance to the war. It is only after the war is over and many lives have been saved that the secrets can be told.(Linda Wolfgram, [email protected], Middle/High School Media Specialist, Benton Community Schools, Van Horne, IA)
Book Talk from Nancy Keane’s website, Book Talks, Quick and Simple, found at http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/lowry_number.htm