Synopsis: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Number the Stars. ISBN: 0-440-40327-8. Lois Lowry. 1989. Newberry Medal. Historical fiction. Ages 9-12. Jews living in Denmark and throughout Europe.

Although the protagonist of this story is 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen, Number the Stars revolves around the Jewish family of Annemarie’s best friend Ellen Rosen. Ellen’s family is Jewish, living in Denmark during World War II, and Annemarie’s family helps them hide and escape from the Nazis. Annemarie’s family risks their lives to save Ellen’s, even pretending that Ellen is Annemarie’s dead sister Lise when the Nazis come looking for them. The Johansens take the Rosens to stay with Annemarie’s uncle, a fisherman on the coast whose plan is to safely transport the Rosens to Sweden. Annemarie’s emotional, and at the end physical journey of trying to save her best friend’s life is inspiring as well as honest, making it one of my favorite books to this day. Although the story itself is fictional, the telling of Jewish people escaping the Nazi regime with the help of non-Jewish friends is one that can be told over and over and is still remarkably personal and heartbreaking.