Number the Stars

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1989.

ISBN: 978-0-547-57709-8                  John Newberry Medal Winner

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, is a great choice for any Junior High Student, especially in the 6^th grade. The book is 149 pages long and a very quick read. Lowry’s book is engaging and thought-provoking. It provides a great basis for discussion about growing up, hardship, sadness, and racism. Number the Stars is a valuable teaching tool for symbolism and comparing and contrasting.

The novel tells the story of Annemarie Johansen, a young girl from Denmark living through the time of the Holocaust. When her best friend Ellen’s life is in danger, the Johansen family takes in Ellen under the guise of Lise, their oldest daughter killed by the Nazi’s the year before. The family quickly becomes part of the Danish Resistance, helping Jews in hiding with spare food and clothing, delivering secret packages, and sheltering the innocent. There are a few thematic elements associated with the Holocaust that may scare younger readers, but it is a very historically-accurate representation and a good way to broach difficult subjects in the classroom. Your classroom will enjoy the thrilling adventures and will truly feel for Annemarie as she grows and learns the true meaning of “Numbering the Stars.”