Number the Stars. ISBN 978-0-440-403272. Lois Lowry. 1989. Newbery Medal. Ages 9-12. Danish and Jewish Danes.

Life in 1943 Nazi-occupied Copenhagen is already challenging for 10-year-old friends Annemarie and Ellen. But, when work spreads that Jewish families would be relocated by the Nazis, Annemarie’s family knows that they must take the risks necessary to help their Jewish neighbors, including Ellen and her parents. Annemarie, her parents, younger sister, and extended family risk their own lives to help Ellen, her parents, and other Jewish families escape the Nazis by hiding in altered fishing boats to cross the sea to unoccupied Sweden. Annemarie doesn’t realize that her own courage would ever be called upon but accepts the responsibility blindly when it becomes necessary to save her friend’s life.

Number the Stars is a useful and appropriate introduction for students to some of the issues of World War II. A next step could be a simple geography lesson of WWII Europe including a discussion of nations which were occupied by German forces. Important symbols could be discussed as presented in the book by the Star of David. These could include national symbols and their importance. For example, the American flag is used as a symbol of the United States, and the swastika was used as a symbol of Nazi Germany. Many writing prompts could be used based on Number the Stars. What would you be willing to risk to protect a friend? What is a friend? How would you feel if you had to hide your religion, ancestry, and culture? Other resistance movements could be researched and discussed, as well, from the Americans in the Revolutionary War to slaves and the Underground Railroad to other WWII resistance movements, such as that in Norway.