Author: Lois Lowry
Title: Number the Stars
Illustrator: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Year: 1990
Genre: Newbery
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Independent
Interest level: Late elementary, middle school
Topics: Jewish, escape, friendship,
Summary: Annemarie is a Danish girl whose family is helping hide her Jewish friend, Ellen. Ellen is pretending to be Lise, Annemarie's older sister who was killed earlier by Nazis soldiers. The book is told by Annemarie's point of view as she questions good in the world. One night Nazis soldiers come to Annemarie's house looking for Ellen's family who are in hiding. In the end, Ellen's family is reunited at a funeral for a non-existent family member's funeral in attempt to escape to freedom. The funeral is interrupted by soldiers and soon leave. Annemarie needs to find bravery in herself while she takes a wooded path with lunch and a hidden package for her uncle and is intercepted by soldiers.
Extension Activity: Teach the kids about the Holocaust and the dangers of being Jewish in Europe. Have them read about Anne Frank. Have them compare Anne Frank's story with Ellen's story. Talk about the dangers families faced when they hid Jews and resisted Nazis soldiers.
