Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Reviewed by Shreyas

Brightly colored fireworks once exploded in the air, as kids played, got ice cream, and rode the carousel. But vivid as these blissful times seem, they are long gone. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, which takes place a year after the German occupation of Denmark in 1940, is the story of a young girl who must don the mantle of courage to save everyone and everything she loves. 

Ten year old Annamarie and her best friend Ellen are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of unprecedented times, however much the Nazis in their town unsettle them. Suddenly, everything changes when the Germans begin persecuting Jews, including Ellen and her family, and they must hide with Annamarie and her parents. When her parents are incapacitated, it falls to Annamarie to fend for her family and friends. This will take all of Annamarie's bravery. She doesn’t know if she will be able to protect her loved ones, let alone stand up to an entire regime. 

One reason I enjoyed this book is the historical details included. Lois Lowry’s descriptive writing provides a great insight into the lives of Danish people during the second world war. Lowry works in small daily experiences of those characters without hindering the rest of the plot. For example, when Annamarie and Ellen come home one day, they see their parents chatting over “coffee.” The author then explains how there has been no coffee in Denmark for a year, and that the parents are really just drinking hot water. Although this detail is neither significant to the plot nor important historically, it is a small example of life during the time period. These small moments add up to make the story feel alive. 

Another reason I think this novel is worth reading is the theme of courage that runs throughout the entire story. At the beginning of the story, Annamarie is reluctant to show bravery, for she is content with her current life where she is safe at home. In bed, she admits to herself that “she was glad to be an ordinary person who would never be called upon for courage.” In any good book, the characters change and become better throughout the story, and Number the Stars is no exception. In spite of her not wanting to be brave at the start, Annamarie’s stance on courage evolves as the plot progresses, and she makes the revelation that courage is more when you stand up to go fight, not when you do the actual fighting. Standing up is the hardest part, and what all protagonists must inevitably face, including Annamarie. 

I would rate this book 9/10. Overall, it is a great book, although I noticed it can become overly emotional at parts, which distracted me from what was going on in the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. Get Number the Stars today at your local library or on Sora!

Houghton Mifflin, 160 pages