Chapter 2 Number The Stars

Number the Stars Introduction

If your best friend were in terrible danger, and you weren't, what would you do? Would you stand by your friend and experience the threat together, or would y'all ditch your friend and save your own skin? That's the question that Annemarie, the main character in Number the Stars, has to respond—and it's the most important question of her life.

Number the Stars is set in Kingdom of denmark during World War 2, when the state was total of Nazi soldiers and the Danish people had lost many of their freedoms. Like Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief, this story is told from an unusual viewpoint: the main graphic symbol isn't Jewish. (Although this book was published sixteen years earlier The Book Thief. We're merely sayin'.) It gives us the story through a different lens than we're used to, which makes it all the more worthwhile.

Written by Lois Lowry, this now classic young adult novel won the John Newbery Medal in 1990, one twelvemonth after its publication. When the book showtime came out, Lowry was already established equally the well-loved author of children's books similar the Anastasia Krupnikseries. (And later on, she'd get major props for her amazing YA book, The Giver.) Merely with Number the Stars, our author took a turn for the serious. This is a book nigh saving lives and doing what's right, no matter the (terrible) costs.

The Newbery Medal isn't the only bays on this book's shelf. Actually, it has won a whole agglomeration of awards given to awesome books for young adults. Only information technology doesn't end there. Number the Stars as well received the National Jewish Book Award, which means that people who honor Jewish history and culture thought the book was important and valuable, and non just for young adults.

Some people accept thrown Lowry under the bus for not addressing the more gruesome aspects of the Holocaust head on. So when she gave a spoken language accepting the Newbery Award, she explained, "As a author, I detect that I can only cover the minor and the ordinary—the mittens on a shivering kid—and hope that they evoke the larger events. The huge and horrible are beyond my powers" (source). Just you know what'due south not beyond her powers? Thoughts on friendship, family, and morals. Those are some pretty big topics to tackle, simply Lowry does her best. Now, you tell us: does Number the Stars live up to the challenge?

What is Number the Stars About and Why Should I Care?

The Holocaust. That'due south reason plenty to care, don't you think?

You can take a look at our "Why Should I Care?" on The Diary of Anne Frank for all the heavy stuff involved in reading a book well-nigh a young person living through the Holocaust. Keep these reasons-to-care in the front end of your heed while you lot're reading, because they are majorly important in Number the Stars.

Only what'southward unique almost Lois Lowry's take on YA Holocaust lit? Well, the protagonist here isn't Jewish. If y'all've read The Volume Thief, you might be thinking "so what?" We'll tell you what. Number the Stars came first. Way start.

Jews and other persecuted people were the true victims of the Holocaust, there's no question about that. But what about the people behind the scenes who were putting their own lives at gamble to save the people they cared near? Reading about people similar this—Peter, Annemarie, Henrik, the Johansens—allows us to see these non-Jews in starring roles rather than as minor characters. Much Holocaust lit focuses on the Jews, and rightfully so, but Lowry gives us a unique glimpse into other perspectives on the Nazi occupation.

Of course, this perspective lays one majorly tough nugget on the tabular array for us: what would you do if you were in a condom position only someone you loved was not? Would you adventure your life to assistance them?

Number the Stars Resource

Websites

The Official Lois Lowry
We have to say, she seems like a pretty awesome lady. Alibi us while we go read every volume she's ever written.

Interview With the Author
What inspires our author? "Dreams and daydreams, fantasies, memories, and imagination." Oh, and books. Read on for more fun tidbits.

Trivial Cerise Riding-Hood
Here you'll find a agglomeration of different versions of the story of Picayune Ruby Riding-Hood. We nonetheless like Annemarie'due south the all-time.

History Lesson
Desire to know more about what was going on in Denmark during Annemarie'southward life? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website is on the task.

Movies or TV Productions

Number the Stars: The Motion picture
Hmmm. We're not sure we purchase it, but fingers crossed.

Historical Documents

Lowry Talks Writing
Want to read more most our author and her writing procedure? Here you'll find some pretty revealing thoughts on her other super-famous immature adult book, The Giver.

Inspirational
Decades after its publication, Number the Stars is even so helping inspire young people everywhere. Bank check out this article that talks about one classroom'southward experience learning about the Holocaust.

Video

Reading Rockets
Jump from this folio to the Reading Rockets interview with Lowry, available at no cost at iTunes. Give thanks yous Steve Jobs for giving us a VIP laissez passer to our author'southward brain! (Scroll down to #7 to find Lowry's interview.)

The Goonies and Number the Stars, Together at Last
Mind to Sean Astin talk about his plans to make a movie version of Number the Stars. And so far, no dice. Merely we're belongings onto this video equally proof!