Number the Stars is a historical work about the rescue of a Jewish family during the Occupation of Denmark during the Second World War written by award-winning author Lois Lowry. The story centers around ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen, who lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1943 and was caught up in the events surrounding the rescue of the Danish Jews during the Holocaust. She and her family risked their lives to help Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, by pretending that Ellen is Annemarie's older sister. Annemarie's older sister had died earlier in the war as a result of her work with the Danish Resistance. The story's title is taken from a reference to Psalm 147, in which the writer of the book relates that God has numbered all the stars in the universe. It is meant to tie into the Star of David, specifically to Ellen's necklace, which is symbolic to the story.
The novel was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1990 as the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". Lois Lowry travelled to Copenhagen to do research and interviews for the book. She took the photo of the girl used for the cover of many editions of the book herself (shown in infobox here).
Read more about Number The Stars: Plot Summary, Reception
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