Books › Number the Stars
Number the Stars
First published 2003 · 283 pages
A tense but tender exploration of ordinary people finding extraordinary courage in the darkest of times.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like holding your breath in the dark, waiting for the sun to rise. It is a masterclass in accessible suspense, balancing the terrifying reality of military occupation with the fierce, protective warmth of family and friendship. The prose is remarkably clean and unadorned, trusting its young audience with profound moral questions without ever overwhelming them with graphic despair. Instead, the atmosphere is steeped in a quiet, shadowed tension that builds to a genuinely heart-pounding climax. It is a story that asks what it truly means to be brave, making it an unforgettable experience for middle-grade readers encountering history's darkest chapters for the first time, as well as adults seeking a beautifully distilled tale of human decency.
- Mood
- tense
- shadowed
- hopeful
- atmospheric
- Tone
- earnest
- compassionate
- suspenseful
- gentle
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the meaning of bravery · loss of innocence · enduring friendship · quiet resistance · protecting the vulnerable
- The writing
- Clean, accessible, and unadorned, using simple language to convey profound moral weight.
- The arc
- Moves from the anxious uncertainty of an occupied city to a terrifying climax of active courage, ending in a bittersweet but hopeful dawn.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers encountering historical injustice for the first time, and anyone seeking a poignant story of quiet heroism.
Content notes
- Holocaust themes
- military occupation
- threat of violence
- antisemitism
- past death of a sibling
About the book
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. The Nazis won't stop. The Jews of Denmark are being "relocated," so Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. Then Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend's life. There's no turning back now.
Description from Open Library.
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