Hirsch, the button store owner, and her son are taken away by the Nazis. Annemarie, her sister, Kirsti, and Ellen are running home from school and are questioned by the Nazi soldiers. Number the Stars begins with a foreboding tone. Annemarie's father and Ellen's father go to work the same as always. Annemarie still plays with Ellen, and all of the children attend school. They are aware of the food shortages (sugar is no longer available, they eat bread without butter, and their mothers drink 'coffee,' which is really just herb-flavored water) they can't get rubber tires so bicycles have wooden wheels they are unable to get leather shoes - just shoes made from fish scales and they play with paper dolls cut from old magazines. They are only aware of obvious changes that have affected their lives.

Annemarie, her five-year-old sister, Kirsti, and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, are unaware of the danger that surrounds them. Annemarie's older sister, Lise, was killed because she was an active member of the Danish Resistance, a group of people opposed to the Nazi occupation of Denmark and supportive of the Danish Jews.

The adults are fearful and sad because they understand the dangers of the Nazis occupation of Denmark and they have experienced loss resulting from the actions of the Nazis. They have sadly become accustomed to Nazi soldiers standing on every street corner and have learned to be 'just another face in the crowd,' going about their business, trying not to be noticed by the Nazis. The Danes must use candles to light their homes. They have no fuel for heat, and electricity has been rationed. Through Annemarie, we learn that the Danes must abide by curfews and use blackout curtains on their windows. Their lives have changed drastically because the Nazis now occupy Denmark (1943). Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her family live in Copenhagen, Denmark. Lowry has written the novel in third person ('He says,' as opposed to, 'I said,' which is first person), using a limited omniscient viewpoint (only Annemarie's thoughts and feelings are revealed). Number the Stars is a historical novel set in Denmark during World War II.

Study Help for All 1990s Newbery Medal Winners.

Introduction to the 1990s Newbery Medal Winners.

Number the stars book buy