Number the Stars~By. Lois Lowry

 

 

First Publication: 1989

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Friendship between Annemarie and Ellen

Summary:

"Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry is a historical fiction children's literature book.  This book is told from Annemarie Johansen's point of view about the rescue of her Jewish family.  It takes place during the Occupation of Denmark during the Second World War.  The overall theme of this book is about the difficulty of growing up.

Saint Leo University's Core Value:

Saint Leo University's Core Value community fits well with this book.  Annemarie and her family show a lot of courage because they put their life on the line to help others.  Also, when Annemarie's best friend was in danger she does what she can to save her life.

Genre:

Number the Stars is a historical fiction and war novel.  This historical fiction is based off of World War II. This book talks about the seriousness of the Holocaust without having to include all the gory incidents.

Lois Lowry Bio:

Lois Lowry was born in Hawaii and was the middle child of two siblings; her older sister Helen and younger brother Jon. She and her family eventually moved to New York once her schooling began. Her "father was a career military officer-an Army dentist and her mother took care of the family". (Lowry, 2012) 

Sadly, when the war started her father had to go overseas, so her mother took her and her siblings to live in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Her mother grew up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania which was also where Lois's grandparents lived. At the end of her sixth grade year they all moved to Tokyo where she lived until the end of her eight grade year. Then they moved back to New York City where she graduated from high school. After high school she decided to continue her education and attend Brown University in Rhode Island.

When she was a sophomore in college she married a naval officer at the age of nineteen. They ended up having four children most were born in different places. Her eldest daughter was born in Connecticut and her son was born in Florida. When her husband left the service they had two more children a girl and a boy who were born in Massachusetts. After years of putting her education on hold, she attended the University of Maine where she received her degree and then continued to graduate school. After years of being a dedicated mother and wife and graduating from graduate school she started writing professionally which was something that she has always loved doing.  In 1977, she divorced her husband but, by the age of 40 she met Martin who she spent thirty years with till he passed away.

She has written several different styles of books but most have the same theme: "the importance of human connections". (Lowry, 2012)  The first book she wrote was called A Summer to Die which retold about the unfortunate death of her sister and how much it affected the family.  Her eldest son who was a fighter pilot sadly passed away in a plane crash in Germany.

Other books Lois Lowry wrote:

Anastasia-1979

Autumn Street-1980

Anastasia at Your Service- 1982

The Giver- 1993Gathering Blue -2000

The Silent Boy- 2003

Messenger-2004

Gossamer

Etc...

Personal Comments:

The overall quality and message behind this book is truly breath taking. I enjoyed her style of writing and her use of heartfelt words. Throughout this book I could feel how much love she has for writing and her readers.  I would definitely read more books by this author.

Motivational Activities/Readers Response Questions:

·        Students will be given a paper with the timeline of events in the story and they will color and place the events in order. First, will color all the pictures. Second, will cut everything out. Third, will paste the events in chronological order on a piece of construction paper. Finally, will share with the class (optional).

·        What would you have done if you were Annemarie?

·        Write a journal entry from Annemarie's point of view if you were her. Illustrate and share with someone at your table. Compare your journal with the same person.

·        What is Annemarie's younger sister’s name?

·        What is the overall theme of the story?

·        In Chapter 1, Ellen and Annemarie both decide to not tell their mothers...

 

Bibliography:

Lowry, L. (2012, November 29). Biography. In Lois Lowry. Retrieved November 29, 2012, from http://www.loislowry.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=196

Lowry, L. (1989). Number the Stars. N.p.: Houghton Mifflin Company.