The epilogue is especially interesting - cocaine & dried blood on hankerchiefs. The storyline arc is a steady crescendo towards resolution of several plots: why older sister Lise died, how Annabelle's Jeweish friend Ellen and her family will escape, and if Denmark will survive occupation. The narrative (1st person, from a young girl's perspective) is reflective, compelling and descriptive. The author captures the terror, deprivation and repression of German occupation in a well woven web of familial and political ties. **** updated after we completed this novel **** This book is a great lens into WWII and Hitler's anti-Semitic campaign without being too. The plot goes a bit on the slow side, so it's tough to keep my twins engaged (especially compared to Steinbeck's The Pearl which we read before this also because it's on the 7th grade literature list), but we are managing.

It's fairly simple in plot, with a nice splattering of medium-advanced vocabulary (scampered, peered, tiara) that go a bit beyond the standard fare but whose meanings are easily deduced by contextual references. I read this on my own several years ago it is up on the twins' 7th grade literature list so out it came again. I highly recommend it.įabulous addition to the WWII canon - for YA! And at just under three hours, it's a relatively quick listen. If you just plain love a good story, well told, you will LOVE this book. If you love young adult literature, you will love this book. Not to be missed! If you love historical fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. ADDED BONUS: At the end of the story there is a discussion about the historical facts behind this fictional account of the Nazi invasion. Her reading of the book is smooth and graceful. Reader Blair Brown is a nice consolation prize, though. I wish this book had been read by author Lois Lowry, since writers usually read their books better than anyone else. You will rejoice at the small victories the characters achieve. Your pulse will quicken every time the Nazis knock on the door. You will want to weep for the divided families and children forced to grow up too quickly. Historical fiction at its finest, it captures both the facts and the feelings of the era. Although the protagonists in this story are children, people of all ages will enjoy this book. Number the Stars is the story of two little girls whose friendship is put to the test by the Nazi invasion of Denmark.

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