Number the Stars

By: Lois Lowry

Narrated by: Blair Brown

Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated", Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life. 

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©2004 Lois Lowry (P)2004 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

Newbery Medal Winner, 1990

"With vocal versatility, Blair Brown portrays the soft-spoken Johannesens, as well as the loud, brutal Nazis. When important conversations take place, she lowers her voice to cue listeners to pay closer attention. The combination of Brown's steady voice and Lowry's dramatic story creates a mesmerizing production." (AudioFile magazine) 

"Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery." (School Library Journal)  

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. Although the protagonists in this story are children, people of all ages will enjoy this book. Historical fiction at its finest, it captures both the facts and the feelings of the era. You will want to weep for the divided families and children forced to grow up too quickly. Your pulse will quicken every time the Nazis knock on the door. You will glimpse their fading humanity. You will rejoice at the small victories the characters achieve.

I wish this book had been read by author Lois Lowry, since writers usually read their books better than anyone else. Reader Blair Brown is a nice consolation prize, though. Her reading of the book is smooth and graceful.

ADDED BONUS: At the end of the story there is a discussion about the historical facts behind this fictional account of the Nazi invasion. Not to be missed!

If you love historical fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you love young adult literature, you will love this book. If you just plain love a good story, well told, you will LOVE this book. And at just under three hours, it's a relatively quick listen. I highly recommend it.

24 people found this helpful

Fabulous addition to the WWII canon - for YA!

What did you like best about this story?

I read this on my own several years ago; it is up on the twins' 7th grade literature list so out it came again. The book is good. 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. 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.

**** updated after we completed this novel ****
This book is a great lens into WWII and Hitler's anti-Semitic campaign without being too.... graphic and direct. The author captures the terror, deprivation and repression of German occupation in a well woven web of familial and political ties. The narrative (1st person, from a young girl's perspective) is reflective, compelling and descriptive. 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 epilogue is especially interesting - cocaine & dried blood on hankerchiefs. Brilliant!

5 people found this helpful

Story of Outstanding Courage

I've read this book over and over since it was published, but I've never written a review. This is the story of the Danes during WWII and their efforts to save the Danish Jews from the concentration camps. Very few Danish Jews were slaughtered, most escaped to Sweden to evade the Nazis, all through the efforts of Danish citizens.

Originally written for the young adult market, it underlines the heroism of Danish youth and the Resistance. Well worth listening to for adults, teens, and pre-teens.

I can only appreciate the expertise of Ms. Lowry in providing everyday heroes for us all.

5 people found this helpful

Well written historical fiction.

A required reading for elementary school and I used the audible for the kids to listen to because I could not read it without crying. Well read and well written. Wendy

10 people found this helpful

6th grade class approved!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. I would especially recommend this to other educators reading this book with their classes. I do not speak German, nor have I mastered a German accent. Blair Brown reads this with captivating voices that really capture the harshness of the soldiers, as well as the innocence of Kirsti. The kids LOVED listening to this recording.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

What really got to me, personally, was the afterword that brought the whole thing into perspective regarding the truth behind this fictional story. It really brings to light the courage and integrity that those in the resistance displayed so well, as well as the people of Denmark who cared for their Jewish friends.

4 people found this helpful

Beautiful Classic Tale

4.5 stars. This is a well-written story of the horrors of the Holocaust from the point of view of two 10-year-old best friends, one Jewish, the other not.

When the Germans come to Denmark and start terrorizing the Jews living peacefully there, it becomes clear that Ellen Rosen and her family will likely be targeted for "relocation," Annemarie Johansen's family takes Ellen in as their own daughter while Ellen's parents flee. But through the help of the Danish Resistance involving Annemarie's fisherman uncle and her deceased older sister's fiance, the Rosens are reunited and aided in their escape to Sweden to wait out the war.

The rest of the short novel goes into detail about how this escape is crafted and enacted.

When the war is over, we learn that Annemarie's sister was killed by the Germans for being part of the Resistance movement and her fiance, who helped many Jews escape to Sweden, was executed for his heroism.

This is a dramatic and searing novel for middle-grade readers. It doesn't get too graphic or violent but it is scary in parts -- thematically and in a few scenes featuring the German soldiers.

Blair Brown's narration is absolutely superb.

2 people found this helpful

I really love this book!

The story is a bit unrealistic in parts that are unimportant. For example, the thoughts of a little girl that are too mature for one so small, etc. But I love this story based on true stories. It's full of hope, love, and courage.

2 people found this helpful

Lovely inspiring story

This is a well-written tale about the Danish resistance to the German occupation during World War II, told from the perspective of a young girl. It is an excellent way to introduce young readers to the topic. Blake Brown's narration was convincing and appropriate for the intended readers. I highly recommend this recording.

2 people found this helpful

A Slice of Real Family Life During WWII

This is a wonderful story of a family helping neighbors and others escape the nazis during WWII. It is presented through the eyes of an adolescent girl and is suspenseful as well as uplifting. I think that 12-year olds through old agers could gain insight from this story.

7 people found this helpful

great reminder

it's a great reminder of what has happened in our past. excpecaly for the young.

1 person found this helpful