Number the Stars

Number the Stars ***

by Lois Lowry
Book Type: Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction
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.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: First of all, did you know that Lois Lowry is NOT a man? Lois Lowry is in fact a WOMAN. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I SO thought Lois Lowry was a man. Don't know why. I just did! On to the book. This book is about a young girl during the holocaust who has to be brave... For about 10 minutes. Okay, it's not that short but I've read a few really fabulous books about the Holocaust, from different perspectives. People who don't realize their affected, those who have to make a stand and be brave, and those who are sent to concentration camps.The Diary of Anne Frank, The Hiding Place, Sarah's Key, The Boy in The Striped Pajamas to name a few. I was surprised and disappointed to find that this novel was not written incredibly well. You can't tell if she's writing the book from a third-person perspective or first-person. It seems to jump around a little bit so that you are occasionally questioning who is thinking... I think the story is written from Anne Marie's perspective, but it is written as though it is third-person perspective. The story was pretty good, but it was lacking. There just wasn't much to it. I did think it was fascinating when Lois Lowry discussed the handkerchiefs that captains wore to block the dogs ability to smell in order to protect the people on their ship. This is something that they actually did. Fascinating! Overall I would tell you to pick up one of the other books I mentioned before this one if you're interested in historical fiction and stories of the holocaust.