Number the Stars

One of very few childrens books that deals with some of the issues of WWII and the Holocaust, or at least the danger the Jewish people were in. To have a child as the heroine is ingenius, because it deals with what the truth really was: there was something EVERYONE could do to help, if they were brave enough. Years after falling in love with this book, I was amazed to learn about the fate of...more

One of very few childrens books that deals with some of the issues of WWII and the Holocaust, or at least the danger the Jewish people were in. To have a child as the heroine is ingenius, because it deals with what the truth really was: there was something EVERYONE could do to help, if they were brave enough. Years after falling in love with this book, I was amazed to learn about the fate of the Jews of Denmark. While in all other European countries, around one in five Jews survived, all but a few Jews in Denmark were saved. Of, I think, 8000 Jews, around fifty were arrested, and only a few were killed. Within less than 24 hours, the people of Denmark decided they were not going to let the Nazis have their fellow countrymen, and the children in school, the teachers, the friends and neighbors, everyone, saved "their" Jews.   hide

We read this in fourth or fifth grade. As my first Holocaust read, I was very moved and taken aback. This book is brilliantly written from a child's view which makes the brutal realities of the Holocaust a bit more digestable for kids reading about Jewish persecution and WWII for the first time. I also love how the heroine was a young girl because it shows you can step up and do what's right at...more

We read this in fourth or fifth grade. As my first Holocaust read, I was very moved and taken aback. This book is brilliantly written from a child's view which makes the brutal realities of the Holocaust a bit more digestable for kids reading about Jewish persecution and WWII for the first time. I also love how the heroine was a young girl because it shows you can step up and do what's right at any age.   hide

I have to say, I really respect Lowry's work. She makes it so personal and profound at the same time. It is fairly obvious at certain points what is going on although this may not be true for younger readers. Not only is the story interesting but it should instill an interest for World War II history.

This book was really cool, i thought that the theme of survival was just amazing. Its a really great book on explaining the Holocaust and what people went through to survive and stay hidden. I first read this, i think my 8th grade year and it helped me understand the pain and fear that the Nazi regime spread. I would recommend this book to anybody with interests in WWII.