Number the Stars: Chapter Overview

Title and Dedication

• The book "Number the Stars" is by Lois Lowry.
• The book is dedicated to Annelise Platt

Table of Contents

• The table of contents provides a layout of many chapters:
• "Why are you Running?" introduces a sense of urgency.
• "Who is the Man Who Rides Past?" hints at the Danish monarchy.
• "Where Is Mrs. Hirsch?" reveals growing dangers for Jewish people.
• "It Will Be a Long Night" suggests a shift in tone.
• "Who Is the Dark-Haired One?" raises questions on identity.
• "Is the Weather Good for Fishing?" implies secret communications.
• "The House by the Sea" provides the setting for refuge.
• "There Has Been a Death" brings a somber disruption.
• "Why Are You Lying?" exposes conflict between deception and bravery.
• "Let Us Open the Casket" hints at a dangerous plan.
• "Will We See You Again Soon, Peter?" conveys uncertainty and loss.
• "Where Was Mama?" introduces separation and heightened risk.
• "Run! As Fast As You Can!" implies a desperate pursuit.
• "On the Dark Path" evokes a dangerous journey.
• "My Dogs Smell Meat!" creates tense confrontations with the enemy.
• "I Will Tell You Just a Little" suggests partial truths and withheld information.
• "All This Long Time" creates a sense of enduring impact and reflection.
• An Afterword with additional sources, and author information.

Copyright and Publication Details

• "Number the Stars" is copyrighted in 1989 by Lois Lowry.
• The book is published in the United States by Sandpiper, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
• Trademarks for SANDPIPER and the SANDPIPER logo belong to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
• The Library of Congress cataloged the hardcover edition with the summary stating that a ten-year-old Annemarie learns to be brave by helping her Jewish friend during the German occupation of Denmark in 1943.
• The book was manufactured in the United States of America.

Introduction

• Lois Lowry reflects on writing "Number the Stars" over twenty years prior to the introduction.
• On a snowy January morning, she'd received news it was awarded the 1990 Newbery Medal.
• Despite the book's age, she still receives messages from readers, many of whom now share it with their children.
• Readers of all ages match themselves against protagonists books they love.
• The age of Annemarie and most of the book's readers (ten) is when young people begin developing strong personal ethics, aspire to be honorable, and realize the world's harshness.
• The book is about a girl their age, in a frightening situation, making decisions.
• Readers seeing grow older and reading Holocaust literature will find that many people in other countries didn't do it.
• Young readers rejoice when Annemarie stands up to the enemy and triumphs.
• The book has found its way into the hands and hearts of children of the war.
• The author now hears from young readers who have lost a parent or an older brother in Iraq or Afghanistan.
• Cruelty and courage are explored.
• The story is about how people should be treated and a group of prejudice-free people honored humanity.

1. Why Are You Running?

• Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen race through Copenhagen streets and are stopped by German soldiers.
• The girls are stopped on Østerbrogade street.
• They are questioned by the soldiers, who intimidate them with rifles.
• The girls' youth and quick thinking help them avoid serious trouble.
• A shopkeeper watches silently, and disappears into the shadows of the doorway.
• One soldier strokes Kirsti's short, tangled curls.
• Soldiers mockingly warn the girls against looking like hoodlums when running.
• The Rosens are at the Johansens' apartment, having coffee with herbs.
• Kirsti innocently recounts details of the encounter, alarming the adults.
• Mrs. Rosen warns the girls to take different routes to school and to not draw attention from German faces.
• The adults discuss Resistance activity.
• Papa explains that the Resistance fighters, Danish people, damaged the German trucks and cars, and bombed their factories.
• The chapter shows everyday life under occupation, emphasizing fear, watchfulness, and the presence of soldiers.
• Mrs. Hirsch's shop was closed and Mama said she saw a swastika on the sign.
• Peter visits the Johansens.

2. Who Is the Man Who Rides Past?

• Annemarie tells Kirsti a fairy tale to help her fall asleep.
• She reflects on the love Danish people have for King Christian X.
• She thinks on a story that Papa had told her, of King Christian came by on his morning ride.
• The king rode alone, greeting his people.
• Sometimes he waved back, and smiled.
• ""Now you are special forever," Lise had told her once, "because you have been greeted by a king.""
• In the morning ride a German soldier had asked, ""Who is that man who rides past here every morning on his horse?""
• The boy replied, ""He is our king...He is the King of Denmark.""
• ""Where is his bodyguard?"" the soldier had asked.
• Papa asked Annemarie, ""And do you know what the boy said?""
• ""The boy looked right at the soldier, and he said, 'All of Denmark is his bodyguard.'""
• Annemarie shivered, thought it was a brave answer.
• The answer was ""yes"" any Danish citizen would die for King Christian, to protect him.
• Annemarie shivered again. ""Then I would too, Papa. If I had to.""
• Three years ago Mama had been crocheting that evening three years ago: the lacy edging of a pillowcase.
• ""sometimes I wonder why the king wasn't able to protect us. Why didn't he fight the Nazis""
• Papa replied they were a tiny country, such an enormous enemy.
• He knew that many, many Danish people would die if we fought: