Number the Stars: Introduction and Chapter 1

Introduction

• The author, Lois Lowry, reflects on writing Number the Stars over twenty years prior
• The book won the 1990 Newbery Medal
• The story's themes resonate with readers across generations
• The book's protagonist, Annemarie, is ten years old, which is the approximate age of most readers
• The readers consider what choices they would have made in a similar situation
• The story highlights personal ethics, doing the right thing, and facing difficult challenges
• The author’s Danish friend, an old woman now, inspired the fictional Annemarie, reflecting on the story of her time in Copenhagen in 1943

Why Are You Running?

• Annemarie and Ellen are racing each other in Copenhagen
• Annemarie is lanky and athletic, whereas Ellen is stocky
• Kirsti can't keep up so she is left behind while the two older girls race
• Two German soldiers, blocking their path, order the girls to halt
• Annemarie answers with a "poor" Danish accent that she was racing with her friend in order to prepare for the race on Friday
• One of the Soldiers checks Annemarie's backpack
• Ellen's face turns pale with wide eyes as the soldier is talking to Annemarie
• Kirsti pushes the soldier's hand away when he touches her hair
• After laughing among themselves, the soldiers let them go but tell them to remember to not run and go study
• At their apartment building there are a further two soldiers standing guard
• Ellen admits that she was scared to Annemarie
• At Annemarie's apartment, Kirsti tells her mom and Mrs. Rosen about the soldier, exaggerating the story
• The mothers discuss the Resistance incidents and the illegal newspaper De Frie Danske
• The resistance fighters damage German trucks and factories
• Mrs. Rosen urges the girls to take a different route to school and to be one of many, so as to avoid attention
• Kirsti says the soldier thought she was pretty like his little girl
• Mrs. Johansen questions why he doesn't visit his own daughter
• Annemarie attempts to distract her mother with talk of food so she does not worry about the soldiers
• Kirsti desires a cupcake but her mother tell her it is not possible until the soldiers leave

Who Is the Man Who Rides Past?

• Kirsti asks Annemarie for a fairy tale before bed
• Kirsti asks to hear of a King and Queen, who have a beautiful daughter
• The story's real King, Christian X, lived in Amalienborg
• Denmark adored King Christian X for his kindness
• Annemarie thinks back to a story of when a German soldier asked about the King
• The teenage boy responded that all of Denmark was his bodyguard
• Papa then confirmed that any Danish citizen would die to protect him, including himself and Mama
• Annemarie had then said that she would, too
• The king was unable to protect them from invasion as they were a small country
• Other countries were being invaded by German soldiers like Holland, Belgium and France
• Sweden was the only free country
• King Christian was old
• Lise, Annemarie’s sister, had died in an accident before her wedding to Peter
• Lise's belongings were kept in a trunk
• Peter stopped singing nonsense songs
• Papa had also changed

Where Is Mrs. Hirsch?

• The days pass and the girls avoid the German soldier at all costs by walking a longer way to school
• They notice there is no fuel for apartments in Copenhagen, candles must instead be used as electricity is rationed
• Mama mentions that she will put another blanket on the girls' bed, so they can both be warmer
• She mentions Ellen will be fine as she has her parents to keep her warm
• Annemarie recalls when Kirsti used to climb in bed with her parents
• Mama laughs and remembers that Kirsti sometimes used to wet the bed
• Kirsti denies this
• As Kirsti has broken the buttons on her jacket, Annemarie is tasked to take Kirsti to Mrs. Hirsch to buy one after school
• The shop is closed and padlocked, the sign having German words on it they could not read
• Ellen last saw her on Saturday with her husband and son where they all looked fine
• Samuel Hirsch, the son, was tall with thick glasses and rode a clattering bicycle
• Mrs. Hirsch had gone on vacation to the seashore, Kirsti explains
• Annemarie is sarcastic so Kirsti says yes, she took a basket
• Because there have been no pink-frosted cupcakes for months, it is not a possibility
• The mother is troubled and asks about whether the girls are certain that the sign said German
• Annemarie mentions that the sign had a swastika on it
• At first, Annemarie got potatoes for dinner but later Mr. Rosen arrives
• He gives her the shells as a reminder of happy times as well as beers for her parents
• The Germans were closing many stores due to them being owned by Jews
• Annemarie realizes Sophy Rosen is also Jewish and will also be affected

It Will Be a Long Night

• Annemarie and Ellen were alone playing with paper dolls of various characters
• Kirsti stumbles in crying saying she will never wear the new green shoes with fish skin
• Mama was able to buy Kirsti new shoes because they were out of fish skin as there was no leather available
• Ellen offered to make the shoes black for her to make them better
• Kirsti says she would only wear them if no one was told they were fish skin
• Kirsti asks if she can play too, and is given the doll "Bonnie"
• Ellen says that in their game the dolls are going to Tivoli in Copenhagan
• Annemarie remembered the music and the brightly colored lights, the carousel and ice cream
• The German occupation forces had burned part of Tivoli Gardens
• Kirsti said on her birthday, she woke up in the night and she could hear the booms which had lit up the sky
• Annemarie says the was when the Danish had destroyed their own naval fleet
• That thurdsay Annaemarie sees the Rosens walking to Synagogue in their best clothes
• They arrange after that Ellen stay over in the appartment for a few days because her parents need to visit relatives
• Mama says she talk with the Rosens and they dont think that they will be affected
• In the night Annaemarie ask Papa what is going on?
• Papa tells her about all jews being planed to arrest and moved away in that night
• Annaemarie is stunned and ellen is crying silently
• Papa says they cant rescue all of them so peter has help Ellen´s parents going to Elswhere (another place)
• Papa tells them that Ellen will pretend to be his duaghter and sleep with Annaemarie
• Papa ends there talk by saying "Tonight I am proud to have three daughters again."

Who Is the Dark-Haired One?

• Ellen asks nervously, "Do you really think anyone will come?" and asks if her father doesn't think so
• Annemarie replies, "Of course not. They're always threatening stuff. They just like to scare the people."
• In response, Ellen says, "Anyway, if they did, it would give me a chance to practice acting." saying that she would pretend to be Lise
• She then says "I wish I were taller, though." saying this as she stretches on her tiptoes
• Annemarie mentions "You were great as the Dark Queen in the school play last year." and tells her "You should be an actress when you grow up."
• This then leads to Ellen again standing and stretching on her tiptoes and saying "I am the Dark Queen," she intoned dramatically. "I have come to command the night!"
• Annemarie tells her about her sister Lise's death, she confeses she does not know everything after a phone call
• She then goes on to describe the weather that night, mentioning how it rained and that how her father got cross and angry
• She notes that Lise was hit by a car
• Annaemarie then finnishing her hair and handing it to her friend Ellen, who is brushing her hair when she "lifted her dark hair away from the thin gold chain she wore around her neck—the chain that held the Star of David—and began to brush her thick curls."
• Together they went into the bed, with Annaemarie saying, "See that blue trunk in the corner?" she said, pointing through the darkness. "Lots of Lise's things are in there. Even her wedding dress. Mama and Papa have never looked at those things, not since the day they packed them away."
• They both hugged and and reassured the other that they are safe
• Annaemarie stated that she was safe that night and then shut her eyes

Let Us Open the Casket

• Uncle Henrik said to everyone that the Rosens are all here, and that he must go
• Annemarie stood in the hall door way and looked, the same with the baby, whilst Peter sat leant forward and alone with his elbows on his knees. It was all because he were deep in thought.
• To this, the elderly bearded man now looked up and Henrik prepared to say good bye. "God keep you safe," the elderly man said. Saying God keep us all safe back was the reply from Henrik.
• Mama then brought around teats from the kitchette for Annaemarie to distribute, to which she did. Noone spoke.
• Mama whispered to Annemarie in the hall that "you may go to bed if you want to. It is very late." she would then say, to this Annaemarie shook her head that she would not. She was to tired.
• Then, through the window's that Annaemarie had been facing in the corner of the empty living room, curled up with her head at the back, a set of headlights swang around at the apartment

Run! As Fast As You Can!

• Mr. Rosen tripped on the loose step outside the kitchen door. His wife then grasped his arm, and he regained his balance.
• Mama would then whisper as they stood still"It's very dark,"
• As she did, she added with a neccisary amount "And be very, very quiet,"
• Annaemarie shivered by the foot of the steps. She took each other's hands and said "Come"
• There after both were gone, Mama and the Rosens. Annaemarie was alone.
• Mama has broken her ankle by tripping over the steps
• Mr. Rosen has dropped a hidden item by doing so
• This item must be delivered to the boat but Annaemarie herself
• Mama said it was her ankle which is the problem

All This Long Time

• The war, Henrik says, is going to end someday when the churches are ringining all over Copenhagen!
• He said they all sang the anthem of Denmark that day
• Annaemarie stood at the balcony with her family from which she knew her apartment was
• Peter Neilsen died while captured
• Annaemarie states she is gonna wear the jewwish necklace until Ellen comes back
• The author talks about Annelise Platt, a friend of Lois' that told herto write the story
• Denmark surrendered Germany in 1940 and 1943, before all these things occured.