Number the Stars: Introduction

Title and Dedication

• This book is dedicated to Annelise Platt.
• The OCR text includes the phrase Tusind Tak, which is Danish for Thousand Thanks, possibly an acknowledgement to her.

Introduction

• Number the Stars was written over twenty years ago and received the 1990 Newbery Medal.
• The book has remained popular, with readers of all ages relating to the protagonists.
• A key theme is developing personal ethics, especially for young readers around the age of ten like the main character, Annemarie.
• The story focuses on a girl who must make difficult decisions in a frightening situation, with the choice of either helping her friend or turning away.
• According to the Author the history attempts to teach all readers a small Scandinavian population who showed integrity nearly seventy years ago. Also the value of courage when facing cruelty.
• The book's concept originated from a Danish friend's childhood story in Copenhagen during 1943.
• The story is about honoring the humanity of others and a group of prejudice-free people.

Main Characters

• Annemarie Johansen is the protagonist and is ten years old.
• Ellen Rosen is Annemarie’s best friend and is also ten years old.

Chapter 1. Why Are You Running?

• Annemarie and Ellen are racing each other in Copenhagen.
• Annemarie hopes to win the girls' race at the athletic meet on Friday.
• They are stopped by two German soldiers who question why they are running.
• The soldier's Danish is very poor, even after three years of occupation.
• Annemarie is racing her friend to do well at school every Friday.
• Annemarie notices the taller soldier is the one she and Ellen always called "the Giraffe".
• The shopkeeper disappears back into their shop when the soldiers are there.
• The soldier prods Annemarie's backback with his rifle, and asks about its contents.
• Annemarie introduces herself and Ellen to the soldiers.
• Kirsti scowls at the soldiers and pushes them.
• The soldiers let them go, but warn them not to run, as they look like hoodlums.
• Copenhagen has a curfew, and soldiers stand guard on street corners.
• Ellen's mother is afraid they were noticed by the soldiers
• Mrs. Johansen references Resistance incidents and bombings in Hillerød and Nørrebro.
• De Frie Danske is an illegal newspaper brought by Peter Neilsen, detailing acts of sabotage against the Nazis and the Resistance fighters.
• Resistance fighters are Danish people determined to harm the Nazis.
• The Hirsches owned a shop, but Mrs. Rosen is a teacher.
• Mrs. Johansen reassures the girls, stating they must walk to school differently, and be one of the crowd, so they are not remembered.
• Kirsti hopes the soldier will remember her because he thinks she looked like his own little girl.,
• Mrs. Johansen says that there has been no such thing as ingredients for cupcakes and butter since the occupation began.

Chapter 2. Who is the Man Who Rides Past?

• Kirsti asks Annemarie to tell her a story that begins with a King and Queen and a beautiful daughter.
• Annemarie tells a story of a make believe King and Queen and their daughter, Princess Kirsten.
• Annemarie thinks about King Christian, who was kind, and used to ride through Copenhagen on his horse, Jubilee, greeting citizens.
• Lise used to take Annemarie to see the King Christian and he used to wave and smile.
• Papa told Annamarie a story of how a German asked a Danish boy who the man was on the horse.
• The Danish Boy said it was his King, and he is the King of Denmark.
• Lise and Peter were engaged, but Lise died in an accident two weeks before the wedding.
• Peter used to be fun, but now he is serious and always in a hurry.
• Mama and Peter never spoke of Lise and never opened the trunk with her possessions.

Chapter 3. Where is Mrs Hirsch?

• The Hirsh family's shop is closed and has a German sign on its door.
• Ellen saw Mrs Hirsch, her husband, and son on Saturday and they seemed fine
• The Hirsch family lived in the neighborhood and the boy, Samuel, was tall, gangly and wore thick glasses
• Kirsti believes the Hirsches have gone on vacation to the seashore.
• Annemarie finds a button for Kirsti's jacket somewhere else.
• Annemarie overhears Mama and Papa talk about people disappearing.
• Peter visits the family, bringing them seashells, and two bottles of beer.
• Peter says many stores run by Jews have been closing because of orders issued by the Germans.
• Mama says friends will take care of them, referring to the persecuted families.
• The Rosen family were Jewish too

Chapter 4. It Will Be a Long Night

• Annemarie and Ellen are playing paper dolls while Kirsti and Mama were out shopping.
• The pair cut the paper dolls out of old copies of Mama's magazines.
• Mama told the girls the story of Gone With The Wind, which they enjoyed.
• Ellen often plays the leading roles in school dramas.
• Kirsti comes home with a new pair of green fish-skin shoes but does not like them at all.
• Ellen's father has black ink and offers to paint the shoes if the mother agrees.
• The new year will be on Thursday and Ellen invites Kirsti to come and watch the candles.
• Annemarie sees the Rosens walking to the synagogue and wonders why Ellen does not need to be at school.
• Mrs Rosen visits, but does not come inside, she and Annemarie's mother have a tense, hurried conversation.
• Ellen will stay with the family as the Rosens have been called away, and Peter has helped them go elsewhere.
• The Rabbi told the synagogue the location of the Jews was on a Nazi list at Synagogue and would be taken away.
• The code word “relocation” is a euphemism and has a different meaning, but must be taken seriously.
• Annemarie remembers the day Ellen looked terrified from a soldier, and understands how dangerous it all is.
• Papa states that earlier that day, The Synagogue Rabbi alerted members to a list of local Jewish people created by the Nazis.

Chapter 5. Who Is the Dark Haired One?

• After their parents reveal Ellen’s Jewish faith, the girls try