Number the Stars: Key Characters and Events

Key Characters and Events

• Kristi comes home in tears over her shoes made of fish skin, revealing her disappointment with her presents.
• Ellen offers to make Kristi's shoes black and shiny with ink, showcasing her resourcefulness and friendship.

Significant Occurrences

• Kristi insists that fireworks went off on her birthday, demonstrating a child’s perception and excitement about events.
• The Danes blew up their Navy assets to prevent the Germans from confiscating them, indicating their defiance and sacrifice in the face of occupation.

Themes of Resistance and Survival

• The act of destroying their own navy symbolized the Danes' resistance against the Germans, emphasizing their unwillingness to comply fully with oppression.
• Ellen helps her mother with housekeeping due to the observance of Jewish New Year on Thursday, highlighting cultural traditions amidst turmoil.

Relationships and Fear

• Ellen stays overnight at Annemarie’s home following Mrs. Rosen's visit, underscoring their close friendship and shared dangers.
• After dinner, Papa informs Annemarie about the Nazis having seized the synagogue's list of congregants, including the Rosen family, indicating rising threats to their safety.

Dangers Faced by the Rosen Family

• The Rosen's fear for their lives, as the Nazis’ actions lead to potential capture and murder, intensifying the novel's tension.
• Peter Nielsen is mentioned as someone who helped Ellen’s parents, illustrating the community's support during perilous times.

Hiding Strategies

• To protect Ellen, Papa devises a plan to pass off Ellen and Annemarie as sisters, emphasizing themes of deception for safety and familial bonds.
• There is a grave concern that if the Johansens were caught hiding Ellen, they might face arrest or death, highlighting the harsh realities of the Jewish persecution during this historical period.