Number the Stars Review Chapters 1-5

Character Traits

• Annemarie Johansen: 10 years old, good student, athletic, tall with long legs, has a deceased sister Lise and a little sister Kirsti.
• Ellen Rosen: Also 10 years old, Annemarie's best friend, good student, slower than Annemarie, short and stocky with dark hair.
• Kirsti Johansen: 5 years old, stubborn and pretty with short, tangled curls; loves fairy tales and is described as having a big mouth.

Important Characters

• The Giraffe: A tall figure with a long neck, stern voice, cold eyes, shiny boots, interviews people, and has a pretty daughter.
• King Christian X: Respected ruler of Copenhagen, seen as a great king by his subjects.

Lise Johansen

• Annemarie and Kirsti's older sister, known for her beautiful smile and formerly having brown curly hair.
• Died at 21 years old in a car accident, two weeks before her wedding to Peter Neilson.

Setting

• The story is set in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Plot Points in Chapters 1-5

• Annemarie and Ellen are stopped by German soldiers while running.
• Mrs. Hirsch's button shop is closed because she is Jewish; a swastika is displayed on the door.
• Ellen stays over at the Johansens’ to hide from the Nazis due to her Jewish identity.
• Annemarie helps Ellen pretend to be Lise to evade capture.

Key Events

• The closing of button shops and rationing of items like sugar, coffee, and leather indicate the oppressive environment.
• The girls speculate about Lise's accident, attributing it to rainy road conditions.
• The soldiers invade the Johansen home, questioning Ellen and searching for hints of Jewish identity.
• Annemarie swiftly removes Ellen's necklace to protect her identity from discovery.

Thematic Elements

• Friendship is exemplified in the bond between Annemarie and Ellen, highlighting loyalty amid danger.
• The tragic loss of Lise serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of war.
• Courage and resourcefulness are demonstrated during encounters with German soldiers, emphasizing the characters' quick thinking in crisis situations.

Rationing and Material Items

• Items being rationed in Copenhagen include electricity, rubber, leather, sugar, and beer.
• Kirsti's original green shoes made of fish skin were dyed black by the Rosens to disguise their origins.

Emotional Tone

• The narrative conveys a sense of urgency and peril as the characters navigate the threat posed by German forces, reflecting the historical context of World War II and the Holocaust.

Test your knowledge of the characters and key traits from the first five chapters of 'Number the Stars'. This quiz focuses on the main characters Annemarie and Ellen, highlighting their friendships and individual characteristics. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the story and its themes.