Number the Stars

Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Number the Stars is a Newbery Honor book.

Newbery Medal book

Exposition: Ten year old, Annemarie Johansen and her friend Ellen Rosen are racing in the streets of Copenhagen during the German occupation of World War II, when a Nazi Soldier stops them and questions them about their whereabouts, Annemarie's younger sister, Kirsti, catches up with them and becomes part of the situation.
Rising Action: When Mrs. Johansen and Mrs. Rosen, become aware of the situation, they prohibit the girls to take the same route back and forth from school. Jewish shops are being closed and a rabbi tells his Jewish congregation that the Nazis are planning to "relocate" all the Jews in Denmark. At that time the Johansen family along with Peter Nielsen, a family friend and member of the Danish Resistance, help their friends the Rosens escape to Gilleleje, a town from which they can take a boat to safety in Sweden. Uncle Henrik lives there.
Climax: After a couple of busy days traveling and getting ready, the Johansens are reunited in Gilleleje. Their Danish friends are having a pretend funeral when a group of Nazi soldiers interrupt and question Mrs. Johansen. After that, Peter takes a group of Jews to the boat and Mrs. Johansen takes another group. Just before dawn, Annemarie is helping her mom back in the house when she realizes that a very important paper that Mr. Rosen needed for their trip to Sweden was left accidentally and she begins her dangerous journey through the woods to take the paper to her friend's dad. Annemarie encounters a Nazi patrol and acts like a silly girl in order to be able to reach her uncle's boat.
Falling Action: Annemarie returns to the farm and her uncle explains to her the importance of the paper and how thanks to her courage, everyone was able to arrive safe and sound to Sweden.
Resolution: Two years later, during the celebration of the end of World War II, the Johansens remember the people that gave their life to save the Jews and how others are still helping maintain their jewish friends property. Annemarie asks her father to fix Ellen's necklace so that she can wear it until her friend comes back to Copenhagen.

Number the Stars is an excellent book that describes life during war. Lois Lowry writes using dialogue and understatement to give depth to the story. The author's use of dialoge helps the reader understand the characters and their traits, it shows the motives, prejudices (soldiers), and challenges. From beginning to end, the understatement in the story makes the reader part of the plot, drawing conclusions throughout the conflict helps you experience and feel for the characters and their predicaments.