![]() Reading about children during WWII is emotional, and you’ll feel for the families in this story with your whole heart as you’re reading. The intense plot and short chapters make it nearly impossible to put down.Įmotional Investment: High. The inclusion of historical background information in Number the Stars was seamless and served the story well. And other times not enough background information is included, which can make it feel confusing and overwhelming. Sometimes, too much information is included, which makes it feel didactic and tedious. This is something that is often hit-or-miss for me with middle grade historical fiction. I appreciated how there were smooth inclusions of historical background information embedded throughout the story. “Ellen had said that her mother was afraid of the ocean, that it was too cold and too big. It presents delicate subject matter in a very tasteful way. I also appreciated that, although the plot is intense and dark, it wasn’t overly dramatic or over-the-top. The short chapters make it difficult to put down. Plot/Pacing: The story moves at a quick pace and is very suspenseful (though I worry it may feel less suspenseful for kids who may not have a lot of background knowledge on WWII). And since we don’t get to spend much time with each character due to the short length of the book, this just goes to show how strong the characters in this story are because you really do feel connected to all of them. Each character serves a purpose in the story and contributes to Annemarie’s development. It’s a relatively short book, but it packs a punch. ![]() All of the minor characters are great too. The book is set during WWII, so she was forced to rapidly go from an innocent child to a mature and brave one in a very short amount of time. The main character, Annemarie, grows a lot throughout the story. Bravery means doing the right thing even if it scares you.Ĭharacter Development: The character development in this book was really well done. “It is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything” Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen’s life. When the Jews of Denmark are “relocated,” Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. It’s now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war.
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