A review by aritacb
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really liked this book back in elementary school. Even though it’s way different than I remember, (I think mainly liked it because I romanticized Lise and Peter to the point where I thought they were more present in the book lol) I still enjoyed it.

I wish this had been longer and more detailed but it didn’t feel like anything was rushed or left out. I would have loved more insight to the adult characters but since this is children’s literature it was obviously about ten year old Annemarie’s experience of what was going on in Denmark during the WWII. Lowry was brilliant in the way she depicted Annemarie’s thoughts and behavior. This is a great read for younger kids to help them gain some background and understanding on what happened during the Holocaust. Lowry did an amazing job of conveying what happened in Denmark in 1943 in an accessible and engaging way for kids. This book can serve as a transition into books like the Book Thief or The Boy in Striped Pajamas, that delve more into the Holocaust.
Overall this is a beautiful and important work of children’s literature.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings