http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/h-ferry.htm
This is a picture of an actual Danish-Jewish family fleeing Denmark on a boat toward Sweden. I accidentally ran across this picture doing my research for this project.  I wondered about little Ellen Rosen and her family.  I have allowed this family to represent them.  I would love to know their story, but realized their story is only effective if I promise never to forget.  I never learned the names of the people in the photo and don’t even know if they made it to Sweden.  However, this project is dedicated to them and the 7000+ Danish-Jews who had to leave the safety of their homes and travel to a new land in search of human decency.  I thank them for what they taught me.

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Personal Response to Book
I was overcome with emotion upon reading the Lois Lowry book, Number the Stars.  I was angered by the treatment of the Jewish people in Denmark and after more research, throughout Western Europe. The people of Denmark and how they came to help their Jewish neighbors escape the Nazis intrigued me.  This book serves as testament to the kind of spirit we all should have when it comes to good versus evil.
One cannot read this book and not be moved to tears upon stepping back to 1943 to see Annemarie and Ellen running down the sidewalk with not a worry in the world.  Annemarie’s younger sister, Kirsten, followed closely behind.  Then, all of a sudden they are stopped by German military officers and questioned about their simple childhood game—so young and so innocent.  To Annemarie and Ellen it was an inconvenience.  To Kirsten, it was an aggravation.  However, little did they know this was the first of a long succession of inconvenient aggravations the two families would have to face.  I imagined my own 10-year old and his freedom being squelched by an enemy oppressor and again, I was angered.  How could someone so evil do these kinds of things to people so innocent?  These children, all of a sudden, were awakened to the “adult” evil that had overtaken the small country of Denmark.
Immediately I was drawn into the Johansen family as I read their story.  Theirs, though fictional, were like many of that time.  Actual accounts similar to the Rosens are recorded in the history books.  I found myself in the Johansen living room as Peter Neilson came to visit bringing the family small gifts.  I could sense the secrecy surrounding Peter’s visits, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it.  I imagined the joy as the author told of Peter’s engagement to Annemarie’s older sister, Lise.  I also imagined the sadness as I learned about Lise’s untimely death.   All we are told about Lise’s death is that a car hit her and killed her.  This is true, however, at the end of the book we learn it was at the hand of the Germans who ran her over.  Here again, I imagined the pain of loosing a loved one and then the anger the family must have had toward the Germans who had overtaken their country and hurt their family so badly.
We don’t learn until the end where true historical facts end and where the fictional story begins.  I, like the children, would be in awe to see a real King riding through the streets of my town.  In reality, King Christian rode through the streets of Copenhagen every day.  I can also sense the despair in Annemarie’s mother’s heart when she told Kirsten about the fireworks on her birthday.  In actuality, King Christian ordered the entire Denmark naval fleet to be sunk in Copenhagen’s harbor before the Germans had a chance to overtake them.  That was the “fireworks” Annemarie’s mother told about.  The stories of the Resistance in Denmark are true as well.  I related to Peter somewhat cause there is a rebellious streak in me.  I do not like to see innocent people hurt and this is just what was happening to the people of Denmark.
When the Danish Jews found out that they were to be “re-located,” the Protestants in the country all pitched in to help out.  Annemarie and her family did their part by helping the Rosens, who were Jewish.  I guess in times like these, everyone had to do their part to help their neighbors.    They even took Annemarie’s friend, Ellen, into their home as their own child.  Again, I think about my life and wonder about my parents.  I know they would have done the same thing.  I can truly appreciate them for this value that they helped instill in me.
When the Germans began looking for the Jews, the Johansen’s knew they had to get Ellen out of Copenhagen.  The story took us on a journey to Annemarie’s uncle’s house. The children didn’t realize that this was part of the plan to help the Rosens escape.  Once again, the innocence of the children is compromised because the trip was very dangerous for a woman and three small girls.  Little did Annemarie know that Uncle Henrik also was helping the thousands of Danish Jews escape the country by hiding them in his fishing boat and helping them to safety in Sweden.  It’s always been human nature throughout history to try to protect the young and innocent from the harsh realities of the real world.  The adults tried to make this trip seem as “normal” as possible.  However, it’s hard to hide the truth from a smart and inquisitive child.  I can verify that with my own son.  Somehow, they always seem to sense something is wrong.
An interesting turn of events took place when we learned that there had been a “death” in the family—or at least that’s what we’re told.  Suddenly, people began arriving at Uncle Henrik’s house to mourn poor old Great-aunt Birte.  Annemarie knew there really wasn’t a Great-aunt Birte.  When she questioned Uncle Henrik he again tried to protect her by telling her as little as possible.  He explained to her that the less she knew, the better off she was.  He said it’s easier to be brave when you don’t know everything.  I could see Annemarie growing up as Uncle Henrik talked to her.  For a young child, her maturity level is really incredible.  But I still sense a little girl with a million questions.  Again, I become angry because a little girl should not have to be so grown-up.
When the Germans came to Uncle Henrik’s house and questioned them about the casket in the living room, Annemarie’s mother told them how poor Great-aunt Birte had died of typhus.  She was able to bring the big and burly Germans down a notch or two with her story.  Although the story doesn’t say, I wonder how Annemarie’s mother felt about lying in front of her children.  A mother tries to model behaviors in front of her children and I know this must have been hard.  However, I think I would have done the same thing in the face of this danger.  After the Germans left the house, and they opened the casket Annemarie was able to understand more about the coming events. She realized that all the people assembled here were trying to escape the Germans.
After saying goodbye to her best friend Ellen, Annemarie’s mother took Ellen and her family away in the night to the boat.  Annemarie didn’t know if she would ever see Ellen again so their goodbye was very sad.  How horrible she must have felt to say goodbye.  I know how I feel when a friend moves away and certainly Annemarie must have been flooded with emotions as well.  Later, after falling asleep, Annemarie must have been terrified when she woke up and realized that her mother was not yet home.  Many thoughts must have raced through her mind.  However, when she found her mother injured on the pathway, I know she was relieved.
 The plot thickened yet again, when Annemarie found the packet that Peter had given Mr. Rosen.  Annemarie’s mother realized that all hope would be lost unless Uncle Henrik had that packet.  Still, I was clueless about that packet, but knew it had to be important.  Imagine Annemarie’s mother’s fear as she told Annemarie to run to Uncle Henrik to deliver the packet.  Imagine Annemarie’s fear as she filled a basket with some food and put the packet in the bottom of the basket.  Again, she only knew it was important.  I guess it’s true about what Uncle Henrik told her—it’s easier to be brave if you don’t know everything.  Annemarie was to pretend to be taking Uncle Henrik’s lunch to him, remembering her mother’s words to act like a silly little girl if someone saw her.  It was almost humorous when she thought about Kirsten and how she treated the German soldiers who stopped them on the street earlier in the book.  When the German military officers stopped her, these thoughts helped her tremendously. When they took her basket, Annemarie fussed at the German officers for making her late and then she began to cry.  This almost annoyed the German soldiers.  Again, had Annemarie known why the packet was so important, she might not have been so convincing in front of the Germans?  Finally, when Annemarie did deliver the basket, she didn’t even realize that she had just saved Ellen and her family.  Annemarie certainly was growing up during this time.  It was certainly easier for her to pretend when she didn’t know the real contents of the packet.
Bravery is a constant theme throughout this book.  At such a young and innocent age, Annemarie was faced with many obstacles and had to overcome fear to be such a brave little girl.  In the end, she found out that the Jewish people were often hidden in secret compartments in the boat and the packet contained a handkerchief with dried rabbits blood and cocaine.   The packets were used to numb the dogs’ sense of smell and made it useless to search for the Jewish people hiding out on the boats.  I know Annemarie must have been proud of herself for helping her friends.
After this book, I found myself thinking about friendship and how I would react in such a situation.  Would I be as brave as Annemarie?  Could I risk myself to help others?  All of these were questions racing in my mind.  I tried to think about my life as an American and never having to endure such a life as Annemarie and her friend Ellen.  It made me truly thankful for the life I have and the place where I live.  It also made me even more respectful of people who are different than myself.  I also wondered about the true stories of bravery during this time.  Annemarie was a young child that should never have to face such adult issues as were in the book.  It’s as if the evil displayed by the Germans had robbed Annemarie of her innocence forcing her to grow up too quickly.
I read the afterward in the book over and over, especially the last page.  Lois Lowry researched the Danish resistance and came across the young man, Kim-Malthe-Brun.  When I read his letter to his mother I was deeply moved.  In it he said “…and I want you all to remember—that you must not dream yourselves back to the times before the war, but the dream for you all, young and old, must be to create an ideal of human decency, and not a narrow-minded and prejudiced one.  That is the great gift our country hungers for, something every little peasant boy can look forward to, and with pleasure feel he is a part of—something we can work and fight for.”  We all need to take the challenge of this young hero and strive daily to make our world the best it can be.  It all begins with trusting the One who “numbers the stars.”
 

Curriculum Connections

Literary Elements
A. Characters
Annemarie
Ellen
Mama
Papa
Kirsten
Uncle Henrick
Lise
Peter Neilson
Mr. Rosen
Mrs. Rosen

B. Plot
A young Danish girl is faced with the harsh reality of the “re-location” of the Jews during WWII.

C. Theme
Friends helping friends
Bravery in the face of danger

D. Tone
Suspenseful, emotional

E. Point of View
Second person narrative

F. Setting
Copenhagen, Denmark 1943

G. Style
Foreshadowing, climactic

Curriculum Connection—history/social studies
 World War II history plays a major role in the book, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.  True historical facts are interwoven among the pages of this fictional story.  Connections to history/social studies can be found in the following:

The Holocaust

Auerbacher, Inge. I Am A Star, Child of the Holocaust. (Simon & Schuster, 1986).
Stadtler, Bea. The Holocaust. (Berhman House, Inc., 1974).
Abells, Chana B., Children We Remember. (Greenwillow, 1986).
Adler, David A., We Remember the Holocaust. (Holt, 1989).

Internet Resources

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0823994.html  is a great Holocaust Enclyclopedic site with general Holocaust information.
http://www.ushmm.org  leads to the United States Holocaust Memorial.  Personally, I’ve visited this museum and it’s troubling, but necessary.
http://www.ushmm.org/exhibits/museum.htm lists a brief history of the exhibits of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  Daniel’s story is a must see for everyone.
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html lists a very detailed time line for events of the Holocaust.
http://lastexpression.northwestern.edu is a great site with pictures of the concentration camps, virtual tours, art and essays from the survivors.  Very moving.
 

World War II

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2691/links.htm has hundreds of great WWII links categorized by topic.
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/pacificwar/index.html is the History Place.  It has photos and maps of the war in the Pacific.

Jewish Culture

http://www.us-israel.org/jsource The Jewish Student Online Research Center is a great site linking to Jewish culture, the history of the Jewish people, the Holocaust, photographs, etc…
http://www.ou.org/about/judaism2.htm Judaism 101 is a comprehensive information base of basic Jewish terms, concepts and practice.

Curriculum Connection—geography

 The author talks about the Rosens escape from Denmark to Sweden.  Geography connections can be made that allow students to explore this particular region of the world.

Denmark

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107460.html Denmark facts
http://www2.dst.dk/internet/startuk.htm Lots of links to Denmark statistics, history and economy
 

Germany

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107568.html Germany facts
 

Sweden

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108008.html Sweden facts
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0847394.html has links to Sweden’s government, economy, geography, culture, etc…

Curriculum Connection—Escape to freedom and the search for human decency
 The climax in Number the Stars happens when the Rosens are trying to flee Denmark in search of refuge away from Nazi occupied Denmark.  Similarities exist to American history and the Underground Railroad during which time the slaves from the south sought freedom in the north during the time around the Civil War.  Connections can also be made to more recent history and the struggle for civil rights for blacks in America.

Harriet Tubman
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0849622.html

The Underground Railroad
http://www.undergroundrailroad.com/home.html

Human Rights Movement
http://www.hrweb.org

Curriculum Connection to Diary of Anne Frank

http://www.annefrank.com has a complete listing concerning the life of Anne Frank.