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 First edition cover. | |
| Author | Lois Lowry |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Lois Lowry |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
Publication date | 1989 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 137 |
| Awards | Newbery Medal: 1990 |
| ISBN | 978-0395510605 (first edition, hardcover) |
| OCLC | 18947847 |
| LC Class | PZ7.L9673 Nu 1989 |
Number the Stars is a work of historical fiction by the American author Lois Lowry about the escape of a family of Jews from Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II.
The story revolves around ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen, who lives with her mother, father, and sister Kirsti in Copenhagen in 1943. Annemarie becomes a part of the events related to the rescue of the Danish Jews, when thousands of Jews were to reach neutral ground in Sweden to avoid being relocated to concentration camps. She risks her life to help her best friend, Ellen Rosen, by pretending that Ellen is Annemarie's late older sister, Lise, who was killed in a car crash. However, her former fiancé, Peter, who is partially based on the Danish resistance member Kim Malthe-Bruun, continues to help them.
The story's title is taken from a reference to Psalm 147:4 in which the writer relates that God has numbered all the stars and named each of them. It coincides into the Star of David, which is worn by Ellen Rosen on her necklace and is a symbol of Judaism.
The novel was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1990[1] as the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."[2]
Lowry traveled to Copenhagen to conduct research and interviews for the book. She took the photo of ten-year-old Anna Caterina Johnson, the Swedish girl used for the cover (shown in infobox), which was used on many editions of the book.[3]
- ^ "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–present". American Library Association. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
- ^ "The Newbery Medal". Powell's Books. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
- ^ Lowry, Lois. "Lois Lowry Interview". Scholastic. Retrieved September 22, 2012.