Annemarie Johanen's Number The Stars

Number the Stars takes place in 1943. It is told from the point of view of Annemarie Johansen, a ten-year-old girl who lives is Copenhagen, Denmark. One day, while leaving school, Annemarie and her best friend Ellen, who is Jewish, are stopped by two Nazi soldiers on the corner of their street. Both of the girls’ mothers become concerned and ask them to take a new route to school each day to avoid any other conflict from the soldiers. Annemarie is frightened by this encounter and it makes her reflect on what her father has told her about Denmark and about the death of her sister (Lise) that occurred a few years before the book starts. One late night, the Johansen’s receive a visit from Peter Neilsen (a member of the Resistance and the man Lise was to

Johansen takes the girls to her brother’s house in Gilleleje, Denmark. Her brother makes a living as a fisherman and spends most of his time on a boat. They spend a day at the house by the beach and then that night, Henrik announces that their great-aunt Birte has passed away. Even though Annemarie knows that there is no such person, she still attends the service that is held that night; however, she still demands to know the truth of what’s happening. Her uncle then explains to her that it is very important to not know things in order to be brave. After this discussion, the coffin arrives and they all gather around it. Many unfamiliar faces enter the house, but everyone still remains silent. Shortly after, Peter brings the Rosens into the house who are reunited with their daughter, Ellen. The lights are still on at the house after “curfew” and it attracts the soldiers who are keeping watch. Once they enter the house, they demand that the coffin be opened. This, however, is a problems because the coffin is empty. Mrs. Johansen thinks quickly and tells the soldiers that her aunt has died of an extremely contagious disease called typhus. The soldiers, wanting to avoid contamination,