Number the Stars

This powerful historical novel brings readers into Nazi-occupied Denmark through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, whose ordinary world transforms when her family risks everything to hide her Jewish best friend. As German troops begin relocating Denmark's Jewish population, Annemarie witnesses the quiet bravery of ordinary people joining the Resistance movement to smuggle nearly seven thousand people to safety in Sweden. The narrative captures both the terrifying reality of occupation and the profound courage that emerges when neighbors protect neighbors from persecution.

Lowry masterfully balances the innocence of childhood perspective with the grave stakes of wartime survival, creating a story that resonates deeply with young readers encountering Holocaust literature for the first time. The novel's strength lies in its focus on everyday heroism—the small, dangerous acts that collectively saved lives—making complex historical events accessible without diminishing their gravity. This remains an essential introduction to World War II resistance movements and the moral choices ordinary people faced during extraordinary times.