Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Winner, 1990 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.
Favorite Quote
If she had known everything, it would not have been so easy to be brave.
About the Author
Lois Lowry is the author of numerous books for children, including The Giver which also won a Newbery Award. On her website, she writes that in her books she tries to convey "my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
My Project
I knew of course that I'd be featuring a Star of David motif, but it took me awhile to settle on the best technique to make one. I ultimately chose to use gold microbeads to create the three main stars (one for each of the young girls in the book). I like the idea that it takes many of those tiny beads working together to make one star, just as it takes many ordinary people working together to make a big impact. I added a few gold sequin stars to balance the piece.
The background is many layers of blue and white paints and inks. My first attempts were too dark and I felt that a completely dark piece wasn't a good fit for such a hopeful story. I ended up making a frame of darkness around the edges with the lighter blues and whites in the middle to show that even in darkness there is light.
Final Thoughts
I found this book fascinating both because of the historical subject and the author's phenomenal handling of it. I knew little (okay, nothing) about the Danish resistance during World War II, so I enjoyed learning some historical details such as the destruction of the naval ships and the people's fondness for their king. Despite the grim war setting, this book manages to be hopeful with a few scary scenes that manage to be realistic and age appropriate. I enjoyed the author's afterward where she explains some of the true elements (like the handkerchief) that she researched for the book. One minor surprising similarity to The Giver—an annoying younger sister! It struck me as I was reading Number the Stars that Lois Lowry does an especially good job showing how funny and exasperating a younger sibling can be to an older main character.
If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.