Review Summaries

• Broadly well-received, with praise for its tense narrative and restrained handling of traumatic material. Widely used in classrooms and Holocaust education for younger readers, the novel is noted for its careful avoidance of sensationalism. Scholars situate it within 'resistance' Holocaust fiction that emphasizes civilian agency while making historical trauma accessible to young readers.

Reviews

• Good Story!

  I enjoyed reading this book. This book gives me great consideration with the theme. I don't want to live in a world she described, but she also wrote grave nation in a human, especially boys that I think it gives us a great relief.

• とてもよい

  面白かったです。英語学習者への多読にぴったりです。レジスタンスの勇気に感銘を受けました。どの国にもどの時代にも、勇敢に戦った人々がいるんだと感銘を受けました。

• ナチとの対峙

  大戦中のデンマーク。ナチ兵士が町中をうろつき、少年少女たちですら、その脅威から逃れられない。コーヒーや肉などの食料品もナチへとまわされ、人々は精神的にも肉体的にも厳しい日々を強いられている。 そんな中で少女から大人へと成長しつつあるアンマリー。海の向こう、自由なスウェーデンへとユダヤ教徒たちを逃がしていく勇敢な人々の一人として働き、自分の役割・価値を学んでいく少女の物語。 長さは初心者には少々長く感じられるかもしれないが、英語は平易で、物語が力強いため、ぐいっとひっぱられる感じで、一気に読めるだろう。これからペーパーバックを読み始めようとしている高校生や大学生に是非読んでもらいたい一冊。

• 史実を述べた児童書としてなら５つ星ですが

  ドイツ占領下のデンマークで、迫害されるユダヤ人たちを隣人や友人が救い、スウェーデンへ逃がした物語。 １０歳の少女の視点で語られます。 語られているエピソードの多くが史実に基づいていると知って感動。 自分が同じ状況下に置かれたら、果たして同じような行動が取れるかと考えてしまいます。 デンマークの人々が示したこの勇気は、子どもたちのために本に残して語るべきものだと思います。 本書が書かれた意義そのものに意を唱えるつもりはありません。 しかし、児童書なのであまり大人目線で語るべきではないとは思いますが、物語としては、ちょっとご都合主義的というか、道徳的過ぎるきらいがあります。 善悪の区切りがあまりに単純で、大人である自分にも読み応えのある作品というと、個人的には５つ星までつけたい作品ではなかったです。 英語は簡単です。 初級者でもそれほど難なく読めると思います。

• Great story!

  We studied this book in school. The students were enthralled!

• 読んでよかったです

  登場人物は作者のフィクションですが、第二次世界大戦のさなかにスェーデンに住んでいた作者の知人の話を基にして物語が構成されています スウェーデンに住んでいるユダヤの家族をスウェーデン人の家族が守る物語

• 走れ！ 力いっぱい走れ！

  表紙の女の子は、きっと主人公の女の子。 この子は、友人や叔父さんの命を救うために、力いっぱい走ります。 題名のNumber the Stars というのは、 本の中ほどの印象的なシーンに出てくる歌の一節。 多読にちょうどよい厚さの本で、英文はもちろん簡単。 勇敢な少女になった気分で読み進めることができます。

• Jews in WWII

  interesting

• "An emotional and unforgettable read," even for adults!

  I have the privilege of teaching B2-level English to a remarkable group of adult women from around the world. This summer, we read Number the Stars together as a book club. One of my students, a native Spanish speaker from Mexico, wrote the following review and gave me permission to share it: "Number the Stars, written by Lois Lowry, is a story that captivates from the very first page. Although it is a work of fiction, it is inspired by real events that took place during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, as well as by childhood memories of the author’s close friend Annelise—a name that likely inspired the names of the main character and her sister. The book is lovingly dedicated to her. This novel not only serves as an accessible introduction for young readers to learn about the Holocaust from a personal and relatable point of view, but also offers a deeply human and moving narrative told through the eyes of Annemarie, a Danish girl who unexpectedly finds herself entangled in a web of courage, secrets, and resistance. Lowry masterfully weaves together the tension of historical events with the innocence and bravery of childhood, taking readers on an emotional roller coaster—evoking fear, sorrow, hope, and admiration. Her writing is simple yet powerful, allowing both young and adult readers to connect genuinely with the characters. One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its portrayal of heroism—not as something reserved for soldiers or adults, but as a quality found in ordinary people, even children, who choose to do what is right in the face of danger. More than a history lesson, Number the Stars is a powerful reflection on courage, friendship, and solidarity during dark times. Without a doubt, it’s an emotional and unforgettable read."

• Fácil de entender

  Sencillo de leer y de entender a mí hijo le ha encantado..

• utile per la scuola

  ben fatto e di semplice lettura preso per la scuola

• Number The Stars

  The story is about two girls Ellen and Annemarie that are best friends,they live in Denmark and goes to the same school.The story takes place during the WW2 .Ellen is Jewish and will have to hide from the Germans. This book is an amazing story because it is about friendship and courage .Te setting during the WW2 makes it quite scary . The main themes are :war,resistance,friendship and courage. The main characters are very brave because they will help others to escape. I learned in the book that it was very hard to live during the Germans occupation : people had hardly any food the Germans were very mean and cruel to the to the Jewish and you had to be very brave to survive. My favorite part is when the family arrives in the uncle 's house in the countryside where there are cows and a cute little kitten! I have a few question for L.Lowry ! Did L.Lowry get her inspiration from a true story? Why did she choose Denmark for the setting ? All and all i think that Number The Stars was the yes book I have ever read.

• Amazing!

  The book - The cover of the book is as beautiful as the story inside. Font size and page quality are fabulous. The story - This is one of those fantastic books which can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The dark side of WWII is toned down for children. It perfectly showcases the magnanimity of certain kind hearted and brave human beings who make the world a better place to live in. The note from the author in the final pages of the book moistens the eye more than the fiction could do. There are elements of reality around which this brilliant story was spun. It is such an unputdownable book that the reader can easily complete it in one sitting.

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