Lois Lowry didn't just write a kids' book about the Holocaust. Honestly, she wrote a masterclass in tension that makes most adult thrillers look like a nap. If you grew up in the 90s or 2000s, you probably remember the cover of Number the Stars—that striking, sepia-toned face of a young girl with a Star of David necklace. It’s haunting.
But here’s the thing: people often misremember it as a "sad book." While there’s plenty of grief to go around, it’s actually more of a spy novel for the middle-grade set. It’s about the Danish Resistance, hidden compartments in boats, and a handkerchief soaked in a very specific chemical concoction of cocaine and rabbit’s blood. Yeah, you read that right.
What Actually Happens in Number the Stars
The story centers on Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen. It's 1943 in Copenhagen. The Nazis are everywhere. You’ve got "Death and the Fastback"—the nicknames the girls give the German soldiers standing on every street corner—looming over their daily lives.
When the word gets out that the Nazis are planning to "relocate" Denmark's Jewish population, the Johansens don't just sit there. They act. Annemarie’s parents take Ellen in, pretending she’s Annemarie’s deceased older sister, Lise. There is this incredibly high-stakes scene where the soldiers burst into the bedroom at night. Annemarie has to rip the Star of David necklace off Ellen’s neck so quickly it leaves a mark on her palm.
That’s the kind of visceral detail Lowry is famous for. It’s not just "they were scared." It’s the physical sensation of metal biting into skin because your life depends on it.
Eventually, the mission shifts to the coast. Annemarie’s Uncle Henrik is a fisherman, and he’s part of a massive, coordinated effort to smuggle Jews across the water to Sweden. If you didn't know, Sweden was neutral during WWII, making it the ultimate destination for safety.
The Reality of the Danish Resistance
One thing most people get wrong about Number the Stars is thinking the "brave" stuff is exaggerated for fiction. It’s not. In fact, Kim Malthe-Bruun, a real-life Danish resistance fighter, was a major inspiration for the character of Peter Neilsen.
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Lowry actually based much of the book on the accounts of her friend, Annelise Platt, who lived through the occupation. The historical accuracy is what gives the book its weight. In late September 1943, the Danish people managed to save over 7,200 of Denmark's 7,800 Jews. They used fishing boats, rowboats, anything that floated.
They did it in plain sight.
The Science of the "Handkerchief"
This is the part that always blows people's minds when they reread the book as adults. Remember that packet Annemarie had to deliver to her uncle at the docks? The one the dogs sniffed?
It contained a handkerchief treated with a mixture of dried rabbit's blood and cocaine.
Why? Because German dogs were trained to sniff out human scent in the hidden holds of the boats. The blood attracted the dogs, and the cocaine numbed their noses. It literally broke their sense of smell for a few hours. This wasn't some plot device Lowry dreamed up while drinking coffee; it was a real tactic used by the Swedish scientists and Danish fishermen to outsmart the Gestapo.
Why Annemarie Johansen Isn't Your Typical Hero
Annemarie doesn't feel brave. She spends half the book telling herself she’s a coward.
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That’s why it works.
She’s ten years old. She’s hungry because there hasn't been real butter or frosted cupcakes in Copenhagen for years. She’s terrified of the dark woods. Most "hero" narratives focus on people who are fearless. But Lowry focuses on the girl who is shaking in her boots and does the right thing anyway.
It’s a distinction that resonates with kids and adults alike. Bravery isn't the absence of fear; it's realizing that something else—like your best friend's life—is more important than that fear.
The Complex Legacy of Lise Johansen
One of the heavier subplots involves Lise, Annemarie’s older sister who died before the book begins. For a long time, Annemarie believes it was a car accident.
The truth is darker.
Lise was part of the Resistance. She was killed by the Nazis during a raid on a secret meeting. This adds a layer of grief to the Johansen parents that kids might miss on a first read but hits like a freight train when you revisit it. They already lost one daughter to the cause, yet they still risk their remaining child and their own lives to save the Rosens.
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It’s a level of moral clarity that feels almost alien in our modern, nuanced world.
Common Misconceptions About the Ending
People often think the book ends with a "happily ever after" once they reach Sweden.
Not quite.
The war doesn't end for another two years. Annemarie has to wait. She keeps Ellen’s necklace hidden in a pocket of Lise’s yellow engagement dress, tucked away in a trunk. The ending of Number the Stars is more about the hope of a reunion rather than the reunion itself. It acknowledges the time lost and the childhoods stolen.
Key Takeaways for Readers Today
If you're reading this for a book club, teaching it to a class, or just revisiting a childhood favorite, keep these points in mind:
- Look at the King: The story about King Christian X riding his horse alone through Copenhagen without a bodyguard is 100% true. He said the Danish people were his bodyguards.
- The Yellow Star: Interestingly, Danish Jews were never actually forced to wear the yellow Star of David in Denmark, unlike in other occupied countries. Lowry chose to include the necklace as a symbolic motif rather than a legal requirement in that specific region, though the threat of "relocation" was very real.
- The Geography: Open a map and look at the distance between Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden. It’s only about 15-20 miles. It looks so close, yet in 1943, that stretch of water was the difference between life and death.
Actionable Steps for Exploring the History
Don't just stop at the last page of the book. The history behind it is arguably more fascinating than the fiction.
- Research the "Danish Boat Rescue": Look up photos of the Gerda III. It’s an actual boat used in the rescue that is now preserved at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
- Read Kim Malthe-Bruun's letters: Lowry mentions him in the afterword. His final letters from prison before his execution are some of the most moving pieces of literature from the WWII era.
- Check out the 1990 Newbery Medal acceptance speech: Lois Lowry explains exactly how she researched the book and the real people she met who inspired Annemarie.
- Explore the "Handkerchief" chemistry: If you're interested in the science, look into how Swedish researchers developed the scent-masking formula for the Resistance. It’s a wild bit of niche history.
Number the Stars stays relevant because it doesn't talk down to its audience. It assumes that a child can understand the weight of sacrifice. It’s a short read—maybe two hours for an adult—but the image of Annemarie running through the woods with a cocaine-soaked handkerchief in her hand is something that stays with you forever.