LAQ #3 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Topic
1)     I thought that the book I read was nonfiction because I remember my teacher back in 7th grade telling us that it was when we read it back then. It is not though, it is historical fiction which is somewhat close to nonfiction. This story though is about two neighboring families during world war 2 in Nazi occupied Denmark. One family the families is Jewish and both have two girls that go to school together. Nazi hostility towards the Jews leads to the Rosen family fleeing but leaving there daughter behind with the Johansen's who are helping Jews escape to Sweden.

2)     Lowry chose to write about this time because, it is a history filled time period. All though this time was a dark point in our history. It is good to tell stories about this time to remind people of what happened and how it should never happen again.

3)     I chose this book because I remember this book from junior high and I thought that maybe if I read it now, I would understand it better because now I know what the holocaust is. Also because I never returned it and its one of the only books I have that I thought was nonfiction.

4)     I found this book to be realistic because there is extensive history on the holocaust. From reading this also, it's believable to read this because in history books and videos, they talk about how Jews would be hidden by friends or helped to escape. I can't relate to this story at all because I will never experience a type of hardship like this.

Characters

1)      In my case, the author did create these characters. I feel though to create these characters, the author had to have done extensive research to get personalities and memories of people who were alive in that time and relate it to that time in history and make them believable characters who would do anything to survive.

2)     Ellen Rosen- She is Annemarie's best friend. She is a studious girl and serious. She is a Jew though so she is in immediate danger with the Nazi presence so she is seen being scared. Ellen has dark hair which makes her look different from the rest of Johansen family but is able to pull of being a daughter because Annemarie's dead sister had dark hair like Ellen.
      Annemarie Johansen- She is Ellen's best friend. She is said to be abnormally tall for a ten year old and she's very aware about the war going on around her. She doesn't have any fear of the Nazis because she knows that they aren't after her. She admires brave people and wishes that she can show her bravery.

3)     What makes these two characters so interesting to write about is the point of view that the book is written from. Most world war 2 and holocaust stories are told from the eyes of an adult. This book is so original because it is told from the views of two children who are trying to understand what the war is really about.

4)     The main character is Annemarie and she is a dynamic character. At the beginning of the novel she does realize that there is a war going on but doesn't understand the severity. After being stopped by a Nazi soldier, she began questioning what was really happening. Little by little she is fully let into the background of the war and details like how her sister really died because she was apart of the resistance. At the end of the war, Annemarie choses to where the star of david until she meets Ellen again.

5) The authors syntax changes when he begins to focus on Ellen. There is a more fearful tone because Ellen is the one who is at risk of being taken by the Nazis. The tone becomes more suspenseful during these times show Ellen's paranoia.

6) I feel after reading this book that I actually met a character. Annemarie was the most dynamic because from beginning to end you see growth in her. The war around her makes her more mature and insightful to the things around her.

Style
1)     One symbol that clearly stood out for me was at the end when Annemarie choses to where the Star of David until she is reunited with Ellen. It shows that she has a very close bond with her friend and that she will stand through anything for her.

2)     Lowry took a serious stance to the topic in this story. This period of time was a devastation to millions of people and wants us to see through a point of view of people caught in this situation.

3)     I think that the main characters in this story learn that even in the face of humanities evil behaviors, not everyone is like that and are willing to stand by your side to defend you. Ellen and her family knows this because the Johansen's were risking there own safety to help out those in need to escape the Nazis. I see this because Annemarie wants to show her bravery to help her friend and at the end of the novel, shows her devotion as a friend to Ellen.