Number the Stars

“For Kirsti, the soldiers were simply part of the landscape, something that had always been there, on every corner, as unimportant as lampposts, throughout her remembered life.” 

These lines emphasize how quickly a shocking reality can become the norm, as well as the benefits of ignorance and innocence. For five-year-old Kirsti, the German occupation is a fact of her life. This makes her able to speak out to the soldiers with more sass, as she does not fully comprehend the dangers they present. Later, Annemarie will attempt to mimic her younger sister as she faces the Nazis in the woods.

“There had been no real coffee in Copenhagen since the beginning of the Nazi occupation. Not even any real tea.” 

Food serves as a symbol for the everyday privations the Danes experienced during the war. They have to make do with what is available, not what they would like. This is a small example of the way in which their lives have changed, something that is highlighted in a broader, much more serious sense in the Nazi persecution of the Danish Jews. Just as bravery appears in the novel in small and large ways, so too do the changes the Germans have brought.

“The boy looked right at the soldier, and he said, ‘All of Denmark is his bodyguard.’” 

This sentence illustrates the pride the Danes have in their king, despite the hard decisions he has made. It also differentiates the king from one in fairy tales, who would either not need a bodyguard or who would have a more formal one. Finally, this quote foreshadows Annemarie's thoughts that all of Denmark must now act as bodyguards for the Jews. 

“Annemarie admitted to herself, snuggling there in the quiet dark, that she was glad to be an ordinary person who would never be called upon for courage.” 

Although Annemarie thinks she is “ordinary” and that she will never have to be courageous, the rest of the book shows the importance of ordinary people taking brave actions. These lines thus set up tension that Annemarie will face as she helps to save the Rosens. Without the bravery of ordinary people, the Jews of Denmark faced a horrible fate. These lines also serve as a baseline for Annemarie's emotional development, showing her starting point: as she is challenged to become braver, her attitude towards courage changes.

“The Danes had destroyed their own naval fleet, blowing up the vessels one by one, as the Germans approached to take over the ships for their own use.” 

This quote illustrates the sacrifice King Christian X made on behalf of his country. Without enough troops, he could not fight against the Germans in a large way, but he could sabotage them in smaller ways, limiting their access to the country's supplies. As with Annemarie's actions over the course of the novel, this incident highlights how courage can appear in both large and small ways.

“Annemarie relaxed the clenched fingers of her right hand, which still clutched Ellen’s necklace. She looked down, and saw that she had imprinted the Star of David into her palm.” 

Although Annemarie was grateful earlier that she would not be called upon to give her life for the Jews of Denmark, her friendship with Ellen changes this. She does eventually risk quite a lot in order to save Ellen and her family. This is similar to her response to the psalm with the line “number the stars”—the stars as a whole feel overwhelming to count, but she can count one here, the star in her palm. This shows that even though it feels impossible to save an entire group of people, it is still important to save the individuals that we can.

“‘So, Henrik, is the weather good for fishing?’ Papa asked cheerfully, and listened briefly. Then he continued, ‘I’m sending Inge to you today with the children, and she will be bringing you a carton of cigarettes.’” 

Although Mr. and Mrs. Johansen are not portrayed as official members of the Resistance, their loyalty to their friends, the Rosens, leads them to take part in Resistance activities. Papa's telephone conversation with Uncle Henrik, which first confuses Annemarie, demonstrates that the Johansens had planned for such a necessity by inventing a code in case the Rosens had to flee Copenhagen for Sweden.

“In the earlier times, she had always overheard laughter. Tonight there was no laughter at all.” 

As Annemarie listens to her mother and uncle talking, the differences the war has brought again come into view. While in some ways, life feels similar (they are talking), it has also changed dramatically (there is no laughter). This further illustrates the context in which the events of the novel take place, highlighting the tension and danger threatening the everyday activities of the characters.

“There was no Great-Aunt Birte. She didn’t exist.” 

Annemarie's realization that Great-Aunt Birte's funeral is a sham is a key turning point in her growth as a character. Before this realization, she was as safe as Kirsti in her ignorance. However, having realized that the funeral is staged, she must now act innocent if German soldiers show up—which they do. This conscious pretending shows Annemarie's journey from ignorance to knowledge, and her willingness and ability to take on greater responsibilities.

“She understood that she was protecting Ellen the way her mother had protected her. Although she didn’t understand what was happening, or why the casket was there—or who, in truth, was in it—she knew that it was better, safer, for Ellen to believe in Great-Aunt Birte. So she said nothing.” 

Although Annemarie realizes that the funeral is a performance, she also understands the extent to which this knowledge puts her in danger. Ignorance is dangerous, but so is knowledge, particularly when pretending that something false is true in front of the authorities. Here, Annemarie takes on the role of the adults who kept knowledge from her earlier, making the same choice to protect Ellen.

“Annemarie knew that Mama was lying again, and she could see that Mama understood that she knew. They looked at each other for a long time and said nothing. In that moment, with that look, they became equals.” 

After Annemarie realizes the “funeral” is not real, she must still pretend that it is. She now possesses knowledge that puts her in the same position as the adults present. This moment, in which her mother views her as an equal, is crucial in Annemarie's coming-of-age: her journey from innocence to knowledge has aligned her with the adults, rather than the children.

“Outside, she knew, the sky was speckled with stars. How could anyone number them one by one, as the psalm said? There were too many.” 

Annemarie's reaction to the psalm parallels her earlier reaction to being the bodyguard for all of Denmark's Jews. The prospect feels overwhelming. However, in the larger context of the novel, she is able to help save one particular group of Jews, just as she is able to “count” the single Star of David that Ellen leaves behind.

“There was no one in the casket at all. Instead, it seemed to be stuffed with folded blankets and articles of clothing.” 

For most of the “funeral,” Annemarie does not know what is in the casket. The coffin, which would normally serve as a symbol of death, actually contains important materials. The blankets and clothing will keep the group traveling to Sweden warm, thus preserving their lives. In this way, the coffin, which normally represents death, actually represents life.

“But their shoulders were as straight as they had been in the past: in the classroom, on the stage, at the Sabbath table. So there were other sources, too, of pride, and they had not left everything behind.” 

Annemarie considers everything the Rosens had to leave behind in Copenhagen: most notably, their material possessions. However, as she watches them leave, she is struck by the pride that they take with them. This quote demonstrates that a person's individual characteristics belong to them and cannot be taken away by anyone else, no matter how powerful that other person may be.

“Mr. Rosen tripped on the loose step outside the kitchen door. His wife grasped his arm, and he regained his balance.” 

This seemingly innocuous event actually sets up a key action in the novel. In tripping, Mr. Rosen loses the packet for Henrik, though the characters do not realize this until later. This is the impetus for Annemarie's trip through the woods and her ultimately heroic actions.

“The shape moved. And she knew. It was her mother, lying on the earth.” 

Although members of the Resistance and the Danes helping them are shown to be heroic, this heroism can come at a cost. Later, readers learn that Peter is killed for his Resistance activities, as was Annemarie's sister, Lise. In this case, Annemarie's mother has broken her ankle. This is fairly minor compared to the consequences others face in the novel, but nevertheless highlights the dangers of the activities.

“Annemarie took the packet from her mother’s hand and stood. ‘I will take it,’ she said. ‘I know the way, and it’s almost light now. I can run like the wind.’” 

This moment leads to the climax of the book. Annemarie, who was innocent and hesitant at the beginning of the novel, is now brave and willing to take a big risk to help her friends. She will use her running talent to do this, integrating her past and future selves.

“Then they were there, in front of her. Four armed soldiers. With them, straining at taut leashes, were two large dogs, their eyes glittering, their lips curled.” 

Annemarie's encounter with the soldiers in the woods parallels her encounter with the soldiers in Copenhagen in Chapter 1. Although she was scared then, she had nothing to hide. Now, she must hide the packet so that she can deliver it. Through the details Lowry includes here (“large,” “eyes glittering,” “lips curled”), she emphasizes the danger Annemarie faces, increasing the tension.

“Kirsti hadn’t been frightened. Kirsti had been—well, nothing more than a silly little girl, angered because the soldier had touched her hair that afternoon.” 

As Annemarie tries to imitate Kirsti, Lowry emphasizes the value of innocence. Though it is important that Annemarie has some knowledge so that she can deliver the package, acting innocent may help save her life. In this case, pretending to be like Kirsti works, and the soldiers let Annemarie go on to her uncle's boat.

“That's all that brave means—not thinking about the dangers. Just thinking about what you must do. Of course you were frightened. I was too, today. But you kept your mind on what you had to do. So did I.” 

As Annemarie learns more about her world, she must reconsider her own definition of “brave.” She does not think it applies to her because she was scared in the woods. However, in these lines, Henrik points out that she did what was necessary, which was brave in itself. This knowledge is key to Annemarie's coming of age journey to understanding herself better.

“The war would end. Uncle Henrik had said that, and it was true. The war ended almost two long years later. Annemarie was twelve.” 

This quote set up the book's dénouement. After everything the characters have been through, these lines indicate that the reader will learn what the ultimate consequences of their bravery was, now that the war is over.

“For nearly two years, now, neighbors had tended the plants and dusted the furniture and polished the candlesticks for the Jews who had fled. Her mother had done so for the Rosens. ‘It is what friends do,’ Mama had said.” 

Similar to acts of bravery, acts of kindness can be both big and small. The greatest act of kindness in the book is the Johansens' assistance with getting the Rosens to Sweden. However, smaller acts, such as keeping their apartment clean, are also important.

“He had written a letter to them from prison the night before he was shot. It had said simply that he loved them, that he was not afraid, and that he was proud to have done what he could for his country and for the sake of all free people.” 

Although the Resistance appears several times throughout the novel, Annemarie (and thus the reader) are provided limited knowledge of their actions and motivations. Now older, Annemarie understands that her sister was also part of the Resistance. Peter's letter explains his motivations for taking part in the Resistance for the first time.