Number the Stars

Lowry uses food to highlight the day-to-day differences in the lives of Danes that have occurred since the Nazi occupation. This begins with Kirsti's craving for cupcakes, which haven't been available since the war. Similarly, Mrs. Johansen and Mrs. Rosen cannot get coffee, but instead make their own herbal teas. A counterexample occurs at the farmhouse when the family is able to eat cream for the first time since the war. This shows that, in this location (where the Jews will eventually escape), some good things are still available.

Fish have a particular significance in the novel. Kirsti's new shoes are made of fish skin, since leather has not been available for a long time. However, the family is able to make them look more like leather with Ellen's help and black ink. Later, Uncle Henrik explains to Annemarie that the fish on the boats has kept German soldiers from exploring them too closely (and thus discovering where the Jews escaping to Sweden have been hidden). Fish are thus a symbol of necessary deceptions for both trivial and very important secrets.

Food as both privation and deception is used in the climax of the novel when Annemarie takes a basket of food to Henrik to hide the packet. There is no meat in the basket, which is a result of the war. The food is not of good quality, and so the Germans are not interested in eating much of it. Still, it serves as a distraction for the soldiers and a hiding place for the packet that has a much more important purpose, allowing Annemarie to deliver the handkerchief to her uncle undetected. 

During World War II, Sweden (unlike much of Europe) was not occupied by the Nazis. Due to this, Jewish people could live there with relative freedom. The farmhouse's proximity to Sweden is important, as it demonstrates that the Rosens and other Jews are closer to being free. In fact, they can see the coast of Sweden from the shoreline. However, even though they can “see” this freedom, they still must go through the ordeal of hiding and crossing the water in order to obtain it.

Thor, the kitten Kirsti discovers at the farmhouse, often appears with Kirsti or in silly, innocent incidents, such as falling into a bucket of milk. In this sense, Thor represents true innocence. Like Kirsti, the kitten is completely unaware of the dangerous activities going on around him, spending his time exploring. When Annemarie's mother returns late, Annemarie notices the kitten curled up with Kirsti, completely oblivious to any danger. However, Annemarie also passes this stage of innocence in the novel. As she learns more about the dangers of her world and the Resistance, she leaves behind this sense of innocence—though she still must pretend to have it in order to stay safe from the Nazis she encounters in the woods.

The packet that Peter gives Mr. Rosen for Henrik, and which Annemarie ultimately must deliver, contains a handkerchief with a chemical that temporarily stops military dogs from seeking out hidden people, such as the Jews on the boat. Because Annemarie does not know what she is delivering, the packet serves as a symbol towards the larger theme of the dangers and benefits of ignorance. As she does not know what the packet contains, Annemarie is able to respond with relative ignorance when the Nazi soldiers in the woods open it and answer their questions about the dogs' reactions with relative calm. In this case, not knowing about the packet prevents a dangerous situation from becoming worse. However, Annemarie ultimately does learn what she delivered from her Uncle Henrik, who tells her how important her actions were. In this sense, knowledge is also a reward, so Annemarie can understand her own bravery.