World War II, like all wars, was filled with suffering and despair, but it was also filled with the bravery and selflessness of the citizens, fighting with their lives for another chance at peace. Their resilience is a facet of war that unexpectedly highlights the beauty and hope in humanity, even in the midst of what could be the cruelest event in our history.
“Number the Stars” is a novella set in Denmark during World War II by Lois Lowry that captures the essence of this hidden facet, featuring brave men and women who devoted every thread of their being to help more people escape the nightmare that ravaged their country. The story does an excellent job of conveying its central message, that bravery is not defined by gender, age, or appearance. The best example of this is Annemarie, who was shielded from the complete horrors of the German occupation by her family and believed to be too young and too scared to contribute to their resistance efforts. Despite everything, she still plays a pivotal role in helping another group of people escape. By delivering a handkerchief to her uncle with chemicals that neutralize dogs’ sense of smell, she was able to keep the escapees hidden from the German soldiers and their canines. She was also able to prove that courage can be discovered in places that seem skeptical at first glance, and that the most dangerous circumstances can often reveal surprising strength.
However, while Annemarie is a symbol for morality and tenacity, she can sometimes feel shallow, largely owing to her lack of hesitation when asked to perform a life-threatening task. War is a time of terrifying duality, often revealing the darkest, ugliest sides of humanity while also uncovering hope for a better future. With that in mind, Annemarie holds a surprising lack of regard for whether or not she comes out of the war alive and consistently puts others before herself, which is what I think does the most to flatten her character. She has no emotional turmoil, and no internal conflict when she is faced with danger–all she was written for was to do the right thing.
Overall, “Number the Stars” does an amazing job bringing such a heavy topic to younger readers, but I think that many of the more complex sides of human nature were lost in the simplification.
