Ideas for Reports and Papers
1. It is often suggested that Kirsti adds to the novel's tension due to her unpredictable nature. Identify instances in the text that illustrate this. Rewrite one of these scenes—like the Nazis' search of the Johansen household—from Kirsti's perspective.
2. What significance does Denmark's King Christian X hold in Number the Stars? Investigate King Christian and compare Lowry's depiction with the historical information you find.
3. Research and present a report on the World War II Resistance movement in another occupied European country, such as France or Austria.
4. Read Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl, the narrative of a Jewish teenager hiding in a Dutch attic during World War II. Contrast this real-life account with Lowry's story. Do you believe Number the Stars portrays the horrors of the Holocaust as powerfully as Anne's diary? How do the young protagonists, Anne Frank and Annemarie Johansen, compare? What unique lessons about bravery does Anne impart? What lessons does Annemarie offer?
5. Read another young adult book by Lowry. Compare her writing style in this book to Number the Stars—particularly her development of engaging characters and her use of vivid details.
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