Number the Stars

By Lois Lowry

Chapter One: Why Are You Running?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

contempt (p.3)

sabotage (p.8)

Resistance (p.7-8)

impassive (p.10)

1. Why were Annemarie, Ellen, and Kirsti stopped by the soldiers?

2. What advice did Mrs. Rosen give the girls about behaving outside?

3. How did Annemarie show her dislike of the German soldiers occupying her
country?

4. Why isn’t Kirsti afraid of the soldiers?

5. How would you feel if you were stopped by the German soldiers?
Chapter Two: Who is the Man That Rides Past?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

errand (p.13)

trousseau (p.14)

intricate (p.14)

engagement (p.16)

1. What happened to Annemarie’s sister, Lise?

2. Why does Peter visit the Johansen’s?

3. What are some hardships faced by the Danish people because of the war?

4. Annemarie believes that ordinary people, like her, don’t have to be

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

unruly (p.20)

sarcastically (p.21)

swastika (p.21)

torment (p.24)

1. What did Annemarie realize about her friend Ellen after Peter’s visit?

2. How did Annemarie know the Hirsch’s were not gone on a holiday?

5. What items were being rationed? Why?

6. Do you think the Jews were being treated fairly by the Germans? Why or
why not?
Chapter Four: It Will Be a Long Night

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

Sophisticated (p.27)

Disdainfully (p.29)

Fleet (p.32)

Synagogue (p.33)

1. How did the Germans find out the names of the Danish Jews?

2. Why was Kirsti upset when she and her mother returned from shopping?
What was Ellen’s solution to the problem?

3. What were the “booms and lights in the sky” on Kirsti’s birthday?

4. Why do you think Annemarie lied when she said the shoes looked nice?

5. Do you think it was a good idea for the Johansen’s to let Ellen stay
with them? Explain you answer.
Chapter Five: Who is the Dark-Haired One?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

imperious (p.39)

contentedly (p.43)

rationed (p.43)

1. What was Annemarie told about the death of her older sister Lise?

2. Why did the German soldiers come to the Johansen’s apartment looking for
the Rosen’s?

3. How did Mr. Johansen convince the German soldiers that Ellen was not a
Jewish girl hiding?

4. How did the German soldiers show a lack of respect for the Johansens?

5. What do you think would have happened to the Johansen’s if Ellen’s true
identity had been discovered?
Chapter Six: Is the Weather Good for Fishing?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

tentatively (p.50)

distorted (p.55)

exasperation (p.57)

1. Why were the girls kept home from school after the visit by the German
soldiers?

2. What made Annemarie realize that her father was speaking in code to her
uncle? What was their conversation really about?

3. Where did Mrs. Johansen, Annemarie, Kirsti, and Ellen travel? Why didn’t
Mr. Johansen go with them?

4. Compare the area around Uncle Henrik’s farm in Gillelege to the Johansen’s
apartment in Copenhagen?

5. Why do you think the Danes spoke in code words?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

awe (p.60)

hazy (p.62)

appliqued (p.65)

1. What was the name of Uncle Henrik’s boat and where did he get the name?

2. What did Annemarie do with Ellen’s necklace?

3. Why did Mrs. Johansen tease her brother Henrik?

4. Why do you think there was no laughing between Mrs. Johansen and
her brother as they sat down to talk?
Chapter Eight: There Has Been a Death

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

relocate (p.68)

mock (p.71)

dismay (p.71)

1. How did the girls spend their full day at the farm?

2. How did Annemarie make fun of the German soldiers?

3. Why was Annemarie surprised by Uncle Henrik’s announcement that there

4. What is the old custom when someone dies? What did the family have to do
to prepare for the funeral?

5. Why, when his sister and his nieces were visiting, would Uncle Henrik
spend the whole night on his boat?
Chapter Nine: Why Are You Lying?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

deftly (p.75)

hearse (p.77)

mourning (p.77)

reluctantly (p.78)

1. What did Annemarie learn about Aunt Birte?

2. What does Annemarie learn about bravery in her talk with Uncle Henrik?

3. Why was Kirsti sent to bed before Aunt Birte’s funeral?

4.Who do you think the people arriving for the funeral really are?

5. Why did Mrs. Johansen and Uncle Henrik create the “death of an Aunt
Birte”?
Chapter Ten: Let Us Open the Casket

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

staccato (p.83)

condescending (p.84)

typhus (p.85)

1. Why did the German soldiers come to Uncle Henrik’s house?

2. What was the first test of Annemarie’s bravery?

3. How did Mrs. Johansen stop the German soldiers from looking in the casket?

4.What do you think would have happened if the German soldiers discovered the
truth about the funeral?

5. What do you think is really in the casket?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

encased (p.89)

Godspeed (p.93)

commotion (p.93)

1. What was in the casket and why was it there?

2. Where were the Rosens and the other strangers going?

3. Why didn’t Mr. Rosen ask what was in the package that Peter gave him to
take to Uncle Henrik?
 Chapter Twelve: Where Was Mama?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

gnarled (p.97)

gleam (98)

dimness (p.99)

1. What promise did Ellen make to Annemarie?

2. What advice on walking the trail did Mrs. Johansen give the Rosens?

3. How did Annemarie pass the time while waiting for her mother?

4. What do you think happened to Mrs. Johansen on the way back from Uncle
Henrik’s boat?

5. Do you think that Annemarie and Ellen will see each other again?
 Chapter Thirteen: Run! As Fast As You Can!

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

sprawling (p.102)

vast (p.103)

stricken (p.104)

1. What happened to Mrs. Johansen on her way back from Uncle Henrik’s boat?

2. What had Mr. Rosen dropped at Uncle Henrik’s house?

3. What do you think Mrs. Johansen meant when she said that “it may all have
been for nothing” when she spotted the parcel?

4. Why do you think Mrs. Johansen didn’t tell Annemarie what she was really
carrying to Uncle Henrik on the boat?
Chapter Fourteen: On the Dark Path

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

donned (p.106)

latticed (p.106)

brusque (p.110)

taut (p.112)

1. What fairy tale did Annemarie remember on the trail to Uncle Henrik’s
boat?

2. Describe what happened to Annemarie on the way to the boat?

3. How would you have reacted to meeting the German soldiers?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

willed (p.113)

insolently (p.117)

caustic (p.118)

1. What was in the basket that helped fool the Germans into thinking it was
Uncle Henrik’s lunch?

2. Why do you think the German soldiers stopped Annemarie?

3. Why do you think the contents of the packet were so important?

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

warily (p.120)

concealed (p.124)

1. What did Annemarie learn about Peter from Uncle Henrik? What were the
two clues that should have clued Annemarie in about Peter?

2. What was Uncle Henrik’s explanation for each of the following:

a. Annemarie not seeing the Rosen’s in the boat

b. The use of a drug on the baby

c. The handkerchief

3. What do you think life will be like in Sweden for the Rosen’s?
Chapter Seventeen: All This Long Time

Vocabulary – write what you think the words mean from context clues

raided (p.130)

rejoicing (p.124)

1. Why was everyone celebrating in Denmark?

2. What happened to Peter?

3. What did Annemarie learn about Lise?

4. What will the Rosen’s do now that the war is over?