Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Reading Response Journal
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
RESOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_the_Stars
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading23/number_the_stars.htm
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/crc/webquest/number%20the%20stars/Homepage.html
http://earthrenewal.org/Number%20the%20Stars%20by%20Lois%20Lowery.htm
LOIS LOWRY
Lois Lowry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the middle child of three, but her
father's career as a military officer caused the family to move to Pennsylvania and
later to Japan. Lowry knew as a preschooler that she would be a writer, and her
high school yearbook prediction, "future novelist," seemed to confirm her fate. She
attended Brown University, married, raised four children, and graduated from the
University of Maine before her career as a writer took hold. Lowry's novels have
won two Newbery medals.
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Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
CHAPTERS 1-3
Vocabulary
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Contempt
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Exasperated
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Imperious
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Intricate
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Sabotage
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapters 1-3
1. Why might Kirsti be comforted by the fairy tale Annemarie tells her? Do you think
that this fairy tale is also comforting to Annemarie?
2. Who is Lise?
3. At the end of chapter 3, why does Annemarie feel frightened?
Respond to this prompt: What is the genre of this book? What characteristics does it
have that puts it in that genre?
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapters 4-7
1. Why do you think Peter helped Ellen’s parents escape? If Lise were alive, do
you think she would approve?
2. Who does Ellen pretend to be when the soldiers come to the Johansen’s home?
How did you feel when the Nazi solider ripped the picture of Lise?
3. Where does Mama take the girls? Do you think that they will be safe there?
Respond to this prompt: What do you think of the Johansens letting Ellen stay with
them?
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
CHAPTERS 4-7
Vocabulary
Belligerently (page 31)
Synagogue (Page 33)
Rabbi (page 35)
Star of David (Page 41)
Tentatively (Page 50)
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
A Wartime Newspaper
Advertisements
Arts and Entertainment
Business
Classified Ads
Comics
Daily Living (Advice, Fashion, Education)
Editorials
Letters to the Editor
Front Page
Lead Story
Movie Guide
Obituaries
Sports
Stock Market
Weather
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapters 8-10
1. Do you think of yourself as a brave person? Why or why not? What is your
definition of bravery?
2. What lie did Uncle Henrik tell Annemarie? What did Uncle Henrik ask
Annemarie?
3. Why didn’t Annemarie tell Ellen the truth about Great Aunt Birte?
Respond to this prompt: How did you feel when Ellen was reunited with her parents?
Where you happy? Did it make you sad? Are you worried for the Rosens?
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapter 11
1. What was in the casket? _____________________________________
2. What did Peter do to the baby? Why did he do it?
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3. What is Annemarie’s mother, Mrs. Johansen’s first name?__________________
4. Page 92-93:
Annemarie went to him and gave him a hug. “But we will see you again
soon?” she asked.
“I hope so,” Peter said. “Very soon. Don’t grow much more, or you will be
taller than I am, little Longlegs!”
Annemarie smiled, but Peter’s comment was no longer the lighthearted fun of
the past.
What does “lighthearted” mean? Why isn’t Peter’s comment lighthearted
anymore?______________________________________________________________
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5. Why does Annemarie feel that the Rosens have left their pride in Copenhagen?
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Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapters 12, 13, 14
1. Why did Mama send Annemarie with the packet for Uncle Henrik instead of taking
it herself?
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2. Why do you think the author, Lois Lowry, have included so many references to
people stumbling, tripping, and falling?
______________________________________________________________________________
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3. What happened to Annemarie when she was on her way to deliver the package?
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RESPOND TO THIS PROMPT
Why do you think Annemarie told herself a fairytale on the way to give Uncle
Henrik the packet?
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Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Chapters 15, 16, 17
Please respond to one or more of these prompts in your journal. Your journal entry
should be at least one page long.
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Did the story end the way you expected it to? Reflect back on the story. What clues did the
author offer along the way to prepare you for the ending? Did you recognize these clues as
important to the story when you were reading it
What is the overall message or theme of the story? Give examples of how the author makes
you think of this theme as you read.
What question would you ask the author?
Do any of the characters change during the story? Tell how.
Were you able to predict the ending? What other way might the story have ended?
Write a different ending to the story.