Advertisement
Books Like Number the Stars: Exploring Themes of Courage, Resilience, and Resistance During Wartime
Are you captivated by Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, a poignant tale of courage and resistance during World War II? Did the story's gripping narrative, unforgettable characters, and exploration of profound themes leave you yearning for more? If so, you've come to the right place. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the world of literature, unearthing captivating books similar to Number the Stars, offering the same blend of historical fiction, thrilling adventure, and deeply moving human stories. We'll explore novels that share similar themes of courage in the face of adversity, the importance of friendship and family, and the devastating impact of war on innocent lives. Prepare to embark on a literary journey filled with powerful narratives that will resonate long after you turn the final page.
Exploring the Enduring Appeal of Number the Stars
Before delving into recommendations, let's briefly examine what makes Number the Stars so compelling. The novel's strength lies in its intimate portrayal of Annemarie Johansen, a young Danish girl whose life is irrevocably altered by the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Lowry masterfully weaves a thrilling escape narrative with a deeply emotional exploration of bravery, loyalty, and the unwavering power of human connection in the darkest of times. The book's enduring appeal stems from its accessibility to young readers while simultaneously offering profound themes that resonate with adults. This blend of age-appropriateness and impactful storytelling is what we will strive to replicate in our recommendations.
Key Themes and Elements to Look For in Similar Books:
To help you find the perfect read, let's pinpoint the key elements that define Number the Stars and guide our search for comparable titles:
Historical Setting: The accurate depiction of Nazi-occupied Denmark adds a layer of authenticity and historical context. We'll seek books set during similar periods of conflict and oppression.
Children/Young Adults as Protagonists: Annemarie's perspective provides a unique lens through which to experience the war. We'll look for novels featuring children or young adults who navigate challenging historical events.
Themes of Resistance and Courage: The acts of defiance and bravery demonstrated by Annemarie and her family are central to the story. Similar books will showcase characters exhibiting courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
Friendship and Family Bonds: The strong bonds of friendship and family are crucial to Annemarie's survival and strength. We'll look for narratives highlighting the importance of these relationships during times of crisis.
Suspense and Adventure: The thrilling escape sequence adds an element of suspense and adventure. We'll seek books with similarly captivating plots.
Books Sharing the Spirit of Number the Stars:
Here are several books that capture the essence of Number the Stars, each offering a unique perspective on wartime experiences and the strength of the human spirit:
_The Book Thief_ by Markus Zusak: This haunting novel, narrated by Death, follows Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Nazi Germany. It explores themes of survival, the power of words, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty. While darker in tone than Number the Stars, it shares its focus on a young protagonist navigating the horrors of war.
_Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl_ by Anne Frank: A historical document and a powerful testament to human resilience, this diary provides a firsthand account of Anne Frank's experiences hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. It offers an intimate and deeply moving perspective on the impact of war on a young life and underscores the importance of hope and perseverance.
_The Boy in the Striped Pajamas_ by John Boyne: This heartbreaking novel tells the story of Bruno, the son of a Nazi officer, who befriends a Jewish boy in Auschwitz. It explores the innocence of childhood contrasted with the stark realities of the Holocaust, offering a poignant reflection on friendship, prejudice, and the devastating consequences of war.
_Behind the Attic Wall_ by Laura Ingalls Wilder: While not explicitly set during a world war, this book touches on the experience of a young girl facing isolation and hardship during the American Civil War. It highlights the importance of family and resilience during challenging times.
_The Devil's Arithmetic_ by Jane Yolen: This powerful novel sends a present-day teenager back in time to experience the Holocaust firsthand. This allows for a powerful comparison between past and present and showcases the horrors of the Holocaust through the eyes of a contemporary audience.
_The Giver_ by Lois Lowry: Though not explicitly a war story, this dystopian novel shares with Number the Stars the themes of courage and resistance in the face of oppression. It explores the importance of memory and individuality in a society that attempts to control its citizens' experiences.
_The One and Only Ivan_ by Katherine Applegate: While a different genre, this novel shares the theme of freedom and escape. It examines the importance of friendship and kindness in the midst of captivity.
Sample Book Outline: The Book Thief
This outline will illustrate a structured approach to understanding a book similar to Number the Stars.
I. Introduction:
Brief overview of the historical setting (Nazi Germany during World War II).
Introduction of Liesel Meminger and her family.
Establishing the central conflict: survival under Nazi rule.
II. Main Chapters:
Liesel’s experiences in Molching, her relationship with her foster parents, and her discovery of the power of books.
Liesel’s friendship with Rudy Steiner and their shared experiences in a time of war.
The introduction of Max Vandenburg, the Jewish fugitive hiding in Liesel’s basement, and their developing relationship.
The unfolding of the plot; exploring themes of resilience, survival and the impact of war on ordinary people.
III. Conclusion:
Reflection on Liesel’s resilience and the significance of human connection during a time of war.
Summarizing the key messages and ideas of the novel and providing space for reflection on the impact of the story.
Detailed Explanation of the The Book Thief Outline Points:
I. Introduction: The introduction sets the stage, introducing the historical context of Nazi Germany, introducing Liesel and her tumultuous journey to Molching, and highlighting the central conflict - her fight for survival amidst oppression and war. This mirrors the introduction of Annemarie and her family in Number the Stars.
II. Main Chapters: This section delves into the core narrative, showcasing Liesel’s discovery of her love for books and its impact on her life, her friendships, and the complexities of her relationship with Max. This section will highlight the suspense and adventure in the story, which mimics the thrilling escape sequence in Number the Stars.
III. Conclusion: The conclusion brings closure to Liesel's story, reflecting on her journey and the transformative power of human connection and resilience. It provides an opportunity to ponder the lasting impact of the novel's messages, similar to the reflection sparked by Number the Stars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are all books similar to Number the Stars focused on the Holocaust? No, while many books share similar themes of resilience during wartime, the focus can vary. Some may focus on other conflicts or periods of oppression.
2. What age group are these books suitable for? Many books similar to Number the Stars are suitable for young adults, but some may be more appropriate for older readers due to mature themes. Always check age recommendations.
3. Where can I find these books? These books are widely available at bookstores, libraries, and online retailers like Amazon.
4. Are there any graphic novels similar to Number the Stars? While not directly comparable in style, there are graphic novels that depict similar historical periods and themes of resilience and resistance.
5. What if I prefer non-fiction accounts? Many non-fiction accounts of wartime experiences, particularly from children's perspectives, exist and offer another way to explore similar themes.
6. Are there any books with similar themes focusing on different geographical locations? Yes, many books explore the themes of resistance and resilience during various conflicts and in various geographical settings.
7. Are these books suitable for classroom use? Many of these books are used in classrooms to explore themes of history, resilience, and the human condition.
8. What makes a book truly "like" Number the Stars? The key elements are the age of the protagonist, the historical setting, and the central themes of courage, resistance, and the power of human connection.
9. Are there books that explore the adult perspective of similar events? Yes, many books provide adult perspectives on the same historical events, providing a broader understanding of the context.
Related Articles:
1. Understanding the Historical Context of Number the Stars: Explores the historical background of Nazi-occupied Denmark.
2. The Power of Friendship in Children's Literature: Discusses the importance of friendship in overcoming adversity.
3. Exploring Themes of Resilience in Young Adult Fiction: Examines the portrayal of resilience in various young adult novels.
4. Books that Capture the Spirit of WWII Resistance: Provides a curated list of books showcasing resistance movements during WWII.
5. The Impact of War on Children's Literature: Analyzes the various ways in which war is depicted in literature for young readers.
6. Comparing and Contrasting Number the Stars with The Book Thief: A detailed comparison of the two novels and their common threads.
7. Recommended Reading Lists for Young Adult Historical Fiction: Provides various themed reading lists for young adults interested in history.
8. The Enduring Legacy of Lois Lowry's Writing: Discusses the overall contribution and impact of Lowry's work on literature.
9. The Importance of Historical Fiction in Education: Explores the role of historical fiction in teaching young readers about history and empathy.
books like number the stars: Number the Stars Lois Lowry, 2011 In Nazi-occupied Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is called upon for a selfless act of bravery to help save her best friend from a terrible fate. Winner of the Newbery Medal, newly reissued in the Essential Modern Classics range. They plan to arrest all the Danish Jews. They plan to take them away. And we have been told that they may come tonight. It is 1943 and life in Copenhagen is becoming complicated for Annemarie. There are food shortages and curfews, and soldiers on every corner. But it is even worse for her Jewish best friend, Ellen, as the Nazis continue their brutal campaign. With Ellen's life in danger, Annemarie must summon all her courage to help stage a daring escape. Inspired by true events of the Second World War, this gripping novel brings the past vividly to life for today's readers. |
books like number the stars: The Upstairs Room (Winner of the Newbery Honor) Johanna Reiss, 2011-07-13 This Newbery Honor-winning book shows us that in the steady courage of a young girl lies a profound strength that can transcend the horrors of war. This is the true story of a girl's extraordinary survival during the German occupation of Holland of World War II. Annie was only ten years old, but because she was Jewish, she was forced to leave her family, her home, and everything she knew. Annie was taken in, far from home, by complete strangers who risked everything to help her. They showed Annie where she had to stay - the cramped upstairs room of their farmhouse. She would remain there while Nazis, who were ever vigilant, patrolled the streets outside. If Annie made even a sound from upstairs, or if a nosy neighbor caught sight of her in the window, it would surely mean a death sentence for her and the family that took her in. Elie Wiesel writes, “This admirable account is as important in every aspect as the one bequeathed to us by Anne Frank. A Newbery Medal Honor Book, ALA Notable Book, and winner of the Jewish Book Council Children’s Book Award. Be sure to read the moving sequel The Journey Back by Johanna Reiss. |
books like number the stars: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Scholastic Gold) Avi, 2015-10-27 Avi's treasured Newbery Honor Book now in expanded After Words edition!Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to return home from her school in England to her family in Rhode Island in the summer of 1832. But when the two families she was supposed to travel with mysteriously cancel their trips, Charlotte finds herself the lone passenger on a long sea voyage with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew. Worse yet, soon after stepping aboard the ship, she becomes enmeshed in a conflict between them! What begins as an eagerly anticipated ocean crossing turns into a harrowing journey, where Charlotte gains a villainous enemy . . . and is put on trial for murder!After Words material includes author Q & A, journal writing tips, and other activities that bring Charlotte's world to life! |
books like number the stars: Number the Stars Lois Lowry, 1989-04-24 The unforgettable Newbery Medal–winning novel from Lois Lowry. As the German troops begin their campaign to relocate all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war. A modern classic of historical fiction, Number the Stars has won generations of fans and continues to speak to today's readers. Jessica Grose wrote in a November 2022 New York Times essay entitled This Perfect Mother-Daughter Read Holds a Powerful Lesson for Fighting Antisemitism: “Number the Stars is particularly relevant to our family, and to this moment. As School Library Journal put it: Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery. |
books like number the stars: Lisa's War Carol Matas, 2007-08-27 Carol Matas shares a “powerful account” of two young teenagers who are willing to stop at nothing to prevent the danger the German invasion of 1940 brought to Denmark (Publishers Weekly). The Nazis have invaded Denmark, putting Lisa and her family’s safety in danger. But they refuse to parish without a fight, leading Lisa and a group of teenage Jews to an underground resistance movement. As the Nazi’s plan to send anyone of Jewish faith to concentration camps, Lisa realizes that the war her people are fighting is a lonely and deadly one. Desperately wanting to prevent the harm and danger to come, Lisa and her brother, Stefan, fight desperately to prove that even just one person can make a difference. |
books like number the stars: Number the Stars Lois Lowry, 1998 Presents the libretto for a musical based on Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, a story in which the family of Annmarie Johansen and their Christian neighbors aid the Danish Jews during World War II by helping them escape to neutral Sweden. |
books like number the stars: The Pull of the Stars Emma Donoghue, 2020-07-21 In Dublin, 1918, a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu is a small world of work, risk, death, and unlooked-for love, in Donoghue's best novel since Room (Kirkus Reviews). In an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city center, where expectant mothers who have come down with the terrible new Flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders—Doctor Kathleen Lynn, a rumoured Rebel on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney. In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other's lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work. In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue once again finds the light in the darkness in this new classic of hope and survival against all odds. |
books like number the stars: A Thread of Grace Mary Doria Russell, 2005-02-01 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A powerfully imagined novel . . . [a] profoundly moving book that engages the heights and depths of human experience.”—Los Angeles Times It is September 8, 1943, and fourteen-year-old Claudette Blum and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to find safety now that the Italians have broken from Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it quickly becomes an open battleground for the Nazis, the Allies, Resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive. Tracing the lives of a handful of fascinating characters—a charismatic Italian Resistance leader, a priest, an Italian rabbi’s family, a disillusioned German doctor—Mary Doria Russell tells the little-known story of the vast underground effort by Italian citizens who saved the lives of 43,000 Jews during the final phase of World War II. A Thread of Grace puts a human face on history. Praise for A Thread of Grace “An addictive page-turner . . . [Mary Doria] Russell has an astonishing story to tell—full of action, paced like a rapid-fire thriller, in tense, vivid scenes that move with cinematic verve.”—The Washington Post Book World “Hauntingly beautiful, utterly unforgettable.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Rich . . . Based on the heroism of ordinary people, [A Thread of Grace] packs an emotional punch.”—People “[A] deeply felt and compellingly written book . . . The progress of each character’s life is marked or measured by acts of grace. . . . Russell is a smart, passionate and imaginative writer.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer “A feat of storytelling . . . an important book [that] needs to be widely read.”—Portland Oregonian “Mary Doria Russell’s fans (and aren’t we all?) will rejoice to see her new novel on the shelves. A Thread of Grace is as ambitious, beautiful, tense, and transforming as any of us could have hoped.”—Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club “A story of love and war, A Thread of Grace speaks to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit in the midst of unimaginable horror. It is, unquestionably, a literary triumph.”—David Morrell, author of The Brotherhood of the Rose and First Blood |
books like number the stars: Us and Uncle Fraud Lois Lowry, 1984-10-29 Mysterious things begin to happen after Uncle Claude comes to stay with his sister's family. |
books like number the stars: The Giver Quartet Lois Lowry, 2012 Unlike the other Birthmothers in her utopian community, teenaged Claire forms an attachment to her baby and sets out to find him when he is removed from the community. |
books like number the stars: Anastasia Krupnik Lois Lowry, 1979-10-24 Anastasia's tenth year has some good things, like falling in love and really getting to know her grandmother, and some bad things, like finding out about an impending baby brother. |
books like number the stars: Rigorous Reading: The One and Only Ivan Karen McRae, 2016-08-05 Maximize your students' reading experience by providing activities that foster comprehension and reinforce understanding of literary elements. Activities for each section allow students to process portions of the novel through individual and collaborative exercises that encourage close reading. Suggestions for maintaining Interactive Novel Logs provide students with additional ways to reflect and connect personally with the novel. Students have the opportunity to synthesize their ideas through a variety of post-reading activities. 80 pages. Grades 3-6. |
books like number the stars: The Stars We Steal Alexa Donne, 2020 Princess Leonie Kolburg, aged nineteen and heir to a faded European spaceship, enters the engagement season hoping only to save her family from financial ruin, but is soon falling for her first, rejected love. |
books like number the stars: Autumn Street Lois Lowry, 1980-05-20 When her father leaves to fight in World War II, Elizabeth goes with her mother and sister to her grandfather's house, where she learns to face up to the always puzzling and often cruel realities of the adult world. |
books like number the stars: Agent to the Stars John Scalzi, 2008-10-28 From New York Times bestseller and Hugo Award-winner, John Scalzi, a gleeful mash-up of science fiction and Hollywood satire The space-faring Yherajk have come to Earth to meet us and to begin humanity's first interstellar friendship. There's just one problem: They're hideously ugly and they smell like rotting fish. So getting humanity's trust is a challenge. The Yherajk need someone who can help them close the deal. Enter Thomas Stein, who knows something about closing deals. He's one of Hollywood's hottest young agents. But although Stein may have just concluded the biggest deal of his career, it's quite another thing to negotiate for an entire alien race. To earn his percentage this time, he's going to need all the smarts, skills, and wits he can muster. Other Tor Books The Android’s Dream Agent to the Stars Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded Fuzzy Nation Redshirts 1. Lock In 2. Head On The Interdepency Sequence 1. The Collapsing Empire 2. The Consuming Fire Old Man's War Series 1. Old Man’s War 2. The Ghost Brigades 3. The Last Colony 4. Zoe’s Tale 5. The Human Division 6. The End of All Things At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. |
books like number the stars: Orhan's Inheritance Aline Ohanesian, 2015-04-07 When Orhan’s brilliant and eccentric grandfather Kemal is found dead, Orhan inherits the decades-old business. But Kemal has left the family estate to a stranger thousands of miles away. Intent on righting this wrong, Orhan unearths a story of the Armenian Genocide that, if told, has the power to undo the legacy upon which Orhan’s family is built. |
books like number the stars: Number the Stars Scholastic, Inc. Staff, 1997-07-01 Includes an author biography, chapter summaries, vocabulary builders, reproducibles, and cross-curricular activities for students of all learning styles for Lois Lowry's novel, Number the Stars |
books like number the stars: From Belsen to Buckingham Palace Edith Hofmann, Paul Oppenheimer, 2001 Paul Oppenheimer's memoirs are not just another testimony of the Holocaust. They are a valuable historical document - especially concerning the fate of the children in Bergen - Belsen. They are also a fascinating life history of a Jewish family before, during and after the Holocaust. |
books like number the stars: Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye Lois Lowry, 1978-04-26 Award-winning and best-selling author Lois Lowry explores issues surrounding adoption in this poignant novel. Natalie Armstrong has everything: she’s smart and beautiful, has the perfect boyfriend, early acceptance to college, and a loving family. But the summer she turns seventeen, she finally decides to ask some unanswered questions: Who are her biological parents and why did they give her up when she was born? These questions take her on a journey from the deep woods of Maine to the streets of New York City, from the pages of old phone books and a tattered yearbook photo to the realization that she might actually meet her biological mother face-to-face. |
books like number the stars: Anastasia Again Lois Lowry, 1982-10-15 Twelve-year-old Anastasia Krupnik is convinced that her family's move to the suburbs will be the beginning of the end. How can she possibly accept split-level houses with matching furniture, or mothers whose biggest worry is ring around collar? But her new home brings many surprises, notto mention a cute boy who lives down the street. Is it possible that surburbia has more to offer than Anastasia had expected? |
books like number the stars: Sobibor, the Forgotten Revolt Thomas Toivi Blatt, 1997 |
books like number the stars: Number the Stars Lisa Leep, 1996-03-01 A study guide to accompany the reading of Number the stars in the classroom featuring suggested discussion questions, vocabulary work, work sheets, related Bible passages and further readings. |
books like number the stars: The Little Prince Antoine de Saint−Exupery, 2021-08-31 The Little Prince and nbsp;(French: and nbsp;Le Petit Prince) is a and nbsp;novella and nbsp;by French aristocrat, writer, and aviator and nbsp;Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was first published in English and French in the US by and nbsp;Reynal and amp; Hitchcock and nbsp;in April 1943, and posthumously in France following the and nbsp;liberation of France and nbsp;as Saint-Exupéry's works had been banned by the and nbsp;Vichy Regime. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, and nbsp;The Little Prince and nbsp;makes observations about life, adults and human nature. The Little Prince and nbsp;became Saint-Exupéry's most successful work, selling an estimated 140 million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the and nbsp;best-selling and nbsp;and and nbsp;most translated books and nbsp;ever published. and nbsp;It has been translated into 301 languages and dialects. and nbsp;The Little Prince and nbsp;has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, and opera. |
books like number the stars: Taking Care of Terrific Lois Lowry, 1983-04-27 Going to the park to broaden his horizons, fourteen-year-old babysitter Enid enjoys unexpected friendships with a bag lady and a black saxophonist. |
books like number the stars: See You Around, Sam! Lois Lowry, 1996-10-28 Sam Krupnik, mad at his mother because she won't let him wear his newly acquired plastic fangs in the house, decides to run away. |
books like number the stars: Blitzcat Robert Westall, 2012-12-13 She made her way down the cliff, and on to the beach. At the edge of the waves, she stopped, shaking her wet paws. She knew that somewhere ahead was her person, but far, far away. She miaowed plaintively; stood staring at the moving blur of uncrossable sea. She led the way to safety, out of the blazing hell of blitzed Coventry. People touched her for luck; feared her as an omen of disaster. Wherever she went, she changed lives . . . From her beginning to her end she never wavered. She was the Blitzcat. Blitzcat by Robert Westall is the Smarties Prize-winning book about one brave cat's experiences during World War Two. Now with a brilliant new cover look and including an extended author biography. |
books like number the stars: Like the Willow Tree Lois Lowry, 2011 After being orphaned during the influenza epidemic of 1918, eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her fourteen-year-old brother are taken by their grieving uncle to be raised in the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake. Includes author's note about the Shakers. |
books like number the stars: The War that Saved My Life Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, 2015-01-08 * Newbery Honor Book * #1 New York Times Bestseller * Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award * Forbes 25 Top Historical Fiction Books Of All Time selection * Wall Street Journal Best Children's Books of the Year selection * New York Public Library's 100 Books for Reading and Sharing selection An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War II, from the acclaimed author of Fighting Words, and for fans of Fish in a Tree and Number the Stars. Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother? This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making. Achingly lovely...Nuanced and emotionally acute.—The Wall Street Journal Unforgettable...unflinching.—Common Sense Media Touching...Emotionally charged. —Forbes ★ “Brisk and honest...Cause for celebration.” —Kirkus, starred review ★ Poignant.—Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ Powerful.—The Horn Book, starred review Affecting.—Booklist Emotionally satisfying...[A] page-turner.—BCCB “Exquisitely written...Heart-lifting.” —SLJ Astounding...This book is remarkable.—Karen Cushman, author The Midwife's Apprentice Beautifully told.—Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah, Plain and Tall I read this novel in two big gulps.—Gary D. Schmidt, author of Okay for Now I love Ada's bold heart...Her story's riveting.—Sheila Turnage, author of Three Times Lucky |
books like number the stars: Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo, 2009-09-08 A classic tale by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo, America's beloved storyteller. One summer’s day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries – and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It’s because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it’s because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie. Featuring a new cover illustration by E. B. Lewis. |
books like number the stars: Island of the Blue Dolphins Scott O'Dell, 1960 Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic. |
books like number the stars: A Little Life Hanya Yanagihara, 2016-01-26 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise. |
books like number the stars: The Endless Steppe Esther Hautzig, 1995-05-12 Exiled to Siberia In June 1942, the Rudomin family is arrested by the Russians. They are capitalists -- enemies of the people. Forced from their home and friends in Vilna, Poland, they are herded into crowded cattle cars. Their destination: the endless steppe of Siberia. For five years, Ester and her family live in exile, weeding potato fields and working in the mines, struggling for enough food and clothing to stay alive. Only the strength of family sustains them and gives them hope for the future. |
books like number the stars: Saving Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, 2013-04-02 Marty Preston wonders why it is that despite Judd Traver's attempts to redeem himself everyone is still so willing to think the worst of him. Marty's friend David is sure that Judd will be named as the murderer of a man who has been missing. Others are sure that Judd is behind a series of burglaries in the area. But Marty's parents and, with some trepidation, Marty himself persist in their attempts to be good neighbors and to give Judd a second chance. Now that Marty has Shiloh, maybe he can help Judd to take better care of his other dogs. Then again, maybe folks are right -- there's no way a Judd Travers can ever change for the good. Then a terrifying life-or-death situation brings this dilemma into sharp focus. Saving Shiloh is a powerful novel that brings this trilogy to a close. |
books like number the stars: Gossamer Lois Lowry, 2006-04-24 A novel “as haunting as a dream” from the New York Times-bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Giver (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? This imaginative novel confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and fantasy, two people—a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy—face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see. “Lyrical, richly descriptive prose ushers readers into a fascinating parallel world inhabited by appealingly quirky characters.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A beautiful novel with an intriguing premise.”—School Library Journal (starred review) |
books like number the stars: The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood, 2021-09-14 The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! As seen on THE VIEW! A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021 When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos. As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope. |
books like number the stars: Gooney Bird Greene Lois Lowry, 2010-04-01 Two-time Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry introduces a new girl in class who loves being the center of attention and tells the most entertaining “absolutely true” stories. There’s never been anyone like Gooney Bird Greene at Watertower Elementary School. What other new kid comes to school wearing pajamas and cowboy boots one day and a polka-dot T-shirt and tutu on another? From the moment Gooney Bird Greene arrives at Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second graders are intrigued by her unique sense of style and her unusual lunches. So when story time arrives, the choice is unanimous: they want to hear about Gooney Bird Greene. And that suits Gooney Bird just fine, because, as it turns out, she has quite a few interesting and absolutely true stories to tell. Through Gooney Bird and her tales, the acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the elements of storytelling. This book encourages the storyteller in everyone. |
books like number the stars: The Night Trilogy Elie Wiesel, 2008-04-15 Three works deal with a concentration camp survivor, a hostage holder in Palestine, and a recovering accident victim. |
books like number the stars: Snow Treasure Marie McSwigan, 1958 Grade Level 5.5, Book# 85, Points 4. |
books like number the stars: Smile: A Graphic Novel Raina Telgemeier, 2014-07-29 Raina Telgemeier's #1 New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir based on her childhood! Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. |
books like number the stars: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son (The Giver Quartet) Lois Lowry, 2014-07-31 THE GIVER is soon to be a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift. Now available for the first time in the UK, THE GIVER QUARTET is the complete four-novel collection. |