Number the StarsNumber the Stars
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns to be brave when she helps shelter her Jewish best friend from the Nazis.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's a moving, accessible introduction to the Holocaust for young readers.
You'll love it if you liked
The Giver
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Book ThiefGood to know
It's short and written for middle-grade readers. It's based on real events.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #68 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #69 of the 124 historical novels we rank
- #346 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1040 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving, Adventurous
More by Lois Lowry
If you like this, read next
Invisible Man
Seventh Son
Empire of the Sun
Double Star
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
The Wasp FactoryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Number the Stars worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #1,040 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Number the Stars about?
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns to be brave when she helps shelter her Jewish best friend from the Nazis.
How long does it take to read Number the Stars?
About 3 hours (137 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Number the Stars?
If you liked it, try The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.