Lowry makes her believable by such touches. How can Annemarie do what she had to do? Where did she get her strength? Notice her use of Kirsti as a role model when she needs to make the soldiers think she's innocent and the way she comforts herself in the woods by remembering the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Each one represents a decision on the part of Ms. Is Annelise, Annemarie? Look at the chapter titles. Why did Lois Lowry choose those words? What stars is she referring to? Look at her dedication: 'For my friend Annelise Platt, Tusind Tak'. No matter which of the activities below you select or the equally good ones you come up with yourselves, the important thing is to enjoy the book and Lowry's skill in creating such memorable characters. Ann Marie Johansen is the one who is most threatened by this ordeal and she shows outstanding but believable courage and enterprise in helping her friend. Rosen leave their daughter, Ellen, with the Johansens hoping that she can pass as their daughter until safe voyage to Sweden can be arranged for all the Rosens. Then, their friends, the Rosens, are endangered. There are the shortages of course and the omnipresent soldiers, but home and school life are relatively undisturbed. Lowry focuses our attention on the Johansen family who have coped with the occupation by the Nazis fairly well. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading this very accessible novel within easy reach of fourth or even third grade readers, it's the story of the determination of the people of Denmark to get the Jews to safety while the Nazis were equally determined to annihilate them. This was the first Newbery Award winner by Lois Lowry. This review by Carol Otis Hurst first appeared in Teaching K-8 Magazine.

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