Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Published 1989 · 28,014 words · about 2 hours at an average pace · Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction
How hard is Number the Stars to read?
Number the Stars scores 41 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it moderately challenging. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.
- Vocabulary: 28 out of 100
- The vocabulary is consistently accessible, designed for a middle-grade audience, with clear, contemporary language. While a few Danish and German words appear (e.g., "Halte!", "Østerbrogade", "De Frie Danske"), their meaning is either immediately contextualized or easily inferred, posing minimal challenge to the reader. This places it slightly above a child's diary but well below literary fiction like 'The Great Gatsby'.
- Sentence structure: 32 out of 100
- Sentences are generally direct and declarative, maintaining a clear, linear flow that is easy to follow. The narrative avoids complex hypotaxis or extensive nested clauses, ensuring a straightforward reading experience suitable for younger readers. Its structure is more developed than a child's diary but less demanding than '1984'.
- Abstraction: 30 out of 100
- The narrative is highly concrete and grounded in the immediate experiences of its characters, focusing on their actions and emotional responses to wartime events. Abstract concepts like bravery and sacrifice are presented through direct situations and simple explanations, rather than philosophical discourse. The storytelling is akin to 'Asterix the Gaul' in its directness, though the themes are more serious.
- Information density: 35 out of 100
- The narrative maintains a clear, linear progression, introducing new concepts and historical context (such as the Resistance or the plight of Jewish citizens) in a digestible manner. The story focuses on a single perspective, avoiding multiple complex plotlines or dense allusions that would demand intense attention. The information flow is manageable, similar to a plot-driven novel like 'The Housemaid'.
- Narrative indirection: 45 out of 100
- The narrative primarily follows Annemarie's limited perspective, requiring the reader to infer the true dangers and plans before the protagonist fully grasps them. Adults like Mama and Uncle Henrik deliberately withhold information from Annemarie, such as the 'Great-aunt Birte' ruse and the contents of the packet, to protect her innocence and enable her bravery. This creates a subtle layer of dramatic irony where the reader is often a step ahead, understanding the gravity of events more completely than the child narrator.
- Symbolic density: 60 out of 100
- The text employs several clear and impactful symbols, such as the Star of David necklace representing Jewish identity and the psalm 'he who numbers the stars' signifying divine protection. Fairy tales, particularly Little Red Riding-Hood, serve as direct allegories for Annemarie's perilous journey and the broader struggle against evil. The lack of butter and coffee, or Kirsti's fish-skin shoes, also function as concrete symbols of wartime privation and adaptation.
- Ironic distance: 48 out of 100
- Ironic distance primarily manifests as dramatic irony, where the reader understands the true implications of events (like the 'funeral' or the 'fishing weather' code) before Annemarie does. Kirsti's innocent misinterpretations, such as the naval explosions being 'fireworks,' also create situational irony that underscores the grim reality of the war. However, the author maintains a largely sincere and empathetic tone, avoiding a detached or satirical stance.
- Resolution withholding: 40 out of 100
- While the immediate plot of saving the Rosens is resolved with their safe passage to Sweden, the narrative withholds full emotional closure by revealing past tragedies, such as Peter's execution and the true nature of Lise's death, near the end. Annemarie's lingering question about seeing Ellen again and her decision to keep the Star of David necklace suggest an open-ended future, leaving a sense of hope tempered by the enduring impact of war.
- Structural complexity: 30 out of 100
- The narrative maintains a consistently linear chronology, following Annemarie's experiences without significant jumps or experimental forms. Flashbacks are clearly marked as Annemarie's memories, serving to provide context rather than disrupt the timeline. The story is told from a single, straightforward third-person limited perspective, making the structure highly accessible.
How Number the Stars is regarded
Number the Stars holds a literary regard score of 61 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.