Books to Read While Physically Distancing: Number the Stars

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!  

Books to Read While Physically Distancing (BtRWPD) will focus on books available for checkout through Libby.

Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcout, 1989

It is 1943 and Annemarie Johansen is ten years old and lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Nazi soldiers have occupied her city and country for several years now, but have rarely bothered her or her best friend Ellen Rosen. But now there is talk of 'relocation' and Annemarie must be very brave to help Ellen and her family escape to safety.

I'm not sure how I never read this Newbery Medal winner. I was the right age and audience for it when it came out. Regardless, this is a fantastic piece of historic fiction. A friend of the author told her what it was like living in Copenhagen during World War II and Lowry followed up with trips there to do research and conduct interviews. It does a wonderful job of telling the story of the rescue of the Danish Jews, an event I was completely unaware of. I highly recommend this story of bravery and friendship.