Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.
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"One of my all time favorite books, this story talks about a family who tries to save a little girl from the Nazi's during the time of the Holocaust. This book is a good book to introduce students to the Holocaust but I believe it is more beneficial to use alongside a unit about the Holocaust so that students can truly try to understand what is happening."
— Angela (5 out of 5 stars)
“A deftly told story that dramatizes how Danes appointed themselves bodyguards—not only for their king, who was in the habit of riding alone in Copenhagen, but for their Jews.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable—impossible to put down; difficult to forget.”
— Horn Book“While the novel has an absorbing plot, its real strength lies in its evocation of deep friendship between two girls and of a caring family who makes a profoundly moral choice.”
— BooklistA story of Denmark and the Danish people, whose Resistance was so effective in saving their Jews.
— School Library Journal, Starred" Realistic view l read it with my grand daughter it was a good level for her to comprehend "
— SWAT TEAM , 4/29/2020" Powerful historical fiction book about World War II - loved it! Great book club book for HF unit! "
— Melanie, 2/20/2014" Love it! Hitler related from a very brave girl point of view. "
— Rochi, 2/9/2014" I remember not reading it, but actually had it read to me when I was very young! Probably like 14 or 15...I remember liking it so much that I adopted one of the character's name as my name for a while! I might reread it because I don't remember much about it. "
— No, 2/8/2014" this book was very intresting, it told me a lot information. "
— Kelsie, 2/6/2014" This was a reread for me; it has been many years since I first read it, and while I could remember enjoying it, I couldn't remember details. I'm glad I took the time to reread this touching story. The author's concluding note especially touched me. This really is a timeless book, one I highly recommend. "
— Tina, 2/5/2014" We read this in class, and it wasn't my type of book, but for a class book on WW2, I liked it.... an adventurous book, yet simple. "
— Madi, 2/5/2014" Read this book in grade school, don't remember if it was in 6th or 5th grade, but it was very interesting to me at that age because I hadn't read any books really involving anything about WWII. It was simple but still good. "
— Audree, 1/29/2014" Read this in school and would read it again. Quick read and totally touching and semieducational. Im usually not a fan of stories that take place in historical settings or wartime etc but this is an exception. "
— Shalini, 1/20/2014" Great history but very sad. "
— Karli, 1/5/2014" Beautifully written, very appropriate for children even while telling a heartbreaking story. "
— Melissa, 12/21/2013" One of the most touching books! "
— Luciano, 12/20/2013" A historical fiction about a family that help their jewish friends during the war. It's one of my favorite books! "
— Brooke, 12/17/2013" One of my favorite historical fiction books I could read over and over again! "
— Danielle, 11/21/2013" loved this in 6 th grade! "
— Sarah, 11/18/2013" This was my all time favorite in 5th grade. "
— Catherine, 11/17/2013" One of the best children's books ever in my opinion. Tells the story of how the Danish Jews coped under the tyrannical Nazi occupation of Denmark. Interesting, poignant, compelling and tangible; I would recommend this book to anyone. Particularly a child in upper elementary school "
— Daniel, 9/24/2013" Quick read. Uniquely uplifting story for Holocaust literature. All the more stirring for its accuracy (as outlined in the afterward). I'm thinking class novel here! "
— Stephanie, 6/28/2013" I always recommend this one to my students who haven't tried historical fiction before. One of my favorites! "
— Jeremy, 5/1/2013" i read this book witth my class. love it. a lot of suspense. so sad too "
— Arianna, 2/4/2013" I think I should have waited a couple of years for this one. Eleanor was only six when we read it. Hard subject, but wonderful message of being a good friend and being brave. "
— melody, 1/2/2013" Great stories like this help me to love reading and make me want to read more. Too bad i didn't take grandma's recommendation and read this book twenty years ago as a teenager. "
— Sheri, 10/20/2012" Absolutely Fantastic. I love WW2 books as it is, but this book was one that I had to read for school and loved it so much. I will never forget this story. It leaves a life long imprint on your heart. Incredible read. Love love love it. :) "
— Heidi, 9/12/2012" Read this book about 20 years ago. Really enjoyed it, but very intense in regards to WWII... I don't think I would read again, because it was a bit too raw for me... "
— Gretchen, 8/3/2012" Let's be honest, this book is softcore holocaust literature which is kind of offensive to the nature of the whole event. I'm not gonna pity shitty writing and downplaying of issues and such just because it's a book about the holocaust. Elie Wiesel > Mrs. Lowblow "
— Chase, 10/29/2011" Need to read this again. Beautiful story. "
— Cassandra, 6/17/2011" I think I just love Lois Lowry's style of writing. "
— Martha, 5/24/2011" I read this as a child and I enjoyed it. It's very enlightening for kids to read this and be able to understand what people went through during World War II. I recommend for kids or adults that want to read a very short heart warming story of survival. "
— Kristen, 5/23/2011" Good first intro to the Holocaust <br/>4-5th grade "
— Sarah, 5/21/2011" A really good book! Re read it many times. I love Lois Lowry! "
— Ruis, 5/19/2011" This book is a good historical novel about the jews. "
— Elizabeth, 5/19/2011" I loved this book!!! it was packed with adventure and trust!! it was about saving a friendship with an army thrunting it. well i can't say any more!! "
— Megan, 5/17/2011" I thought this book was very well written and very descriptive. I would absolutly recommend this book to other readers. "
— Grace, 5/16/2011" Very Vey VERY good, love Lois Lowry!! "
— Kate, 5/16/2011" This book kept turning up everywhere! Everywhere I looked, there it was, so I finally bought it and read it again and it is so dang good. "
— Hannah, 5/16/2011" I LOVE this book because it shows how life during the time of Hitler and the Nazis was and how families lived..... "
— Kimber, 5/16/2011" I think I read this for middle school (god, I'm old). Good book, not bad. "
— Maddie, 5/16/2011" I had to read this for the NHS summer reading. It was really good for a children's book. I nice look at ethics and doing the right thing! "
— Erica, 5/15/2011" a very good book for children that my son had to read for school that i read with him about the holocaust "
— Nancy, 5/14/2011" I thought that this book really showed me the life of normal people during the world war II. "
— Henry, 5/12/2011" I love this book as an adult just as much as I did when I first read it in fourth grade in Mrs. Troest's class! "
— Kelly, 5/10/2011Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received many honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.
Blair Brown is an award-winning narrator and a Tony Award–winning actor. Besides earning several AudioFile Earphones Award, she received the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2020. She has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in numerous miniseries and TV movies and received five Emmy Award nominations for her starring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.