图书作者与内容简介

The book Number the Stars is a compelling historical novel written by Lois Lowry. Set during World War II in Nazi-occupied Denmark, the story follows the journey of a young girl named Annemarie Johansen as she and her family risk their lives to help Jewish friends escape persecution. Lois Lowry, the author of the book, is a renowned American author known for her diverse topic of works, spanning from political oppression, euthanasia, ***, to murder. 

我的观点

Have you ever pictured yourself living in a lightless, dank, cramped chamber for weeks, months, or even years? This is what life was like for the Jews during World War II. Aside from the harsh living environment, persecutions from the Nazi forced them to go on a run on a daily basis. The book Number the Stars is a captivating and emotionally resonant work of this period of time in Denmark, which the Nazi had occupied. 
    
Through the eyes of young Annemarie Johansen, we are granted a glimpse into the world marred by fear and injustice, yet illuminated by the enduring human spirit. Such time of darkness is when humanity shines the most. Not being Jewish, Annemarie and her family were willing to risk their lives to assist their Jewish friends to flee to another country. I was deeply moved by the enormous courage they had demonstrated. In fact, valorous behaviours like theirs were not made up. Countless courageous people had put their lives under tremendous danger so as to rescue, protect, or transfer the Jewish people to safer places during that period of time. Irena Sendler, who is known for sneaking children out from concentration camps, as well as a myriad of unsung heroes, showed us how powerful humanity could be, that drove them to save those they did not know and probably would never meet.
 
The unwavering friendship between Annemarie and her Jewish friend Ellen Rosen was at the heart of the story, transcending even the most harrowing circumstances. As the novel unfolded, we witnessed the depth of their friendship when Annemarie undertook a perilous journey to save Ellen’s life, facing unimaginable danger with an unflappable determination fuelled by her love for her friend. It was a testament to the extraordinary lengths people will go to protect the ones they love, and a stark reminder that even in the darkest of times, the bonds of friendship can shine as brightly as the stars. Their friendship, like a fragile butterfly, survived the storms of adversity, fluttering triumphantly against the tempestuous winds of hatred. It taught us that friendship can be a lifeline, a source of strength that sustains us through the harshest of trials. 
 
The book discusses topics spanning a wide range of variety. Holocaust is undoubtedly the most critical one. Unlike Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, which tells the story from the Jewish people’s perspective, the story actually starts from a Danish little girl’s point of view. Given this reason, we are able to feel what the majority felt under the Nazi persecution. In spite of the fact that they were not the targets being hunted down, they still lived a life of fear, seeing how much impact the Nazi had on the people in that period of time.
 
Following the characters, my heart raced as if I was one of the members rescuing the Jews. Every action and every character are depicted so vividly that Annemarie, Ellen and all the other characters almost stand right in front of me. Thus, I could feel the pressure, the fear and the sense of uncertainty they had when they were on the run. It was hard to believe this was what the Jewish people were experiencing every single day during the second World War. While feeling glad that we were born in a relatively peaceful era when suddenly being captured is something unlikely to happen, we ought to rethink the lessons history had given us and don’t let the tragedy repeat again.
 
Another valuable lesson I have obtained from the book was that even in the bleakest of moments, there will always be a glimmer of light that can guide us through the shadows. With each dawn, hope unfurls its wings soaring high above the horizon, carrying dreams on the winds of possibility. It’s crucial for us to stay positive, regardless of how hopeless the situations seem to turn. As long as we don’t give up on hope and keep fighting, we will surely be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 
 
Flipping through the pages of the book, I was moved by Annemarie and Ellen’s friendship, impressed by the bravery and resilience the characters demonstrated and saddened by the tragedy the Jews had undergone. On top of that, the love expressed in the book left me in awe.