Number the Stars Chapters V–VII Summary & Analysis

Summary

Chapter V: Who Is the Dark-Haired One?

Annemarie and Ellen prepare to go to bed in Annemarie's room. Ellen asks if Annemarie thinks soldiers will come to search the apartment. Annemarie does not think so. Ellen jokes that if they do, she can practice her skills as an actress by pretending to be Lise. Ellen hopes to go to acting school. Ellen asks how Lise died, and Annemarie admits that is not completely sure. Lise and Peter were out together and then Annemarie's parents got a call about an accident. Her parents went straight to the hospital, and Lise died. Mr. Johansen was very angry. Annemarie notices the Star of David necklace Ellen wears.

A few hours after falling asleep, they wake to pounding on the apartment door. Annemarie peeks out the bedroom. A soldier is asking her parents if it is true that they are friends with the Rosens. He demands to know where the Rosens are. Mrs. Johansen answers that they must be sleeping in their home. The soldiers come in, looking for the Rosens. Annemarie tells Ellen to take off her necklace. The clasp sticks, but Annemarie yanks it off just in time. The three soldiers come in and order the girls out of bed and interrogate them. They want to know why there are two blond girls (Annemarie and Kirsti) and one with dark hair. Mr. Johansen grabs a family photo album and rips out three pictures. Each is a photo of a baby with the name below: Kirstin with blond hair, Annemarie with blond hair, and Lise with dark hair. The soldiers rip the photo of Lise and leave. As the soldiers leave, Annemarie realizes that she has been clenching Ellen's necklace in her hand. When she opens her fingers, the Star of David is imprinted on her skin.

Chapter VI: Is the Weather Good for Fishing?

Mr. and Mrs. Johansen think about what they should do. Ellen apologizes for being trouble, particularly her dark hair. Mrs. Johansen tells Ellen her hair is beautiful and adds how lucky they were that Lise had dark hair as a baby. The talk of Lise makes Annemarie happy, since she has not heard her parents speak about Lise since Lise's death. The Johansens decide that Ellen and Annemarie will go to Uncle Henrik's house instead of to school. Mrs. Johansen says she will make the trip alone with the girls in order to raise less suspicion. Mr. Johansen protests at this, but then agrees with his wife. Mr. Johansen calls Henrik and asks if "the weather is good for fishing." Annemarie thinks this is a bizarre question, because Henrik is a fisherman and will go out rain or shine. Mr. Johansen says he is sending his wife to visit along with a "carton of cigarettes." The cigarettes further puzzle Annemarie, for she knows there have not been any available for a while. Then Annemarie realizes that her father is speaking in code; the carton of cigarettes is Ellen. Mr. Johansen says that other cartons will come soon.

Mrs. Johansen, Annemarie, Kirsti and Ellen take the train to Gilleleje, where Uncle Henrik lives. On the way, soldiers come through the wagon. They ask Mrs. Johansen where she is going and if she is paying a visit for the New Year. Annemarie's fears that Kirsti will say it is Ellen's New Year, but she does not, and the soldiers leave. Once in Gilleleje, the foursome walk through the forest to the house where Mrs. Johansen grew up. Kirsti chats about the castle they saw on the trip, insisting that kings and queens live there. When Annemarie tries to correct her, Mrs. Johansen says, "Let her dream." Mrs. Johansen points out the garden her aunt used to keep and the place where her dog used to wait for her after school.

Chapter VII: The House by The Sea

When they get to the sea, Ellen says it is her first time so close to the ocean. Her mother is afraid of the ocean, Ellen explains. A leaf floats up to them and Annemarie remarks that it could have come from Sweden, which is visible across the water. Annemarie scans the water for her uncle's boat, but they cannot find it. They go to Henrik's house. Mrs. Johansen asks if they saw anyone and warns not to speak to anyone. The girls want to know if there are soldiers here, too. Mrs. Johansen says there are. After supper Ellen and Annemarie go up to bed in Mrs. Johansen's childhood room. Ellen asks Annemarie what she did with her Star of David necklace. Annemarie says she hid it carefully and will keep it for Ellen until she can wear it again safely. Ellen wishes she knew where her parents were. As they fall asleep, Annemarie can hear her mother and Uncle Henrik talking downstairs. It reminds her of earlier visits to the house during the summer, only now there is no laughter.

Analysis

Acting is vital to Ellen's narrow escape. During the course of the night, each member of the Johansen family and Ellen must do some acting. Ellen must play the part of the third daughter. All of them must pretend to be calm. Mr. and Mrs. Johansen must pretend that there is nothing wrong and that they do not know where the Rosens are. When the soldiers come, they must pretend that an ordinary night in their home has been interrupted. Annemarie has a role as well. She must keep her friend from being too afraid. In a way, this is a role reversal: Ellen is taking Lise's place for the night, but it is Annemarie who must act like the older sister. Before going to bed, Annemarie helps Ellen feel better by assuring her that nothing will go wrong, though Annemarie is not positive this is true.

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