Number the Stars Chapters V–VII Summary & Analysis

Annemarie also protects Ellen by pulling off Ellen's necklace. The imprinting of the necklace in Annemarie's hand stands for a transformation in Annemarie. For the first time, Annemarie takes action against the Germans. With this, Annemarie assumes new responsibly. She has taken a step away from the passive role of a child. Though Annemarie is not herself Jewish, she has become involved in helping Ellen, which puts her in danger. By pulling the necklace off her friend she is taking matters into her own hands, literally and figuratively, and imprinting herself with her good work.

Lise plays an important role in Ellen's safety. The photograph is what convinces the soldiers that Ellen is the Johansen's daughter. Because Lise had dark hair as a baby, the soldiers stop being suspicious of Ellen's dark hair. When Ellen and Annemarie talk about Lise before going to sleep, Annemarie cannot really explain how her sister died. The real cause of her death is foreshadowed when the soldier rips and crushes Lise's baby picture on the way out. Though Lise's death was awful, in some way she did not die in vain, for Ellen is saved only because Lise died.

The departure from the city is the beginning of a difficult adventure for Annemarie, Ellen, and Mrs. Johansen. Again, Annemarie is aware that she does not fully understand what is going on, but for the moment she does not question it. At this point, the role of knowledge, or lack of knowledge, enters into Number the Stars as a theme. Annemarie begins to see that things are not always what they appear. She realizes that her father is speaking on code over the phone, and also that he is speaking about Ellen. However, she does not pick up on everything. Mr. Johansen tells Henrik that he is sending "a carton of cigarettes" and that more will come later. Though Annemarie guesses that Elle is the carton, she does not focus on the fact that there must be other people coming, too.

Not realizing what she does, Annemarie establishes a new relationship between herself and Ellen. Without Mr. Johansen around to reassure Ellen, Annemarie takes on this responsibility. Though Annemarie may not consciously know she must take on more responsibility, her tone when talking to Ellen shifts. She becomes a figure of authority, though the girls are the same age. She points out Sweden to Ellen. When Ellen asks where her necklace is, Annemarie states what she has done with it and does not consult her friend. She tells Ellen that she has put it somewhere safe, but she does not say where. Without meaning to, Annemarie does for Ellen exactly what her parents have done for her: she gives Ellen enough information to satisfy her, without telling the whole story.

Mrs. Johansen emerges as an important figure. She asserts herself for the first time, deciding that she will make the trip to her brother's without her husband. Mrs. Johansen's childhood is contrasted to the childhoods of the three girls. As they walk through the woods, her stories illustrate a pleasant and safe life. Her faithful dog and the days spent roaming the countryside speak of an innocence that cannot be preserved during war. Though Ellen and Annemarie can play outside, they must be aware of strangers. Even in the country, they cannot be carefree. Despite her wish that her daughters could be unaffected, Mrs. Johansen realizes that this is not possible, at least in the case of Annemarie. Kirsti, though, is young enough to be oblivious and experience pure joy at the visit. Her innocence is contrasted to Annemarie's growing sense that awareness is important. Kirsti thinks that kings and queens live in the castle they see. Annemarie wants to correct her sister, but Mrs. Johansen stops her from doing so, saying it is all right for Kirsti to "dream". She divides Annemarie from the other children with this remark, implying in her statement that Annemarie can separate dreams from reality.

The visit to her mother's old home brings back memories of happier days for Annemarie. She remembers pleasant times before the war, times which she associates with early childhood. In her mind she has an image of the children tucked into bed and adults laughing downstairs, child neatly divided from adult by the line of the staircase. But things have changed. Now it is more difficult to separate the adults from the children. Annemarie is not sure where she belongs, and this makes her feel unstable. Happier times are associated with younger life. In part this is because her existence was happier before the war, but it is also because as a young child, she had a clear sense of her place in the world.

Previous page Chapters V–VII page 1 Next section Chapters VIII–IX