Number the Stars

Lois Lowry's Newbery Medal winner remains one of the most effective pieces of Holocaust literature written for young readers, and its secret is perspective. Ten-year-old Annemarie doesn't fully understand everything happening around her in Nazi-occupied Copenhagen — which means young readers can follow without being overwhelmed. The Danish resistance network that helps the Rosen family escape to Sweden is depicted as ordinary people making extraordinary choices, and that moral lesson lands with real force. A few moments of Nazi intimidation can be tense for sensitive younger readers, and the resolution moves quickly once the danger peaks. But with over two million copies sold and consistent use in school curricula, there's a reason this one endures. A genuinely excellent choice for ages 9–14.