
Reach for this book when your child starts asking difficult questions about what it means to be brave or why some people are treated unfairly. It is a gentle yet profound tool for introducing the complexities of history and the moral importance of standing up for others, even when it feels risky. Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark, the story follows ten-year-old Annemarie as she helps hide her Jewish best friend, Ellen, and eventually embarks on a dangerous mission to save her. While the backdrop is the Holocaust, the narrative focuses on the power of friendship, the loss of childhood innocence, and the quiet courage of ordinary people. It is a classic choice for the 9 to 12 age range because it manages to be suspenseful and honest without being overly graphic, making it a perfect first bridge into historical fiction and human rights discussions.
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Sign in to write a reviewCentral plot involves the state-sponsored persecution of Jewish people.
Backstory involves the death of a sibling in the resistance; a funeral is staged as a cover.
Soldiers enter the home at night and aggressively question the children.
The book deals directly with the Holocaust and systemic persecution, but the approach is secular and realistic rather than metaphorical. While there is mention of a character who died before the book began (Annemarie's sister Lise), the resolution is hopeful and focuses on the success of the rescue mission rather than the horrors of the camps.
A thoughtful 4th or 5th grader who is beginning to notice social injustices and wants to know if one person, or even one child, can truly make a difference in a scary world.
Parents should be prepared to explain the historical context of WWII. The scene where soldiers confront the girls in their bedroom at night can be intense for sensitive readers. A child asking, 'Why did the soldiers want to hurt people just because they were Jewish?' or 'Would you hide my friends if they were in danger?'
Younger readers (ages 8-9) focus on the adventure and the bond between the two girls. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the political bravery of the Danish resistance and the symbolic weight of the Star of David necklace.
Unlike many Holocaust books that take place in camps, this focuses on the 'righteous among nations' and the collective effort of a country to protect its citizens, providing a unique lens of communal bravery.
In 1943 Copenhagen, Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen are best friends whose lives are upended by the Nazi occupation. When the Danish Jews are targeted for relocation, the Johansens hide Ellen by pretending she is Annemarie's deceased sister. The family eventually travels to the coast where Annemarie's uncle, a fisherman, is part of the resistance. Annemarie must eventually brave the woods alone to deliver a secret package that is vital to the escape of Jewish refugees to Sweden.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.