Number the Stars

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.