My name is Clarence Huang. I am a senior two student in Chia yi’s Hua-Nan Commercial Vocational High School. I studied in the applied foreign language program. I love and enjoy reading a lot, from poetry to novels, from Dazai Osamu to Tagore. Reading allows me the freedom I can hardly attain in the real world. I’ve also participated in the Chinese writing contest in our school. By writing a book report, I not only live the lives of the characters but walk in their shoes. In other words, I get to grow with them.

When it comes to WWII, our history books talk little about Denmark’s struggle against the Nazis from 1940 to 1945. Thanks to “Number the Star,” a book written Lois Lowry, I was able to learn how Danish protected their family and friends in such a harsh time by organizing Danish Resistance. This historical event was adapted into a story about a Danish girl, Annemarie Johansen, and how she worked together with her family to save her best friend -Ellen’s life. Lowry seems to imply in the book that while war brings out the dark side of humanity, it also draws the radiance of the human heart—courage. The idea was not only shaped in the mind of the ten-year-old Annemarie but also in the heart of readers and made me wonder –“what is courage?”

In the book, true courage is not just an act of impulse, but something inspired and developed from ideas, questions to behavior. In the beginning, bravery only exists in the story told by Annemarie’s father. Mr. Johansen told her an encounter between a Nazi soldier and a little boy, who bravely responded to the German soldiers that “all of Denmark is his bodyguard” (14). Somehow, those words sowed the seed of bravery in Annemarie’s heart. When knowing her best friend Ellen and her Jewish family were under the threat of the Nazis, Annemarie reacted just like the little boy – “Papa, do you remember what you heard the boy say to the soldiers?...now I think all of Denmark must be bodyguard for the Jews, as well” (26). At this point, although bravery remained a vague idea, she was also aware of the sacrifice it took to put it into practice. In chapter 3, she reflected on bravery by thinking “Would she die to protect them? Truly?” However, as the Nazis searched house by house for Jews, there was not much time left for Annemarie to think about the danger of being brave. With Ellen hid in her house, she needed to act immediately to protect her friend, and so she did. Annemarie tore the necklace symbolizing the Star of David from Ellen’s neck and held it in her arm, in case the Nazi found out the Ellen’s identity.

Up until this point, Annemarie’s courageous behavior was more an act of intuition, triggered only when there was a need. However, Annemarie’s insight into courage didn’t stop when Ellen passed the Nazi’s inspection. When she was involved in the Danish Resistance’ operation to transport the Danish Jews to Sweden, her understanding of bravery was put into test. In Uncle Henrik’s house by the sea, Annmarie’s mother announced the memorial of her Great-aunt Birte. The news was shocking and confusing because there was no Great-aunt Birte in her family. To confirm the news, Annemarie had a conversation with Uncle Henrik, and it is through this conversation that she learned the true meaning of courage: “it is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything…Your mama lied to you to help you to be brave” (77). This “tip” for practicing bravery was again proved useful when Annemarie was asked to deliver a packet to Uncle Henrik at the port, helping Ellen and other Jews to escape. When she was stopped by two Nazi soldiers on her way, she was able to “fool” them with her innocence. Because she didn’t know what was in the packet, Annemarie could give a sincere performance “ I don’t know what it is! That, she realized, was true. She had no idea what was in the packet” (117) Courage, supported by innocence, became the only defense Annemarie had as a child when confronted by the Nazis.

Throughout the adventure, the characters have to overcome challenges only to protect their loved ones. Without the Johansen and the Danish Resistance, Ellen and her family might never survive. From the story of a Danish boy to the shelter the Johansen provided for Ellen and Annemarie’s commitment to bravery, the characters’ behaviors influence one another and eventually save others’ lives. In my opinion, Lois Lowry shows me true bravery in the story. It is the willingness to do the right thing no matter how risky it is.