Just finished reading 'Number the Stars' and wow, it hit me right in the feels! Lois Lowry somehow makes WWII Denmark feel both terrifying and hopeful through 10-year-old Annemarie's eyes.

The way Annemarie and Ellen's friendship unfolds had me clutching my blanket at 2AM. That scene where Annemarie has to play dumb with the Nazi soldiers? Absolute chills. Lowry writes tension so well you can taste it.

What surprised me most was how digestible this heavy topic is for younger readers. My 12-year-old niece borrowed my copy and we've had the deepest conversations about moral courage because of it.

The physical book itself is lovely - sturdy cover, nice paper quality. Got mine with that satisfying new book smell intact. No shipping damages despite international delivery!

Pro tip: Don't skip the author's note at the end! Learning which parts were based on real events made the story hit even harder. Currently convincing my entire book club to read this.