Number the Stars — Chapter 8

About This Passage

This is from chapter eight, the first morning at Uncle Henrik's farmhouse. The night before was scary — soldiers banging on the door in Copenhagen, a long train ride, and Mama warning the girls to stay away from people. But this morning, the sun is up, the kitten is on the floor, and there is a wonderful surprise on the kitchen table: hot oatmeal, AND a little pitcher of fresh cream from Henrik's cow. The scout should pause to feel how good this moment is. Cream! Real cream! In Copenhagen, breakfast is bread and tea — the soldiers have taken almost everything else. But here at the farm, Henrik milks Blossom every morning, and there is enough cream to pour right onto the oatmeal. Copying this passage helps the scout notice that even when scary things are happening in the world, a small, warm, sweet breakfast can still feel like a treasure.

Narration Prompt

Retell chapter eight in your own words. Begin with the warm, sunny morning at Uncle Henrik's farmhouse — birds in the apple tree, oatmeal with cream, and Kirsti trying to teach the gray kitten (now named Thor, the God of Thunder) to drink water instead of milk. Tell about the joke about the soldiers 'relocating butter,' and how the family laughed together. Tell about the long, happy day playing outdoors — Ellen meeting Blossom the cow, the girls picking dried wildflowers and filling the table tops with bouquets. Then move to the afternoon, when Uncle Henrik comes home and tells Mama, 'Tomorrow will be a day for fishing.' Tell about Annemarie noticing this strange phrase — like the one Papa used on the phone. End with Henrik's news: 'There has been a death. Tonight your Great-aunt Birte will be resting in the living room.' And the very last fact in the chapter — Annemarie KNOWS there is no Great-aunt Birte. There never was.

Discussion Questions

1. Mama tells Annemarie that the soldiers 'relocate' all the farmers' butter — and the family laughs together at the picture of a 'mound of frightened butter under military arrest.' What in the story tells you the family is using a joke to feel a little bit braver about something that is really scary? How do you know that laughing together can be one way to live through hard times?
2. When Henrik comes home, he says, 'Tomorrow will be a day for fishing.' Annemarie remembers that Papa said something just like it on the phone — 'Is the weather good for fishing?' What in the story tells you that Annemarie is paying close attention to grown-up words again? How do you know she is starting to figure out that something secret is happening?

+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide