Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

We finally ventured to our new local Sandy Library.  It is quite a big bigger than the West Jordan.  I was perusing the shelves in the youth non fiction area and I came across four or five shelves that had ALL the Newberry Winner Books in one section!  They had multiple copies of each book all right there.  No more looking it up on the computer and trying to find one.  I can just browse through them all in one spot.  Ok, enough said... I chose three or four that were very short.  I finished "Number the Stars" in two days.  It is about a Danish Girl during WWII when Denmark is occupied by the Germans.  She has  Jewish friend named Ellen.  Ellen's family must flee in the middle of the night so Ellen comes to stay with Annemarie.  They talk about the Resistance in Denmark and how many people helped so many Jewish escape across the sea to Sweeden.  At the end of the book the author explains a few neat facts that were actually true.  The fisherman would smuggle the Jewish people in their fishing boats.  The German Soldiers discovered this ploy and brought in German Shepherd dogs to sniff them out.  There were Sweedish scientists that came up with a concoction they would soak handkerchiefs in and it would attract the dogs and then numb their noses so they couldn't find the human scent on the boats.  I love that people of different backgrounds and religions were willing to sacrifice so much, even their lives and their families lives to help another that was being so unjustly treated.  One of my favorite parts was at the end when the occupation was over and the Jewish were able to return to their homes and they came back to immaculate houses and apartments.  Their friends and neighbors for over a year, had been dusting their furniture and polishing their silver for them while they were gone.  Such acts of kindness when everyone had so little.  No sugar, no butter, no milk... but the still found it in their hearts to give so much service.  Why is it that those of us who are blessed with so much find it difficult to find the time to serve others as much as we should? This book has changed my perspective on being willing to help those in need.