Number the Stars

About this book

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen helps her family smuggle her Jewish friend out of Nazi-occupied Denmark. Lowry's Newbery Medal novel is a near-universal 4th-6th grade Holocaust-introduction text and appears on Common Core exemplar lists for grades 4-5.

Why widely assigned

This Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on courage and friendship; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • required·5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar
  • required·5th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 5 Newbery-aligned required text
  • recommended·5th grade · Floridasource: Miami-Dade Summer Reading — grade 5

Similar grade-level books

• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L
• 
  To Kill a Mockingbird
  Harper Lee · 870L

See all books like Number the Stars→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Number the Stars?

Number the Stars is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 670L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Number the Stars?

Number the Stars has a Lexile measure of 670L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Number the Stars?

It takes about 2h 30m to read Number the Stars (137 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 150 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Number the Stars hard to read for 4th grade?

At 670L, Number the Stars reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign Number the Stars?

Number the Stars appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.