This is a story about a girl named Annemarie
Johansen, a Danish girl living in Copenhagen
as German forces occupy the country.
She lives in a small apartment with her mother,
father, and sister, Kirsti.
Lise, the eldest girl, died in a car accident.
With German soldiers on every street corner,
Annemarie, her sister, and her best friend,
Ellen, quickly adapt to the intimidation tactics
of the soldiers.
Annemarie's parents hear that the Germans
are planning to relocate the Danish Jews and
so they help Ellen's parents, the Rosen's,
escape and take in Ellen as their daughter.
The German soldiers soon arrive and ask the
Johansen's if they know where the Rosen's
went.
The soldiers also question why one of the
daughters has dark hair, but fortunately,
Ellen pretends to be Lise, Annemarie's older
sister who passed away.
Suspecting that it is too dangerous to be
around, Annemarie's mother takes the girls
to visit her brother, Henrik, a fisherman
who lives out in the country near the shore
that overlooks Sweden.
When Annemarie's mother and the girls arrive
at Henrik's house, they all enjoy the country
life and fresh air.
Annemarie's mother tells the girls that a
coffin will be arriving with her great aunt,
but Annemarie suspects it's a lie.
With the coffin in the living room, people
begin to arrive at Henrik's home.
Even Ellen's parents arrive and reunite with
their daughter.
However, German soldiers arrive at the house
and suspect something is going on.
The soldiers want to open the coffin, but
Annemarie's mother quickly tells them that
the dead body is carrying a contagious disease.
After the soldiers leave, the coffin is opened
and is found to contain supplies, like blankets
and clothing, as all of the people in attendance
are Jews trying to escape to Sweden.
A secret package is given to Mr. Rosen and
the Rosen's are led away to Henrik's boat
by Peter, the fiancee of Lise before her death.
Annemarie's mother then takes the second group
of Jews through the dark woods to the harbor.
Annemarie is left alone at the house, wondering
if her mother is safe.
Annemarie awakes the next day to find that
her mother has not yet returned.
She looks outside and sees her mother on the
ground.
Her mother has a sprained ankle and calls
for a doctor.
However, they discover that the secret package
that was given to Mr. Rosen is on the ground.
Quickly, Annemarie hides the package in a
basket of food to bring to Henrik.
On her way to the harbor, Annemarie runs into
a squad of German soldiers.
They take her food and find the package.
They open it and see that it is only a handkerchief.
Eventually, Annemarie makes it to Henrik's
boat with the handkerchief.
After safely transporting the group of Jews
to Sweden, Henrik returns and explains that
the handkerchief has a secret chemical that
prevents the German patrol dogs from detecting
people on the boats.
In the end, Annemarie and her family survive
the war and await for the return of the Rosen's.
First, this story is historical fiction, borrowing
from real-life events to create the setting
for this story.
The political surrender of Denmark to the
Germans, King Christian, and even the chemical
handkerchiefs all add to the realism and power
that these events really occurred.
More importantly, this better strengthens
the story and connects fictional characters
to real life.
This story also talks about bravery and what
constitutes a brave person.
Annemarie fears that she will never be brave
and that her talk of bravery is empty.
However, when she delivers the package containing
the chemical handkerchief, she discovers that
bravery is doing what needs to be done, even
though danger is present.
That a brave person doesn't erase fear, but
overcomes it.
One of the major messages in this story is
about growing up.
This sensitive issue is best illustrated through
Annemarie and Kirsti.
Not only is Annemarie older, but she is also
slowly told things that develop her maturity.
Through her character, readers see how a child
grows up as the reality of the world sets
in.
In contrast, Kirsti, who is still young and
immature, is kept in the dark, keeping her
child-like innocence of world events.
Kirsti, in a sense, is the control.
So what is the balance of revealing too much
or too little to kids?
How much do we tell children?
What do we tell them and when?
The issue of informing children how the world
really works, practically taking away their
innocence, is a difficult subject to discuss.
On the one hand, part of being a child is
maintaining that innocence and ignorance on
so many subjects, yet, often in moments of
conflict, children "grow up" fast and figure
out firsthand how dangerous and challenging
life can really be.
