It may seem glaringly evident to you why it is so important to read these kinds of books and discuss the horrors of the past, but don't assume that the gravity of the topic speaks for itself—you know what happens when you assume. The reality is that for students these days, the Holocaust is a thing of the past, as in way before their time. As such, you may find yourself fielding a few "so what"s when it comes to this topic. Plus, your students are at an age when they'll roll their eyes at just about anything, no matter how misguided that may be.

Number the Stars addresses the two biggest problems you will face when dealing with the Holocaust: apathy and the desire to turn away from things that are painful. Most young students think they understand war, especially after a good long run of conflict at home and abroad—but the truth is that they've never experienced anything like what Annemarie does in the book.