Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Number the Stars
- Author: Lois Lowry
- Narrator: Blair Brown
- Length: 02:47:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 06/01/2004
- Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)
- Genre: Kids, Health & Family, Historical
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular alchemy that happens when a great story meets the perfect narrator, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in the audiobook version of Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, Number the Stars. As someone who’s spent years collecting stories across continents, I can tell you that some narratives transcend age and time – this is one of them.
Blair Brown’s narration is like being wrapped in a well-worn quilt of comfort and tension simultaneously. Her voice carries the weight of history with a lightness that perfectly captures young Annemarie’s perspective. I found myself transported back to my own childhood in New York, remembering how my abuela would tell stories of our family’s journey from Puerto Rico, her voice trembling with both pride and pain. Brown achieves that same delicate balance – her Danish pronunciations feel authentic without being distracting, and she shifts seamlessly between the innocence of childhood and the gravity of war.
The story itself unfolds like a Copenhagen alleyway – seemingly simple at first glance, but full of hidden depths and unexpected turns. Lowry’s genius lies in her ability to convey the horrors of Nazi occupation through the eyes of a child without diminishing their impact. As I listened while walking through Lisbon’s Alfama district (where echoes of resistance during Portugal’s own dictatorship still linger), I was struck by how the audiobook format amplifies the intimacy of the story. The whispered conversations between Annemarie and Ellen, the ominous footsteps of German soldiers – these moments gain visceral power when heard rather than read.
Brown’s performance particularly shines in the novel’s most tense moments. The sequence where Annemarie must carry a crucial package through the woods had me holding my breath as I navigated Lisbon’s steep hills, my pulse racing in sync with the narration. It reminded me of listening to Gabriel García Márquez in the Atacama Desert – how a skilled narrator can make the landscape around you dissolve into the story’s world.
What makes this audiobook special is how it handles the complex themes for young listeners. The historical notes at the end, read with the same thoughtful cadence, provide important context without breaking the spell of the story. I found myself thinking about the grandmother in Oaxaca who taught me that the best stories don’t talk down to children, but rather invite them up to see the world from a higher vantage point.
If I had one critique, it would be that some listeners might want a more dramatic performance with distinct voices for each character. But to me, Brown’s restrained approach feels truer to the Scandinavian setting and the quiet bravery at the story’s heart. The simplicity allows Lowry’s exquisite prose to shine.
For those considering this audiobook, I’d recommend listening with a young person in your life, then talking about the story afterwards. Some of my most meaningful travel memories involve sharing stories across generations – this audiobook offers that same opportunity for connection. Whether you’re commuting through city streets or sitting quietly at home, Number the Stars will make you see ordinary courage in a new light.
As the afternoon light fades here in Lisbon, I’m left with the echo of Annemarie’s story – a reminder that bravery wears many faces, and that some stories need to be heard as much as read. Until our next literary journey, may your travels (whether through pages or across continents) be filled with such meaningful connections. – Marcus
Marcus Rivera
