Friday, May 2, 2008

Sibling Relationships

You have read enough of Number the Stars now to get a good feel for the different characters. What do you think of the relationship between Annemarie and her sisters, Lise and Kirsti? Is your relationship with your siblings similar or different? How?

58 comments:

Mr. Staley said...

I think that Annemarie has a special relationship with deceased big sister and her little sister, but I want to know what you think first. I have nice relationship with my brothers and sisters, but it might not be as close as it was for Annemarie. I am the youngest of four children and the two oldest are 12 and 13 1/2 years older. I didn't know them long before they left home for college and the navy. My other sister is only three years older, but she and I had different interests and only did things together when there was nothing else to do. I am curious to find out how you get along with your siblings.

Anonymous said...

Well, mr.staley, I have some sort of experience,too. I have an older sis,(14), an older bro,(13), and two yonger,(7&8) bro's. they are always on my nerves, but anyways, I think thet wi the relationship that Ellen and Annemaria have together as friends, you would really think that they could be sisters!Peace.10-4 me back!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry, but I forgot to add this in my last blog. I htink that the relashionship between Annemarie and her sisters is very close, wether the german soldiers like it or not. i also think that the things that the thee,(or really two) of then go through together, just brings them much closer than they already are. I personaly think that that is just like me and my sibb's, but I know that at times, we can occationally fight/dissagree with them, and VS. VSA!!Peace!! 10-4 me back!!

Anonymous said...

I am a only child though through this book and blog I can almost tell how it feels. Lise probaly thought of Annemarie as kindly as we treat each other. Though Kirsti is much younger and blurts things out. Though this family would of made a great team. Annemarie could help do the dishes and other chores. While Lise would help and there family could do other things. If Lise was there i think they would care for each other. Even though Annemarie is always hoping Kirsti won't talk. They still love each other and make a great team. I realy don'thave the same expeirence as mr.staley and tm14 though I sorta understand what it feels like.

Mr. Staley said...

tm14 - I would agree that Annemarie and Ellen are so close you could consider them sisters, but sometimes friends might be closer to you than family. As far as Annemarie and her sister Kirsti, it would be interesting to see how that sibling relationship builds over time...Kirsti can be quite fiesty!

Mr. Staley said...

bs17 - thanks for your honesty. Your empathetic nature is perfectly suited to why we read literature in the first place!

Mike said...

jb5 said...
I have a younger sister and she can get pretty annoying. Annemarie seems to be able to take it a little and doesn't argue with Kirsty. I argue so much with my sister that if there was such thing as an arguing balloon that fills up a little with each argument, then it would have blown up about a few months ago, and I would have gone through another one already. My sister is only four, and I'm sure nobody could imagine what a horrifying little monster she can be. Enough of the BAD stuff about my sister and let's go over the GOOD stuff. My sister is pretty easy to get along with if you can manage being nice to her. I actually have a lot of fun with her sometimes. I think Annemarie gets along pretty well with Kirsty. Kirsty does talk too much and asks for things she knows her family doesn't have, such as butter, leather, and cupcakes. I think the world would be a better place if everybody got along with their siblings.

Anonymous said...

Oops, posted with dads account.

I have a younger sister and she can get pretty annoying. Annemarie seems to be able to take it a little and doesn't argue with Kirsty. I argue so much with my sister that if there was such thing as an arguing balloon that fills up a little with each argument, then it would have blown up about a few months ago, and I would have gone through another one already. My sister is only four, and I'm sure nobody could imagine what a horrifying little monster she can be. Enough of the BAD stuff about my sister and let's go over the GOOD stuff. My sister is pretty easy to get along with if you can manage being nice to her. I actually have a lot of fun with her sometimes. I think Annemarie gets along pretty well with Kirsty. Kirsty does talk too much and asks for things she knows her family doesn't have, such as butter, leather, and cupcakes. I think the world would be a better place if everybody got along with their siblings.

Anonymous said...

Well Mr. Staley, I have a younger sister (8) and I think the relationship with my sister and I is pretty much the same because my sister and I are good friends and we play together, not barbies but we play outside with my dog. So its almost the same.

Mr. Staley said...

jb5 - your relationship with your little sister sounds pretty typical maybe...sometimes you get along and sometimes you don't. Either way, it takes work to keep the relationship going in a positive direction. Keep it up!

Mr. Staley said...

sw23 - are you saying your relationship with your sister is like it is with my siblings or like that of Annemarie and Kirsti? Let me know.

Anonymous said...

TM14, I can totaly connect with you! I have a feeling that if Mrs. Rosen is afraid of the ocean, the German's may either force her to go into the ocean, or something that could hurt or upset her. Your right BS17, I was really scared about Kirsti blabbering on about the Jewish New year. I don't see how they can't just tell kirsti to keep her little mouth shut. But..... I know that when I was little, I would do the same exact thing, but not in situations like that I hope!

Anonymous said...

I think that Annemarie and Kirsti's relationship are pretty much the same as me and my sister, except it is kind of the other way around. First of all Kirsti can get a temper sometimes and not listen,well my sister which is 13 can do the same things sometimes.Even though Kirsti's the youngest my sister can act sometimes a little too childish. With Annemarie I can be a little similar to her. Sometimes Annemarie doesn't want Kirsti around because she can irritate people sometimes. Which is the same with me because I really don't want my sister around. But we still get along well but not all the time.

Mr. Staley said...

hey ah8 - I agree that a little warning to Kirsti would go a long way to helping her be less verbal with the Germans...but that might not make as interesting of a story either?

Anonymous said...

Hc9: I think Annemarie loves her sister, but hates her sometimes too. It probably is because she is young and is talkative. She needs to learn how to shut up!!! She almost gave Ellen away! I am an only child, but since reading the book and other peoples comments, i feel what it wold be like. I hope they all turn out ok. This is open for questions: Do you think that the Johansens might stay with their uncle? I think they will, though not permently. Thats all. toodles!!!! -HC9

Mr. Staley said...

ak7 - that's true! Older siblings can certainly be the more immature ones in the family sometimes. I always had to look out for my older sister when we things got crazy around the house.

Anonymous said...

I have 1 younger sister who is 8 years old. I get along with her most of the time but we do have arguments. I guess I could say that we get along pretty well.

Anonymous said...

I think that Annemarie has a close relationship with her two sisters. She might have had a closer relationship with Lise because Lise took her places and might have spent more time with her. Annemarie probably likes Kirsti, but she probably misses her older sister. I agree with AH8 about Kirsti talking and blurting things out too much.

Anonymous said...

I Agree with Mr.Staley (the first blog) that Annemarie had a really close relationship with her family. I wonder why? Maybe because of the Germans she needs to know alot about her family. The bad thing about that would probably be if they die and you have been so close to them. hey might have shared alot of memories with you. Let me know what you think.

Anonymous said...

AH8 I think that you are right about giving a little warning to Kirsti about her talking, but that would take the suspense from the story. The excitement! But i liked the way that you thought.

Anonymous said...

MB2 said:

Hey mr.Staley! And everyone else! I think the same as tm14. Annemarie has a strong connection with Kirsti and Lise. Whether the Nazis' like it or not. When Kirsti fell asleep while Annemarie told her the story about Princess Kirsten ( Right Kb6 :P ) she had the flash back about the parade (before Lise died) when Lise said to Annemarie "Now you will always be special. Because the king gave you a personal greeting,".As for my sibilings...I have a little sister (7) a little brother (8, but turning 9 on wednsday) and an older brother(16). My relationship between me and my older brother, Luis, is pretty much, "You say out of my way and I'll stay out of your," so that's exactly what we do. Although my relationship with Alejandro and Sabrina is completely different. We are actually pretty close. We always find new things we can all do, together. Suprisingly I rarely fight with them. They fight with each other all the time! I always help them with their homework. If they need it. I have to say we make a really good team when it comes to cleaning. Every Saturday my mom makes us clean the house top to bottom. and for those of you who have seen my house know that it's A LOT of cleaning!

Anonymous said...

KP15, I totally agree with you! I was so scared when the author made it sound like Kirsti was going to blabber on about the Jewish new year, but good thing she didn't!!! I can kind of connect to her though. When I was little, I did the same thing, but hopefully not with that occasion!

Anonymous said...

Got to agree with you AH8, yeah Kirsti does have a big mouth at times but most of the time acts like a diva. Yes I was scared that that would be the end of Ellen. Another thing that scared me was when Annemarie pulled the star of david necklace off her the german troop would at least ask whats in her hand, but that was a close one
AJ13

Anonymous said...

Ok guys, let's not get too rood, but what is going to happen when the German's start to ask little Kirsti questions? That is the part of the book that I have been waiting for!!!!

Anonymous said...

I don't get how he German's figure out if their Jewish. I mean do they come and spy on them at church? Or do they just randomly say, "YOUR JEWISH!!! COME WITH ME!" ??? :(

Please answer me someone!!
__

Anonymous said...

AH8 I think that her mom and annemarie will tell her not to tell anything. Though Annemarie might say it a little harshly and Kirsti will be mad and murmur or blurt out things they told her not to say.

Anonymous said...

AH8 at that time they pretty much guessed. Remeber in the book it said that only people who had Blone hair and bblue eyes would be sparred and DZ25 was the the only survivor well thats what they would unless there was good proof like the picture.

Anonymous said...

well, they sure did take a lucky guess then!!!!! And bs17, I agree with you said that you thought that they would give Kirsti a warning!

Anonymous said...

I do have a good relationship with my big brother. We do many fun things together like sometimes we play soccer together and maybe go out for a movie or two when my brothers off work. I know we have a relationship like Ellen and Annemarie.

Anonymous said...

Even though I am an only child I can imagine what it would be like. I have some very close friends that have siblings. They are always fighting with their
siblings. Sometimes they brag about what they have done or are planing to do to their siblings. Also I think Annemarie and Ellen would make good sisters because
they agree on many things.Also I think Annemarie sometimes gets annoyed by Kirsti because she is a chatterbox. Also she might get annoyed becase she has to look after Kirsti when their mama is not around. Also I agree with you
Mr.Staley, Kirsti can be fiesty. Also I think that she is quite clever even though she doesn't show it. She doesn't have a way to yet. It will come to her. All in good time.That's all for now!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I don't have a special relationship with my sister. She's exactly a year and 10 days older than me, and is usually very bossy and thinks she's the queen of the universe. But when she wants to be and tries really hard, she can be pretty nice. Ellen and Annemarie have a better friendship now then i'll probably ever have with her.

Anonymous said...

i barely ever see my sister she has alot of after school things so when i see her she is probroally the crankiest person in the whole wide world

Anonymous said...

Annemarie may have a special relashionship with her sister Lise because the latter is family after all and usually people have special relashionships.
Maybe though she might not have that big of a relashionship with her older sister. Missing a deceasd sibling does not mean that you had great relashionship. the author might just be writing about Annemarie's current thoughts on her older sister. for all i know, they may not have been the best of friends.

Anonymous said...

I think that Ellen and Annemarie have a better relationship then Annemarie and Kirsti sometimes you like your friends more than family.

Anonymous said...

Mr. staley, you are correct. Though i am an only child, most of the people i know are closer to their friends than they are close to their siblings. many of those with younger siblings are annoyed with them.

Anonymous said...

I see my brother alot because he rides my bus but he always plays video games and only hangs out with me sometimes.

Anonymous said...

ev22
What I don't get is that Kirsti and Annemarie do stuff together. My sis is kinda mean to me, and she makes me get out of the room whenever she's there. Sad.

Anonymous said...

hey,BS17, i think that you are right. But i want to add to what somebody said,(i can't remember) that even though the johonsens saved themselves, and ellen, if the german soldiers come back then what? they don't have another picture like the one that they had the first time. Also, i think that the reason that the german soldier tore up the pictuer of lise is because he was mad that they couldn't find the Rosens.

Anonymous said...

I have an older bother that is a pain, litaraly. Also I have a sister that gets under my skin. the wird thing is i am the middle child. That mean i am the one stuck between them.

Anonymous said...

ev22
I also don't get why Kirsti isn't scared to death! She's 5 years old! If I was 5 and a guy with a freaky accent went "HALT" I'd be staring pretty wide-eyed. They also have almost perfect relationships. Ya right.

Anonymous said...

I think that Annemarie has a more success with ellen then with kirsten because ellen is more around her age. But if Annemarie had 4 brothers like me you woudnt have room for your personal life.And if you have different wild ages like me I have a 22,19,8,and a 4 year old brothers and alot of cousins I think she would have a more closer relationship with her siblings. TP19

Anonymous said...

ms21
i have a older brother and he allways get on my nerves.when kirsti get on annemarie nerves she act like its just nothing.Me,and my brother fights alot but annemarie just annoys kirsti when she bothering her.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I feel sorry for people who don't have a sibiling(s). Alejandro and Sabrina always comfort me in my time of need. Although, it is hard living with 3 other sibiliings. Sometimes you want them. And sometimes you don't. Sometimes you want to take a break and go outside only to find them playing with your dog. That's exactly what I do. I always ask my sister and younger brother to play with Sunny and me outside.

Anonymous said...

my relasonship with my sister is most serntly not like annemarys and her sisters. the only thing we can get along at is smimming is asomly fun. but annemary and her sisters are much better.

Anonymous said...

mr. staley I have one younger sis(8) and she always gets on my nerves and gets her way.I wish I had an older bro so he could help me with my homework insted of my mom and dad. Plus my sister wouldnt be able to hit me. But somtimes I think I get on her nerves by hiting,punching,and kicking her.

Anonymous said...

mr.staley,
I feel that there was something special between Lise and Annemarie. I think that even with all of her paitence with Kirsti I think she feels as if having Ellen stay with them Lise is still alive. I have a younger brother age 9,and an older 1/2 brother who is 19 and my younger brother is completly imposible.I wish I had a sister instead of him.-RB4

Anonymous said...

you are so right ev22. Kirsti should be freaked out of her wits!! i know i would be! She is only 5 and she acts like a know it all, but still a grown man yells at her and she acts like she has known him all her life!! I would probably run away or cower. I don't know about you, but she is a brave little girl to be living during this time period. SW23- Do ya think she is brave or snobby? please answer!!!! Peace!!!!!!-hc9

Anonymous said...

hey mr.staley I have a younger bro
(2),a older bro(16),and three sises
(20,18,14)I get along with them really well but my youngest brother
gets on my nerves cause he will never leave me alone.i think that Annemarie and kirsti love each other but sometimes they get on each others nerves

Anonymous said...

anonymous, in my opinion, Kirsti does not act like a Kow-it-all. the is just feisty. she is exceptionally stubborn too. It as if she has been spioled all her life but she acts like somebody who is not a know-it-all.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes. Kirsti doesn't have to get freaked out of her wits!

Anonymous said...

They are very close, but they do have their diffrenses. most sisters bicer a lot but this family is very close becuase they have to stay together in those hard times.

P.S. That was a very good responce Mr. staley.

Anonymous said...

ka1 i really do think ellen is edjucated because because she seems like a person hwo stays on track but i do thinmk she is someone hwo enjoys her free time

Anonymous said...

ka1 I do thik ellen is very edjucated because it says that she is almost the best student.

Anonymous said...

Just to add a bit...
I agree with BS17. I used to be an only child, but then the big BOOM! DOOSH! CRUSH! RREESSPPOONNSSIIBBIILLIITTYY! Came. I was only six. Couldn't I have had more time with being the only child!!?? When she became old enough, she was a little tyrogue. She played with my stuff, never asked, CRIED CRIED CRIED, and hit people

Anonymous said...

I think that ellen is very educated jm11 afterall her dad is a teacher

Nate Barton said...

ah8
When the Second World War began the Germans required that everyone state their religion. For a long time Jewish people were forced to wear a yellow star of David on their shoulders. It wasn't until later on in the war that many realized that if you were Jewish that your fate would be death.

Additionally there were census'(A giant date collection about people in your country) taken which we do here in the United States today. People registered their religion.

Some people even ratted out their neighbors in the hopes that it might save themselves. It was a scary time everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Well, my brother(Langdon, 14) and I probably have the best relationship siblings could have. I gove him alot of credit for alot of things I do well.

I can tell Annemarie really had a great relationship with Lise, just like my brother and I.

Kirsti however, I know is kind of annoying to Annemarie . my brother and I sometimes get into a fight, and like Annemarie and Kirsti do sometimes, kind of snippy to each other.

Anonymous said...

I think that Kirsti is a lot like my younger sister because she is bold and a little bratty.