Observe: There is a soldier in the middle of town, that is unusual.  

Notice: The soldier is addressing harmless schoolgirls running in the middle of town, as if he is going to reprimand them for breaking a rule.    

Wonder: What sort of world is this set in, where soldiers give commands to girls in the middle of town? Is it wartime?

Observe: When Kirsti became angry in front of the soldiers, they laughed instead of reacting sternly.

Notice: Soldiers seemed to lower their guard around younger children.

Wonder: Why did they react with laughter? (They found younger children harmless? Or Kirsti was just like the soldier's daughter?) Could Kirsti's young age be an advantage or a risk?

ONW 2

Observe: Annemarie was braver (i.e., spoke up to the soldiers), Ellen was more fearful (i.e., didn't move), while Kirsti was fearless (i.e., acted defiantly towards the soldiers).

Notice: All three girls with very different personalities.

Wonder: What made them different (e.g., family background, circumstances)? Did Ellen experience something similar before, which was why she was more fear? How does not knowing peace shape how someone sees danger? Do one even need to adapt if this is their 'normal'?

Observe: Mama asks Annemarie to deliver a packet to Uncle Henrik immediately.

Notice: Mama does not tell Annemarie exactly what is in the packet. This suggests that the packet contains something dangerous or very important.

Wonder: What is in the mysterious packet that is so important to Henrik and the Rosens’ escape?

Observe: Annemarie was certain that she never had a relative named Great-aunt Birte.

Notice: There is something suspicious about the “funeral” for Great-aunt Birte — it does not seem real. Annemarie could have felt that the her mother and uncle are keeping secrets.

Wonder: Who is Great-aunt Birte really or is she not a real person at all? Why are Mama and Uncle Henrik hiding the truth from Annemarie? What is really going to happen at the “funeral”?

Observe:

Two soldiers are talking to Annemarie, Ellen, and Kirsti.

Notice:

Even though the soldiers were supposed to be intimidating, there’s a human side of them to recognise that these are just children.

Wonder:

Why the soldiers show a slightly gentler side toward children but do not treat adults the same way?

Jaysleen Leow

Observe: Mother commented that there hadn't been butter or sugar for at least a year.

Notice: They could only ate plain bread.

Wonder: Why did they not have butter or sugar? Did the German soldiers take away all their resources?

Notice: She seems used to danger, which shows that fear has become part of her daily life.

Wonder: What would it feel like to live in a country controlled by soldiers?

Observe: Ellen has to hide her Star of David necklace.

Notice: The necklace represents her Jewish identity that she must protect.

Wonder: Why did Lois Lowry choose to make the necklace such an important symbol?

Notice: A seemingly ordinary, happy moment between friends—but that moment quickly turns tense when the soldiers appear. It shows how war interrupts normal childhood life.

Wonder: How would it feel to live in a place where something as simple as running could get you into trouble?

Through Annemarie, we learn that bravery isn’t about size, power, or age. It’s about the choices we make when someone needs help.
The book shows us that ordinary people -even children — can stand up to evil through kindness, courage, and love.
It means that each of us has the power to make a difference, no matter how young we are.

Observe: Annemarie and Ellen were stopped by the German soldiers when they racing each other.

Notice: The German soldiers are monitoring people's movements on the streets. It seems that people's movements in the street are restricted.

Wonder: Why are the soldiers so strict about children running? Does it mean that the place is unsafe? Will Annemarie and Ellen get into more trouble later?