After a riot in Havana, Isabels family decides that they should also leave Cuba immediately. Refugee is a novel by Alan Gratz that examines three interrelated stories of the refugee experience. Refugee is both thrilling and heartrending. Seor Castillo, who is passive for much of the action, pulls Isabel into the water at the end of the novel to ensure that she reaches the American coast. eNotes.com, Inc. Padron tells Josef and his mother that Landau has been sedated and is recovering in a Cuban hospital. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. And why do children lead the novels action? The second date is today's This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. When the family is eventually caught, Josefs mother is forced to choose which of her children will be freed and which will be sent to a concentration camp. As the starving populace rioted against dictator Fidel Castros police, Castro allowed Cubans to flee to the United States, thus ending the riots in effect. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. All will face unimaginable dangersfrom drownings to bombings to betrayals. His father refuses to leave the cabin, thinking the gathering is a Nazi trap. Isabels best friend and neighbor, Ivn, is building a small boat with his father so that his family can flee to America. The Syrian Civil War is still ongoing as of 2021. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprisingconnections will tie their stories together in the end. $24.99 Free trial is available to new customers only. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. Out of the 937 aboard, roughly 254 ultimately perished in Nazi concentration camps. What is the summary of refugee? Refugee by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. Even though Aaron still lives, his suicide attempt shows not only his own inner despair but the trauma that this event causes for Josef. On the sea, Mahmoud is marooned in the freezing Mediterranean, which ultimately capsizes his ramshackle raft. What I really like about this book is the changing perspectives. School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. The last date is today's Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. However, one day Castro announces that he wont enforce staying in the country anymore, and Isabels family is ready to leave in a small boat their friends made. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 6 days, Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 8 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days, Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 11 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (3), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 14 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (4), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (2), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 17 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 2 days, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (1), Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (2), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 4 days, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (1), Mahmoud: Lesbos to Athens 2015, 12 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Mahmoud: Macedonia to Serbia 2015, 14-15 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (1), Mahmoud: Serbia to Hungary 2015, 15-16 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (3), Josef: Vornay, France 1940, 1 year, 1 month, 10 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (4), Mahmoud: Hungary to Germany 2015, 17 days. One example is when Josefs family falls apart and he has to be the leader by talking to other people and acting as the main adult of his family. Young readers will finish this book and ask: What should we do? Renews March 11, 2023 However, one day Castro announces that he wont enforce staying in the country anymore, and Isabels family is ready to leave in a small boat their friends made. Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Six months later, his mother receives a telegram that her husband has been released, but the family must leave Germany immediately. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. Captain Schroeder demonstrates how to change the ship's speed. -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Isabels boat, too, tips over, the sea claiming her familys food and water. Want 100 or more? With the fall of the Soviet Union, aid to Cuba has dried up, and many families starve. Scholastic|July 25,2017|Ages 8and Up. Josef and his sister Ruthie are just children, and yet they are needlessly abused by the soldiers. His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. They run into several problems, like being in bloody water with many sharks around on a sinking boat and there are high stakes at the end. Contact us Josefs father is convinced there is a trap, so Josef and his mother go without him. Refugee is a heart-pounding adventure as well as an important book that shines a light on a too often invisible and politicized problem. When Isabel is asked to play a song at her new school in America, she plays a Cuban salsa version of The Star-Spangled Banner.. What are the different settings of the novel and how does it affect and shape the characters? The night that they were captured in France, Josef volunteered to be taken by the Nazis; both Josef and their mother were killed in concentration camps. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for . eNotes Editorial. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. He and his family try to escape to Cuba on the. However, the trouble begins when the ship docks in Havana harbor and the Cuban government does not allow the passengers to disembark. Isabel Fernandez is an eleven-year-old girl who lives just outside Havana in 1994. Yet this episode also shows how Ruthie has been able to retain some of her innocence and childhood as she plays, which only showcases Josefs comparative maturity when he refuses. What are some ways we can all help. Isabel's story is set in Cuba in 1994 during a time of great economic crisis and upheaval. Review: Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Lito, Isabels grandfather, also joins them. It only gets worse for them, but in the end, he learns a powerful life lesson: Its better to be visible than invisible, because even though the bad people can harm you, the good people can help you. Refugee: Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean - 1939, 10 days Summary & Analysis Next Isabel: Straits of Florida - 1994, 1 day (2) Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Josef and some of the other children on the St. Louis take a tour of the ship 's bridge and engine room. Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. The book revolves around three main characters from three different eras: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria. Chapter 22 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" . With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America, Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. Lito, Isabels grandfather, allows himself to be deported so that the Fernandezes can make it to Florida. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Josef and his family flee Nazi Germany in 1938; Isabel and her family flee Cuba in 1994; and Mahmoud and his family flee Syria in 2015. The novel begins with the story line of twelve-year-old Josef, a Jewish boy in Germany. Filled with both tragic loss and ample evidence of resilience, these memorable and tightly plotted stories contextualize and give voice to current refugee crises, Exceptional readers Michael Goldstrom, Kyla Garcia, and Assaf Cohen tackle Gratzs compelling novel. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. While they travel, they ask if anyone has seen Hana. Complete your free account to request a guide. The rest of the passengers grow angry. (one code per order). Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. A large part of the novels narrative focuses on boats, which represent tenuous hope. Eventually, the captain announces that they are not going to be allowed to dock in Havana and that the boat will be leaving. At another level, however, water represents change, which many of the main characters have to undergo either to survive or to redeem themselves. Wed love to have you back! Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Faced with her father being sent to prison, Isabel and her family (her pregnant Mami, Papi, and grandfather Lito) decide to band together with Isabel's best friend Ivan and his family, the Castillos. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. Lito atones for the past by treading water and returning to Cuba. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". Powerful and compelling. Chapter 1 Summary: "Josef: Berlin, Germany1938". Refugee by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. How does the. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Josef Landau, from the book Refugee, is a 13 year old boy born into the life of World War 2. Josef recites the blessing and after the ceremony everyone congratulates him. Meeting Aaron at Hamburg, Josef is shocked to see his once-confident father visibly anxious and harrowed. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. When Officer Padron returns to the St. Louis, he is treated like a hero by the Jewish passengers. This heart-stopping novel is not only compelling it is necessary. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The second is the date of He promises the passengers that he will try to deliver them to a country other than Germany. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. T he main characters in Refugee are Josef Landau, Isabel Fernandez, and Mahmoud Bishara.. Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old Jewish boy living in Berlin, Germany, in 1938. eNotes.com Isabel Fernandezis escaping Castro's Cuba in 1994. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. Log in here. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. After it capsizes, it is another boat that gives Hana a chance at life, and it is a Greek Coast Guard boat that ultimately rescues Mahmouds family. Complete your free account to request a guide. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. White Read-Aloud Award Finalist, 2018 NCTE Charlotte Huck Outstanding Fiction for Children Honor Book, 2017 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Childrens Literature Honor Book, Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Historical Books of 2017, Publishers Weekly Best Middle Grade Books of 2017, Southern Living Best Childrens Books of 2017, Publishers Weekly Best Audiobooks of 2017, School Library Journal Top Ten Audio Books of 2017, Booklist Editors Choice: Top 10 Audio for Youth 2017, Audible Best Kids Audiobooks of 2017 Finalist, Center for the Study of Multicultural Childrens Books Best Books of 2017, New York Public Library Top 100 Best Books for Kids 2017, Chicago Public Library Kids Best Fiction for Older Readers 2017, Amazon Top 20 Best Childrens Books of 2017, 2019 Oklahoma Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award Winner, 2018-2019 Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Grade 6-8 Winner, 2018-2019 Maine Student Book Award Winner, 2018-2019 Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Winner, 2019 North Carolina Childrens Book Award Winner, 2019North Dakota Flicker Tale Book Award Winner, 2020 Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Winner, 2020 Wisconsin Golden Archer Medal Winner, 2019-2020 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Awards Honor Book, 2020 Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award Winner, 2019-2020 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Winner, 2019-2020 Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Winner, 2020 California Young Reader Book Award Winner, 2019-2020 Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Award Winner, 2018 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award Nominee, 2018-2019 MarylandBlack-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee, 2020 Nebraska Golden Sower Award Finalist, 2020 New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee, 2020 Washington State Sasquatch Book Award Nominee, 2019 Hampshire (England) Book Award Finalist, 2020 Colorado Childrens Choice Book Award Masterlist, 2020 Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award Masterlist, 2020 New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award Masterlist, 2021 German Youth Literature Award Nominee. On the ship, Ruth, born in Nazi Germany, has the freedom to play openly for the first time in her life. The refugees aboard the St. Louis are delivered to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Refugee Alan Gratz Study Guide Summary Plot Overview Chapter Summaries Summary Chapter Summaries Josef / Berlin, Germany-1938 Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany. They take a train to board the St. Louis, where it feels like paradise compared to the treatment they received the last couple of years. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. "Refugee - Summary" eNotes Publishing date the date you are citing the material. A biblical reference to Noahs ark as the sanctuary bridging creatures over troubled waters is implicit in the novels boat imagery. Storyboarding is an incredibly powerful tool for educators because it helps students process and understand the information in a deep, meaningful way.