Summary & Analysis Josef: Berlin, Germany - 1938; Isabel: Outside Havana, Cuba - 1994 (1) Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria - 2015 (1) . Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Meanwhile, there is a rumor spreading that the ships passengers are likely to be turned back from Cuba, a thought too terrible for Josef to accept. Complete your free account to request a guide. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. Instant PDF downloads. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 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. Josef: Train to Hamburg - 1939, 1 day Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis After school, Mahmoud, Waleed, and their mother, Fatima, do their usual afternoon prayer. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. 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. But for each of them, thereis always the hope of tomorrow. eNotes Editorial. And why do children lead the novels action? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Mahmouds story starts with their apartment building collapsing, due to people rioting because of the civil war going on in Syria. Forced to be an asylum-seeker himself, Lito finally understands the predicament of those on the ship. Just as when Isabel gave some of her paltry food to the cat, Gratz shows here how even the most destitute people can still give somethingthus, those with more than that should be able to provide any aid they can, too. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". Anincredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Josef warns his father that he must . Mahmouds city, the once-beautiful Aleppo, is particularly vulnerable, since it houses a large number of rebels opposed to al-Assad. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. That day in 1940 in France, her mother could not make the impossible choice before her. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Alan Gratzs novel Refugee (2017) illuminates the worldwide refugee crisis through the stories of three children fleeing possible death with their families in different times and places. This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. Gratz illustrates more dehumanization from the Nazis, exemplified in Schiendicks equation of the children with rats. Refugee is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old boy living in Berlin. The rest of the passengers grow angry. 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, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (2), 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. Though the stories are fictionalized, the events they draw from are historical, enabling readers to empathize with the perils of those whose lives are too often dismissed as remote news stories. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Josef goes to find his sister but when he comes back his father is gone. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance The St. Louis could not save Josef, just as the Castillos boat could not save Ivn. What are the different settings of the novel and how does it affect and shape the characters? As Landau's hysteria increases, Josef slaps his father's face. 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. "Refugee - Summary" eNotes Publishing In the end, these three stories are connected. (one code per order). 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. Continue to start your free trial. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Summary Josef is still outside the Havana Harbor, 21 days from home. On Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, members of the Brownshirts, the police force of Nazi Germany, invade Josefs house and take away his father, Aaron Landau. Scholastic|July 25,2017|Ages 8and Up. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. In Refugee, what is the climax of Mahmoud's story. Aarons real crime, of course, is that he is a Jew, the minority group that Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler wants to eradicate. Eventually, the captain announces that they are not going to be allowed to dock in Havana and that the boat will be leaving. The second date is today's You can view our. This is thebeets in a brownieof kid lit. Padron tells Josef and his mother that Landau has been sedated and is recovering in a Cuban hospital. As Gratz observes in his author's note to the novel, the MS St. Louis was a real ship carrying . | Contact us Josef demonstrates his personal desire to grow up, but over the course of the novel he comes to recognize the value of being able to be a child. Teachers and parents! PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Before the ceremony begins, the Rabbi asks the captain to take down the portrait of Hitler, which the captain does. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba has become inhospitable for most of its citizens under the regime of Fidel Castro. Josef; his mother, Rachel; and his sister, Ruth, leave for Hamburg, where they are to meet Aaron and sail to Cuba, which is said to be offering asylum to those fleeing Nazi Germany. A biblical reference to Noahs ark as the sanctuary bridging creatures over troubled waters is implicit in the novels boat imagery. A heartrending and important tale for our time. publication in traditional print. Im a big fan of that, and it was executed brilliantly here. Once a beautiful, thriving city, Aleppo is now a bombed shell of its former self. Impossible odds and families in peril make for vivid and unrelenting suspense in these stories of flight and daring. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? Even Mahmouds precarious raft is a promise of tomorrow. This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. Mahmouds story starts with their apartment building collapsing, due to people rioting because of the civil war going on in Syria. It is shabbos and time for Josefs Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. On their way to Switzerland, the Landaus unfortunately run into German soldiers. A storm sweeps them to the Bahamas, where they are not allowed to disembark; Ivn is attacked by sharks and eventually bleeds to death in the boat; and toward the end of the journey, Isabels pregnant mother goes into labor. What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? eNotes.com Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. 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. The way the content is organized, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (2), LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Injustice and Cruelty vs. Isabels boat, too, tips over, the sea claiming her familys food and water. This is an easy summary of the book Refugee by Alan Gratz. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. date the date you are citing the material. The last date is today's Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. on 50-99 accounts. For Aaron, it represents a metaphorical death, as he disappears into the water and subsequently out of Josefs life. Further, children are made heroes in Refugee precisely because children should not, ideally, have to be heroes. LitCharts Teacher Editions. By focusing on details such as Ruths stuffed rabbit, Mahmouds counterfeit life jackets, and Isabels trumpet, fiction forces readers to view tragedy not as a removed phenomenon, but as something happening daily to people like us.. Out of these passengers, it was mostly those who found asylum in England who survived World War II. Each story weaves actual events into the narrative to create a realistic picture of the struggle and tragedies that families in each of these situations have faced. Josef and his sister Ruthie are just children, and yet they are needlessly abused by the soldiers. With the fall of the Soviet Union, aid to Cuba has dried up, and many families starve. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Refine any search. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. 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. Empathy and Social Responsibility. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Josef, his father, mother, and little sister Ruthie are all asleep when their home is invaded during Kristallnacht, the night when Nazi police and "Brownshirts" were directed to destroy Jewish shops, homes, and synagogues, and terrorize Jewish citizens all across Germany. Josef and Rachel were captured by the Nazis, while Ruth was adopted by a kind French family. Braving extremely choppy and shark-infested waters, the two families make the ninety-mile run to Florida. They have come to arrest Josef's father: "Other Jewish homes and businesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of . When the family finally gets to their promised boat, they find that it is merely a rubber raft. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. 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. In the back of the book, the author Alan Gratz offers ways that people can help refugees like Josef, Isabel, Mahmoud, and their families. Officer Padron, a Cuban policeman assigned to the St. Louis, saves Josefs father. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. All three stories make for a great novel and it will teach you a lot and appreciate how good we have it. Dont have an account? His only distinguishing characteristics are big ears and wire-rimmed glasses. Margaret Neville, The King's English Bookstore, 2018 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers, 2018 National Jewish Book Award Winner for Young Adults, New York Times Notable Middle Grade Childrens Book 2017, 2017 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner, 2018 Indies Choice/E.B. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Isabels best friend and neighbor, Ivn, is building a small boat with his father so that his family can flee to America. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. After the police see Isabels father participate in a riot, there is no option but for the Fernandez family to leave Cuba by boat. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Word Count: 1329. Lito tells the story of the St. Louis and how he had to turn away so many refugees when he was a young policeman. The family struggles between needing to stay "invisible" in order to avoid danger and survive and becoming "visible" so that those with means can give them aid. After a riot in Havana, Isabels family decides that they should also leave Cuba immediately. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Refugee. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. 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 . (including. In large numbers, Cubans are protesting the regime of Fidel Castro, whose flawed policies they believe have led to the economic catastrophe. (including. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. The Castillos have been secretly building a makeshift boat and the next day, they set out together for Miami. Storyboard That is the perfect tool for novel lesson plans and activities because it's so easy to use and extremely versatile. The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Josef Landau's story begins in 1938 in Nazi Germany. 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. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely. Water becomes the agent of change in each of these cases, emphasizing the centrality of adapting to survival. Josefs fathers mental state deteriorates further, and he eventually jumps from the ship, trying to kill himself. Chapter 1 Summary: "Josef: Berlin, Germany1938". Isabels story starts with a riot. The novel begins with the story line of twelve-year-old Josef, a Jewish boy in Germany. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days. All will face unimaginable dangersfrom drownings to bombings to betrayals. Empathy and Social Responsibility. Though Josef is devastated, he wonders if this is what becoming a man means - not relying on your father. While they travel, they ask if anyone has seen Hana. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. Discount, Discount Code eNotes.com, Inc. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Josef did, and he sacrificed himself for Ruth. Yet instead of succumbing to the despair of these events, Josef and the rest of his family resolve to try to find a better life in a new country. Chapter 13 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" During the Atlantic crossing in 1939, Josef's bar mitzvah ceremony is about to take place. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. Thus, Gratz presents the stark reality of the perils of such a passage. However, because the number of people fleeing Cuba was enormous, the US government was extremely ambiguous about granting them asylum, placing the refugees in a very precarious position. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Refugee is both thrilling and heartrending. After its passengers were denied asylum in Cuba, the ship tragically returned to Europe, hoping to find sanctuary for its passengers between four European countries: Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and England. His mother, father, little brother Waleed, and baby sister Hana barely manage to escape the bombing of their apartment building. for a group? Josefs fathers jump into the sea symbolizes his desire to annihilate himself. Pam Muoz Ryan, author of Echo and Esperanza Rising. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? With urgent, clear-eyed storytelling, Gratzs Refugee compellingly explores the desperation and strength that unites those struggling for a place to call home. The third story belongs to thirteen-year-old Mahmoud Bishara, who lives in war-torn Aleppo, Syria, against the backdrop of a crisis which continues into the present day. 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. The way the content is organized, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (1), LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Injustice and Cruelty vs. In the end, these three stories are connected. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Meeting Aaron at Hamburg, Josef is shocked to see his once-confident father visibly anxious and harrowed. Full of struggle, heroism, and non-stop adventure, Refugee is not only an important book, its a terrific story. When Josefs father is reunited with his family, they notice that Dachau has changed him: he is paranoid and very thin. (read more from the Pages 164 - 215 Summary) More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Refugee (Alan Gratz). The journey aboard the St. Louis from Hamburg to Havana is a sunny interlude in Josef and Ruths troubled childhood. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. Struggling with distance learning? Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. The two families face much peril in the Florida straits: giant tankers, a hurricane that blows them off course, running out of fuel and water, deadly sharks, and Mami's going into labor all while trying to avoid the U.S. Coast guard so that they can make it to shore where they can claim asylum. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. What can you learn about the people and the time period from these allusions? Complete your free account to request a guide. A stunning, poignant novel about the plight of refugees Grade A. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. After the war ended, Ruth returned to Germany to look for Josef and Rachel, but learned that the two were killed in concentration camps. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. Josef's father suffers greatly from post traumatic stress disorder from his months of torture, starvation, and hard labor in the concentration camp. For the last few years, there has been a war in his country between the Syrian government, rebels, the Soviets, the United States and several other factions. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. Not only does Isabel rescue her father from arrest, she also sells her beloved trumpet to enable the family to buy gasoline to power the boat her neighbors, the Castillos, have been secretly building. Just when Miami becomes visible on the horizon, a U.S. Coast Guard boat tries to intercept the two families. Refugee follows the stories of three different children and their families, each attempting to flee their violent homelands, in different regions of the world and during different decades. Thus, the waters are deceptive for Josef, as is proved when the St. Louis is turned back from the Cuban shore. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. date the date you are citing the material. His father was put into a concentration camp during "The Night of Broken Glass," while Josef and his sister, Ruth watched their father being taken inhumanly. Gratz accomplishes a feat that is nothing short of brilliantPoignant, respectful, and historically accurate while pulsating with emotional turmoil, adventure, and suspense. Josef Landau, from the book Refugee, is a 13 year old boy born into the life of World War 2. They walk to the ship and their father races inside, convinced the authorities will try to stop them. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world, Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Refugee is a New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Renews March 11, 2023 When students storyboard, they are actively engaged in the learning process and can make connections between the text and their own lives. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: publication online or last modification online. This is how Mahmoud puts it: No one cares about us if we stay out of your way, but if we come near you were seen as a burden. Free trial is available to new customers only. 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. In their memory, she decided to make Berlin her home. School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. They wash their hands and pray facing Mecca, praising God and reciting from the Qur'an. Eventually, the rest of the family is rescued by the Greek Coast Guard and taken to Lesbos, where the coast is littered with the bodies of Syrian refugees who drowned in transit. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. However, soon enough, Germany invades Poland, thus beginning World War II. His father, Aaron, is taken away by the Nazis on Kristallnacht and is sent to the Dachau concentration camp. His selflessness is made evident when he sacrifices his own life for his sister's. Josef later dies in a concentration camp. Get news and updates about the stuff Alan writes! Ruth promises to help Mahmoud find Hana. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. Josef's family is finally reunited months later in 1939, and they attempt to escape Nazi Germany aboard the M.S. Isabel's story is set in Cuba in 1994 during a time of great economic crisis and upheaval. A passing, overcrowded boat cannot accommodate all of them, but at Mahmouds insistence, a woman onboard agrees to take Hana. Josefs father is taken to Havana to recover. Some novels are engaging and some novels are important. 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. In 1938, his home is raided by Nazi storm troopers, and his father is taken to the Dachau concentration camp. This is a fascinating tale. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Mahmoud decides that he no longer wants to be ignored and leads the refugees out of the prison, walking twelve hours to Austria. 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. The second is the date of Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. After . 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. Isabel Fernandez lives in Cuba in 1994. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Refugeeis both. Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original REFUGEE braids three different stories of young refugees. However, despite the presence of kind adults like Captain Schroeder, the ship is also haunted by Nazi spies, like Otto Schiendick, who mistreat Jews. No one else can view anything. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original Youve successfully purchased a group discount. After Mahmouds home is destroyed, his brother Waleed, sister Hana, and his parents drive to the border of Turkey, hoping to escape. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/refugee-by-alan-gratz, *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed). 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. He and his family try to escape to Cuba on the. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. The last date is today's We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. He is of average height with brown hair and brown eyes. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Mahmoud hands his sister, Hana, to another passing raft of refugees, knowing that his mother cannot hold her and swim. Chapter 34 Summary: "Josef: Just outside Havana Harbor1939" Aboard the MS St. Louis, the passengers give a hero's welcome to Officer Padronthe policeman who rescued Josef's father from the water. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. The family is eventually pulled from the water by the Greek Coast Guard. Last Updated on June 29, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. Mahmouds father arranges for a smuggler to take them to the island of Lesbos, in Greece. The St. Louis was an actual ship that sailed from Hamburg to Cuba in May, 1939 under the command of Captain Gustav Schrder. Josef, his family, and the passengers are now faced with the possibility of being returned to Germany and to their certain death. St. Louis, a ship taking Jewish refugees to Havana, Cuba. Mahmoud; Waleed; their parents, Youssef and Fatima; and their baby sister, Hana, leave for Germany. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Teachers and parents! Out of the 937 aboard, roughly 254 ultimately perished in Nazi concentration camps. The Nazis invade France just a few months after Josefs family arrives there. This is a fascinating tale. The rest, like Josef and his mother, were largely sent to concentration camps after Germany invaded other European countries. Mahmoud and his family travel through Serbia and into Hungary, where they are detained at a refugee camp that is built like a prison.