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. This is an engaging tale. In Josefs story, the very calm of the Atlantic Ocean is menacing, hiding a darker future. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? A haunting fictional treatment of historic events. But for each of them, thereis always the hope of tomorrow. With Storyboard That, you can create a wide variety of storyboards such as the story from the main character's perspective, or any other character's point of view. 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. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. 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. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Before long, the raft capsizes, and the family stays alive by floating in the frigid water, their counterfeit life jackets refusing to work. This Study Guide consists of approximately 70pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Aarons purported crime is that he is still practicing law when the Nazis have expressly forbidden the Jewish community from that profession. The Bisharas set sail on the crowded raft, standing in the freezing rain and cold. The frequent dangers that surround the boat underline the fragility of hope in the life of the novels asylum-seekers. eNotes.com The Castillos have been secretly building a makeshift boat and the next day, they set out together for Miami. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Thus, Gratz presents the stark reality of the perils of such a passage. Young readers will finish this book and ask: What should we do? Dont have an account? In doing so, he is able to atone for a past crime: he is Mariano Padron, one of the police officers who kept the passengers of the St. Louis from disembarking in Cuba in 1939, and only after stalling them for days with the false promise of maana. Summary Themes Questions & Answers Characters Analysis Refugee Themes T he main themes in Refugee are trauma and growing up, the dehumanization of refugees, and empathy and hope. Isabels story starts with a riot. Instant PDF downloads. 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.. 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. 3 Mar. Even Mahmouds precarious raft is a promise of tomorrow. Fatima holds little Hana over her head, while Mahmoud keeps Fatima afloat. Water becomes the agent of change in each of these cases, emphasizing the centrality of adapting to survival. At only 13, Josef takes on much of the family's responsibilities. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. Refugee Chapters 22-32 Summary & Analysis. Mahmoud Bisharas story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany. After . What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. 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. 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. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America Josefs father gets sent to a concentration camp. 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. Pam Muoz Ryan, author of Echo and Esperanza Rising. As a narrative device, this has the effect of accentuating the perils of unusual transcontinental journeys, which the reader is habituated to consider in terms of air travel. Ed. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. All will face unimaginable dangersfrom drownings to bombings to betrayals. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. The book revolves around three main characters from three different eras: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria. Along with the Castillosincluding Isabels best friend, IvnIsabel; her father, Geraldo; and her pregnant mother, Teresa, leave Havana for Florida. On Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, seven Nazi Brownshirts (storm troopers) raid his home. From the outset, Gratz places readers in the middle of the action and immediately demonstrates the cruelty of the Nazis against the Jews. Struggling with distance learning? Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor winning author of The War That Saved My Life. Josef's family is finally reunited months later in 1939, and they attempt to escape Nazi Germany aboard the M.S. On their way to Switzerland, the Landaus unfortunately run into German soldiers. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. They wash their hands and pray facing Mecca, praising God and reciting from the Qur'an. What is a conflict in the book Refugee by Alan Gratz? What were some allusions (references to real people, places, events, religious practices, art, literature) present in the novel? 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. Isabel wakes up, still in the boat, now 3 days from home. Josef and Rachel were captured by the Nazis, while Ruth was adopted by a kind French family. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. This immediately places Josef in the role of an adult, forcing him to grow up quickly. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Wed love to have you back! Lito tells the story of the St. Louis and how he had to turn away so many refugees when he was a young policeman. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. What can you learn about the people and the time period from these allusions? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Refine any search. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Mahmoud Bishara is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in Aleppo, Syria in 2015. Mahmouds father tells them that Germany is accepting Syrian refugees and if they can get to Greece, they will be able to travel within the European Union to reach Germany. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. The second date is today's Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs This summary should be accessible to high beginning or low intermediate ENL students. Josef is loyal, compassionate, paternal, and selfless. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% "Refugee - Summary" eNotes Publishing 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. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. date the date you are citing the material. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. Just when Miami becomes visible on the horizon, a U.S. Coast Guard boat tries to intercept the two families. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Im a big fan of that, and it was executed brilliantly here. Empathy and Social Responsibility. Padron tells Josef and his mother that Landau has been sedated and is recovering in a Cuban hospital. What I really like about this book is the changing perspectives. The Syrian Civil War is still ongoing as of 2021. Chapter 1 Summary: "Josef: Berlin, Germany1938". Refugee is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. How does the. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. It is shabbos and time for Josefs Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. Free trial is available to new customers only. Mahmoud and his family travel through Serbia and into Hungary, where they are detained at a refugee camp that is built like a prison. If Cuba does not let the refugees in, it signifies a return to a society that is more than willing to be unjust and cruel toward them. Refugee Characters. Though Josef is devastated, he wonders if this is what becoming a man means - not relying on your father. 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. He is of average height with brown hair and brown eyes. This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. 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. Fast paced, insightful, filled with drama and tension. Source (s) Refugee Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Forced to be an asylum-seeker himself, Lito finally understands the predicament of those on the ship. date the date you are citing the material. Already a member? 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. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. Purchasing Heartrendingly, Josef notes that he and Ruthie never want to leave the St. Louis, the first place they have been treated as human beings in a long while. 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. The second is the date of The Nazis labelling Aarons practice as a crime against the German people inherently detaches them from their own German culture. They walk to the ship and their father races inside, convinced the authorities will try to stop them. In what ways were they taken advantage of or harmed by the cruelty and apathy of others? Storyboarding is an incredibly powerful tool for educators because it helps students process and understand the information in a deep, meaningful way. publication online or last modification online. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. What are some of the themes, symbols and motifs present in the novel? 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. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Students will see themselves in the young protagonists: children faced with tragic circumstances but who, at their heart, are just kids who love their families and want to live in peace. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. LitCharts Teacher Editions. According to history, most of the St. Louiss passengers had to return to Europe, denied asylum by Cuba and Europe. (one code per order). Each child experiences traumatic losses and personal victories as they struggle to escape the political instability of their homelands. 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. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original 2023 . Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? Mahmouds father arranges for a smuggler to take them to the island of Lesbos, in Greece. The scale of the devastation in Syria is immense: Given its historical roots, why did Gratz write the novel as a work of fiction? Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. Josef's story is set in Nazi Germany in 1939. date the date you are citing the material. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. The Landau's went through many hardships during the . Anincredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. This heart-stopping novel is not only compelling it is necessary. Teachers and parents! Refugee looks readers straight in the eye, challenging them to truly see these kids who are battling the worst moments of our recent history. Finally, the Bisharas reach Germany, where they are offered a place to stay by a kind older Jewish woman. No one else can view anything. The second date is today's The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. However, soon enough, Germany invades Poland, thus beginning World War II. When Officer Padron returns to the St. Louis, he is treated like a hero by the Jewish passengers. He is gaunt and thin; looking "like an escapee from a mental asylum" (36). The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Powerful and compelling. The family face incredible hardship and tragedy throughout their long journey through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary on their way to Germany. Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. Refugee is a New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel. 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. He promises the passengers that he will try to deliver them to a country other than Germany. The smugglers raft is destroyed by rocks as they cross the Mediterranean. At another level, however, water represents change, which many of the main characters have to undergo either to survive or to redeem themselves. Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprisingconnections will tie their stories together in the end. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. 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. The ship leaves for Europe, and Captain Schroeder promises to divide the passengers between England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Renews March 11, 2023 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. The novel begins with the story line of twelve-year-old Josef, a Jewish boy in Germany. After Mahmouds home is destroyed, his brother Waleed, sister Hana, and his parents drive to the border of Turkey, hoping to escape. for a group? In exchange for Rachels diamonds, the soldiers offer her an impossible bargain: she can save just one of her children from being arrested. Meeting Aaron at Hamburg, Josef is shocked to see his once-confident father visibly anxious and harrowed. Like everyone else during the Holocaust, he was scarred, both emotionally and physically. Officer Padron, a Cuban policeman assigned to the St. Louis, saves Josefs father. 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. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. It is called the most deadly conflict of the 21st century thus far, with 250,000 casualties and millions Syrians who have been forced to flee the devastation. But Captain Schroeder recognizes the necessity of keeping those hopes alive, and so continues to conceal that there may be trouble when they reach Cuba. After a few weeks in Munich, Mahmouds family is transferred to a host family in Berlin. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Synopsis: Refugee is a historical fiction novel that features 3 stories in one ; Josef, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s, Isabel, a Cuban girl escaping Castro's regime in 1994, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy fleeing from the conflict in Syria in 2015. Though the three stories are historically discrete at first glance, they are linked by the fates of Ruth, Lito, and the Bisharas. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The journey aboard the St. Louis from Hamburg to Havana is a sunny interlude in Josef and Ruths troubled childhood. Complete your free account to request a guide. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 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A heartrending and important tale for our time. This is a fascinating tale. Braving extremely choppy and shark-infested waters, the two families make the ninety-mile run to Florida. After drifting off to the Bahamas, the Fernandez and Castillo families finally steer back on course to reach Florida, but not before Isabels mother delivers her baby brother in the boat. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Josef wonders what this means for (read more from the Pages 74 - 109 Summary). 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: 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. Order our Refugee (Alan Gratz) Study Guide, teaching or studying Refugee (Alan Gratz). Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. eNotes Editorial. Ed. Josef, his sister Ruth, and his mother all travel to Hamburg to board a ship that will take them to Cuba. Despite his father's absence, Josef is pleased to see 100 men gathered to perform the ritual with him. 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. 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. The novel follows the stories of three refugee children in three different geographic locations and points in time. Discount, Discount Code School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. Josef's life is turned upside down on the night when Nazi Brownshirts take his father away to a concentration camp. Refugee: Josef: Havana Harbor - 1939, 19 days (2) Summary & Analysis Next. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/refugee-by-alan-gratz, *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed). Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. Impossible odds and families in peril make for vivid and unrelenting suspense in these stories of flight and daring. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Frau Rosenberg takes Mahmoud aside and tells him the story of her childhood: she is Ruth, Josefs sister. 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. 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. Mahmoud; Waleed; their parents, Youssef and Fatima; and their baby sister, Hana, leave for Germany. Continue to start your free trial. Ruth promises to help Mahmoud find Hana. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Isabels story starts with a riot. After a riot in Havana, Isabels family decides that they should also leave Cuba immediately. Storyboards also promote higher-level thinking by encouraging students to synthesize information and think critically about what they have read. The Landaus disembark in France, which gives them some months of respite. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. Isabel Fernandezis escaping Castro's Cuba in 1994. They board the St. Louis, a large German ship, and set out. The elderly woman Mahmoud meets is Ruth, Josefs younger sister. Summary Themes Questions & Answers Characters Analysis Refugee Summary R efugee is a novel by Alan Gratz that examines three interrelated stories of the refugee experience. After the war ended, Ruth returned to Germany to look for Josef and Rachel, but learned that the two were killed in concentration camps. Want 100 or more? All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Last Updated on June 29, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. creating and saving your own notes as you read. eNotes Editorial. Instant PDF downloads. Isabel Fernandez lives in Cuba in 1994. 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 passage of the two families is secured by Lito, who throws himself into the water to distract the US Coast Guard. The Nazis invade France in 1940, forcing the Landaus to go on the run once again. Like Josef, Isabel too has to grow up overnight in the face of uncertainty and assume the mantle of the adult of the family. 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.. eNotes.com Refugeeis both. Josefs fathers mental state deteriorates further, and he eventually jumps from the ship, trying to kill himself. 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. With the fall of the Soviet Union, aid to Cuba has dried up, and many families starve. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. After the Soviet Union collapsed, so too did its aid to Cuba, forcing thousands of families like Isabels into utter poverty. Struggling with distance learning? Gratz shows how Josefs experience is not an isolated incident: all over Germany, Jews are facing the same kind of erasure of their culture and identity. His father refuses to leave the cabin, thinking the gathering is a Nazi trap. His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. Josef and his sister Ruthie are just children, and yet they are needlessly abused by the soldiers. Mahmouds journey is punctuated by icy rain even when he is still on dry land, as in Turkey, where his family scrambles for a dry place to stay. Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. Refine any search. | publication in traditional print. Josef, his family, and the passengers are now faced with the possibility of being returned to Germany and to their certain death.