His only distinguishing characteristics are big ears and wire-rimmed glasses. Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. Refugee is more than a story about children fleeing their homelands, it is a story about what unites us all love, family and perseverance. Thus, the waters are deceptive for Josef, as is proved when the St. Louis is turned back from the Cuban shore. His mother gives the sailor their tickets and they board the boat. Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. Thus, it would be a mistake to interpret Refugee as only a tale about extraordinary, heroic children. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. The refugees aboard the St. Louis are delivered to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. After a violent conflict between the rebels and the Syrian government, Mahmoud and his family walk to the Turkish border. The Landaus disembark in France, which gives them some months of respite. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. What I really like about this book is the changing perspectives. Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. He and his family try to escape to Cuba on the. Refugee Chapters 1-11 Summary & Analysis | SuperSummary PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Refugee Josef, Chapter 37 - YouTube Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. date the date you are citing the material. They wash their hands and pray facing Mecca, praising God and reciting from the Qur'an. The ship leaves for Europe, and Captain Schroeder promises to divide the passengers between England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. 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. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Refugee Chapters 22-32 Summary & Analysis. Josef Landau Character Analysis in Refugee | LitCharts Free trial is available to new customers only. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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. Also, there are parallels between the three stories, and at the end, all of the three stories are connected. When the St. Louis reaches Havana Harbor in Cuba, the ship is not allowed to dock. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Josef, his sister Ruth, and his mother all travel to Hamburg to board a ship that will take them to Cuba. Refugee Character Analysis | SuperSummary Josef's story is set in Nazi Germany in 1939. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. (including. Her father is caught participating in the "Maleconazo" riot, during which citizens protested the government's civil rights abuses as well as the economic crisis that had plunged the nation into poverty. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: In Refugee, what is the climax of Mahmoud's story. He is gaunt and thin; looking "like an escapee from a mental asylum" (36). 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. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? 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. 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. They have come to arrest Josef's father: "Other Jewish homes and businesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of . for a group? Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Frau Rosenberg takes Mahmoud aside and tells him the story of her childhood: she is Ruth, Josefs sister. The second is the date of Along with the Castillosincluding Isabels best friend, IvnIsabel; her father, Geraldo; and her pregnant mother, Teresa, leave Havana for Florida. 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. Braving extremely choppy and shark-infested waters, the two families make the ninety-mile run to Florida. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. On Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, seven Nazi Brownshirts (storm troopers) raid his home. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. Refugee: Plot Overview | SparkNotes Despite his father's absence, Josef is pleased to see 100 men gathered to perform the ritual with him. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. What are some of the themes, symbols and motifs present in the novel? Young readers will finish this book and ask: What should we do? Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. 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 is 12 years old at the beginning of the book, living in Nazi Germany in 1938, where Jewish people like Josef are treated as "subhuman" and second-class citizens. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. 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. You have successfully joined Alan's newsletter list! Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 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. Refine any search. Isabels best friend and neighbor, Ivn, is building a small boat with his father so that his family can flee to America. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". Josef's father grows anxious, and Josef fears the doctor will find his father mentally ill and turn the family away. eNotes Editorial. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? A haunting fictional treatment of historic events. A heartrending and important tale for our time. This heart-stopping novel is not only compelling it is necessary. 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. 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. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. Isabels story starts with a riot. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Refugee looks readers straight in the eye, challenging them to truly see these kids who are battling the worst moments of our recent history. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. What is the summary of refugee? Already a member? Already a member? eNotes Editorial. 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. Refugee Plot Summary: Isabel's Story - Storyboard That online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Through the perils and forced courage of his protagonists, Gratz highlights the biggest tragedy of all refugee crises in history: the loss of childhood. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Anincredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. Instant PDF downloads. 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. 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. For Aaron, it represents a metaphorical death, as he disappears into the water and subsequently out of Josefs life. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. The Nazis invade France in 1940, forcing the Landaus to go on the run once again. Students will see themselves in the young protagonists: children faced with insurmountable and tragic circumstances but who, at their heart, are just kids who love their families and want to live in peace. In 1938 Berlin, a 12-year-old Jewish boy named Josef is awakened by the sound of Hitler's Brownshirts breaking into his family's apartment. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Refugee is a novel by Alan Gratz that examines three interrelated stories of the refugee experience. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. As Landau's hysteria increases, Josef slaps his father's face. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 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. With urgent, clear-eyed storytelling, Gratzs Refugee compellingly explores the desperation and strength that unites those struggling for a place to call home. Six months later, Aaron tells his family in a letter that he has been released from the concentration camp Dachau by the Nazis on the condition that the family leave Germany immediately. What are some ways we can all help. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprisingconnections will tie their stories together in the end. Pam Muoz Ryan, author of Echo and Esperanza Rising. Further, children are made heroes in Refugee precisely because children should not, ideally, have to be heroes. Complete your free account to request a guide. Mahmoud should not have to decide to give away his little sister to save her life, Josef should not have to slap his father to subdue him, and Isabel should not have to scramble to arrange gasoline for a boat to take her family away to possible safety. He also draws a clear line between this view of the children, and their justification of the violence that they deem acceptable against Jewish people. Refugee Themes - eNotes.com 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. His family decides to leave and trek to Germany. 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. This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. In the end, these three stories are connected. publication online or last modification online. Josef Landau's story begins in 1938 in Nazi Germany. 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. Officer Padron insists they had the right papers but the crowd gets mad insisting they also have the right papers. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. eNotes.com 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. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Equally real are the events of 1994 depicted in the novel. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Trauma and. You can also use Storyboard That to create a summary of the book, a movie poster, or analyze themes and events. On the ship, Ruth, born in Nazi Germany, has the freedom to play openly for the first time in her life. | 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 . Each version of Storyboard That has a different privacy and security model that is tailored for the expected usage. Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. Mahmouds story starts with their apartment building collapsing, due to people rioting because of the civil war going on in Syria. However, despite the presence of kind adults like Captain Schroeder, the ship is also haunted by Nazi spies, like Otto Schiendick, who mistreat Jews. Fatima holds little Hana over her head, while Mahmoud keeps Fatima afloat. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. After a few weeks in Munich, Mahmouds family is transferred to a host family in Berlin. Lito atones for the past by treading water and returning to Cuba. A few of the crew, however, openly dislike the Jewish passengers, especially Otto Schiendick, who proudly states his Nazi allegiance. Lito keeps reminding himself and Isabel that they will get to America tomorrowmaanaa promise that soon reveals a deeper meaning. 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. For one, fiction enables the reader to inhabit history in a way that textbooks and newsprint cannot accommodate. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/refugee-by-alan-gratz, *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed). Isabel Fernandez lives in Cuba 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. A biblical reference to Noahs ark as the sanctuary bridging creatures over troubled waters is implicit in the novels boat imagery. In Cuba in 1994, eleven-year-old Isabel Fernandez lives a life of poverty and uncertainty in the middle of civil strife. This is an easy summary of the book Refugee by Alan Gratz. Aboard the St. Louis, Josefs family and the other passengers, all Jewish refugees, are treated well by Captain Schroeder and most of the ships crew. All storyboards and images are private and secure. In the end, these three stories are connected. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Josef wonders what this means for (read more from the Pages 74 - 109 Summary). $24.99 Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida - 1994, 5 days (1) Themes and Colors Key In their memory, she decided to make Berlin her home. When Officer Padron returns to the St. Louis, he is treated like a hero by the Jewish passengers. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Like Josef, Isabel too has to grow up overnight in the face of uncertainty and assume the mantle of the adult of the family. Mahmouds father arranges for a smuggler to take them to the island of Lesbos, in Greece. Mahmoud Bishara is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in Aleppo, Syria in 2015. Refugee: Chapter Summaries | SparkNotes The Nazis labelling Aarons practice as a crime against the German people inherently detaches them from their own German culture. 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. 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. The smugglers raft is destroyed by rocks as they cross the Mediterranean. Six months later, his mother receives a telegram that her husband has been released, but the family must leave Germany immediately. Full of struggle, heroism, and non-stop adventure, Refugee is not only an important book, its a terrific story. Refugee: Josef: Havana Harbor - 1939, 19 days (2) Summary - LitCharts The refugees are welcomed in Austria, and Mahmouds family takes a train to Germany. 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. 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. Discount, Discount Code Refugee: Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean - LitCharts Storyboarding is an incredibly powerful tool for educators because it helps students process and understand the information in a deep, meaningful way. Sometimes it can end up there. Josef understands himself to be German, and yet the Nazis are trying to take away this aspect of German Jewish peoples identity. Isabel wakes up, still in the boat, now 3 days from home. 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. In large numbers, Cubans are protesting the regime of Fidel Castro, whose flawed policies they believe have led to the economic catastrophe. 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. Lito tells the story of the St. Louis and how he had to turn away so many refugees when he was a young policeman. That day in 1940 in France, her mother could not make the impossible choice before her. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? Lito, Isabels grandfather, also joins them. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Isabel Fernandezis escaping Castro's Cuba in 1994. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. What is the resolution for Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud inRefugee? 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. Refugeeis both. This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. Book Review - Refugee - Smithtown Library Josef's father, along with thousands of other Jewish men, was arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp. 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 Bisharas story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany. A passing, overcrowded boat cannot accommodate all of them, but at Mahmouds insistence, a woman onboard agrees to take Hana. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. In the back of the book, the author Alan Gratz offers ways that people can help refugees like Josef, Isabel, Mahmoud, and their families. They walk to the ship and their father races inside, convinced the authorities will try to stop them. 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. Josef's father is convinced there is a trap, so Josef and his mother go without him.