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. Trauma and. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Already a member? The St. Louis was an actual ship that sailed from Hamburg to Cuba in May, 1939 under the command of Captain Gustav Schrder. Isabel Fernandez's story begins in 1994 in Havana, Cuba under the oppressive rule of Fidel Castro. 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. Thank you! "Refugee - Summary" eNotes Publishing Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Get news and updates about the stuff Alan writes! 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. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Log in here. Storyboarding is an incredibly powerful tool for educators because it helps students process and understand the information in a deep, meaningful way. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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. eNotes.com $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Meanwhile, the civil war in Syria still continues to precipitate one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. What I really like about this book is the changing perspectives. Powerful and compelling. 2023 . His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. 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. Isabel trades her trumpet to a fisherman for gasoline, paying her familys way onto Ivns familys boat. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Though Josef is devastated, he wonders if this is what becoming a man means - not relying on your father. In 1938, his home is raided by Nazi storm troopers, and his father is taken to the Dachau concentration camp. His father, Aaron, is taken away by the Nazis on Kristallnacht and is sent to the Dachau concentration camp. Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. Order our Refugee (Alan Gratz) Study Guide, teaching or studying Refugee (Alan Gratz). The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Refugee is a novel by Alan Gratz that examines three interrelated stories of the refugee experience. What can you learn about the people and the time period from these allusions? 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. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Mahmoud's story is set in Syria in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. The two families face many challenges as they try to cross the Caribbean Sea to Florida. 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. In what ways were they taken advantage of or harmed by the cruelty and apathy of others? Active Themes Related Quotes with Explanations Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Lito, Isabels grandfather, also joins them. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original 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. What is a conflict in the book Refugee by Alan Gratz? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Mahmoud Bisharas story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany. Im a big fan of that, and it was executed brilliantly here. When students storyboard, they are actively engaged in the learning process and can make connections between the text and their own lives. Storyboard That is the perfect tool for novel lesson plans and activities because it's so easy to use and extremely versatile. In large numbers, Cubans are protesting the regime of Fidel Castro, whose flawed policies they believe have led to the economic catastrophe. 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. Though the three stories are historically discrete at first glance, they are linked by the fates of Ruth, Lito, and the Bisharas. Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. eNotes.com, Inc. After the war ended, Ruth returned to Germany to look for Josef and Rachel, but learned that the two were killed in concentration camps. The Syrian Civil War is still ongoing as of 2021. 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. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. LitCharts Teacher Editions. 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. The Landaus disembark in France, which gives them some months of respite. The trip is initially joyous and hopeful. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Some novels are engaging and some novels are important. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? What are the different settings of the novel and how does it affect and shape the characters? Six months later, his mother receives a telegram that her husband has been released, but the family must leave Germany immediately. eNotes.com 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. While they travel, they ask if anyone has seen Hana. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. The passage of the two families is secured by Lito, who throws himself into the water to distract the US Coast Guard. A few of the crew, however, openly dislike the Jewish passengers, especially Otto Schiendick, who proudly states his Nazi allegiance. Josef goes to find his sister but when he comes back his father is gone. on 50-99 accounts. 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. 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. | Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Josef is loyal, compassionate, paternal, and selfless. Interestingly, the stories are also tied together through the symbolism of water and boats. 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. The summary is broken up into approximately 50-page blocks. Josef wonders what this means for (read more from the Pages 74 - 109 Summary). 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. Before long, the raft capsizes, and the family stays alive by floating in the frigid water, their counterfeit life jackets refusing to work. Plus, our printable worksheets make it easy to take the fun offline. Christina Diaz Gonzalez, author of The Red Umbrella and A Thunderous Whisper. Refugeeis both. Struggling with distance learning? Amidst the celebration of leaving, Josef is concerned about his father. 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. This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. Refugee is a heart-pounding adventure as well as an important book that shines a light on a too often invisible and politicized problem. 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. Please wait while we process your payment. 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. Refine any search. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Lito, Isabels grandfather, allows himself to be deported so that the Fernandezes can make it to Florida. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Summary & Analysis Josef: Berlin, Germany - 1938; Isabel: Outside Havana, Cuba - 1994 (1) Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria - 2015 (1) . You have successfully joined Alan's newsletter list! SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Fast paced, insightful, filled with drama and tension. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. 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. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down.