Even though Aaron still lives, his suicide attempt shows not only his own inner despair but the trauma that this event causes for Josef. In Isabels story, the water is choppy with sharks, representing the violence and uncertainty of her condition as well as fact: the ninety-mile stretch between Cuba and Florida is known to be shark territory. Mahmoud hands his sister, Hana, to another passing raft of refugees, knowing that his mother cannot hold her and swim. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. While they travel, they ask if anyone has seen Hana. Frau Rosenberg takes Mahmoud aside and tells him the story of her childhood: she is Ruth, Josefs sister. Mahmoud; Waleed; their parents, Youssef and Fatima; and their baby sister, Hana, leave for Germany. Josef, his family, and the passengers are now faced with the possibility of being returned to Germany and to their certain death. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. 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 original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. This Study Guide consists of approximately 70pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - An elderly couple, Herr and Frau Rosenberg, welcome them into their home. Officer Padron insists they had the right papers but the crowd gets mad insisting they also have the right papers. The ship leaves for Europe, and Captain Schroeder promises to divide the passengers between England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. What is the summary of refugee? Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Mahmouds father arranges for a smuggler to take them to the island of Lesbos, in Greece. Isabel's story is set in Cuba in 1994 during a time of great economic crisis and upheaval. 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. Sometimes it can end up there. The novel follows the stories of three refugee children in three different geographic locations and points in time. Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? However, unspeakable tragedy occurs when Ivn dies in a sudden shark attack. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Word Count: 1050. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. Refugee is a novel by Alan Gratz that examines three interrelated stories of the refugee experience. 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. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. publication online or last modification online. In Cuba in 1994, eleven-year-old Isabel Fernandez lives a life of poverty and uncertainty in the middle of civil strife. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. Writing of the Syrian crisis, he notes. Want 100 or more? This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? 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. The Nazis labelling Aarons practice as a crime against the German people inherently detaches them from their own German culture. 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. Young readers will finish this book and ask: What should we do? Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Empathy and Social Responsibility. When Officer Padron returns to the St. Louis, he is treated like a hero by the Jewish passengers. The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original A large part of the novels narrative focuses on boats, which represent tenuous hope. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. In Josefs story, the very calm of the Atlantic Ocean is menacing, hiding a darker future. According to history, most of the St. Louiss passengers had to return to Europe, denied asylum by Cuba and Europe. "Refugee - Summary" eNotes Publishing Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. Struggling with distance learning? Ed. They walk to the ship and their father races inside, convinced the authorities will try to stop them. 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. 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. eNotes.com Mahmouds city, the once-beautiful Aleppo, is particularly vulnerable, since it houses a large number of rebels opposed to al-Assad. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. eNotes.com Powerful and compelling. Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. His father refuses to leave the cabin, thinking the gathering is a Nazi trap. Isabel Fernandez is an eleven-year-old girl who lives just outside Havana in 1994. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. The rumor proves all too true, however, when the ship is marooned at the Cuban harbor for days, with officials telling the passengers day after day they will be allowed to disembark maanaSpanish for tomorrow. Aaron, who suffers a mental breakdown and jumps ship, is rescued by a Cuban police officer called Mariano Padron and allowed into Cuba, but Josef, Rachel, and Ruthand the rest of the passengers of the St. Louisare turned back. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. This immediately places Josef in the role of an adult, forcing him to grow up quickly. Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. He watches his friends' father, whom had already sought asylum in Cuba, come to pick up his daughters on the boat. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. Refine any search. Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. Josef warns his father that he must . 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. 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. Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. (including. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Josef Landauis fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. The family is eventually pulled from the water by the Greek Coast Guard. 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. 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. His family decides to leave and trek to Germany. REFUGEE braids three different stories of young refugees. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. Amidst the celebration of leaving, Josef is concerned about his father. You can also use Storyboard That to create a summary of the book, a movie poster, or analyze themes and events. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. He is gaunt and thin; looking "like an escapee from a mental asylum" (36). All three stories make for a great novel and it will teach you a lot and appreciate how good we have it. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor winning author of The War That Saved My Life. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. The elderly woman Mahmoud meets is Ruth, Josefs younger sister. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Summary Josef is still outside the Havana Harbor, 21 days from home. Mahmoud's story is set in Syria in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. Active Themes Related Quotes with Explanations Equally real are the events of 1994 depicted in the novel. As Gratz observes in his authors note to the novel, the MS St. Louis was a real ship carrying 937 passengers, almost all of them Jews fleeing Nazi atrocities, that set sail for Cuba from Hamburg in 1939. The passage of the two families is secured by Lito, who throws himself into the water to distract the US Coast Guard. 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. Chapter 22 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" . 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. Mahmoud and his family travel through Serbia and into Hungary, where they are detained at a refugee camp that is built like a prison. Meeting Aaron at Hamburg, Josef is shocked to see his once-confident father visibly anxious and harrowed. Plus, our printable worksheets make it easy to take the fun offline. Gratzs stirring novel humanizes the plight of refugees worldwide. 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. Like Josef, Isabel too has to grow up overnight in the face of uncertainty and assume the mantle of the adult of the family. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. 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. Finally, storyboards are a great way to assess student understanding because they provide a visual representation of student learning. date the date you are citing the material. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 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. Instant PDF downloads. His only distinguishing characteristics are big ears and wire-rimmed glasses. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. In one, Josef and his Jewish family flee Nazi Berlin in 1938. 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The last date is today's Subscribe now. Josefs father gets sent to a concentration camp. A few of the crew, however, openly dislike the Jewish passengers, especially Otto Schiendick, who proudly states his Nazi allegiance. Log in here. In the end, these three stories are connected. Summary & Analysis Josef: Berlin, Germany - 1938; Isabel: Outside Havana, Cuba - 1994 (1) Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria - 2015 (1) . The Landaus disembark in France, which gives them some months of respite. 2023 . How does the. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Empathy and Social Responsibility. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Already a member? 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. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. 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. Josef's father grows anxious, and Josef fears the doctor will find his father mentally ill and turn the family away. publication online or last modification online. 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 end, these three stories are connected. Like everyone else during the Holocaust, he was scarred, both emotionally and physically. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. All three families make their asylum-seeking journeys on boats through perilous waters. Refugee is both thrilling and heartrending. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. Some novels are engaging and some novels are important. Storyboards also promote higher-level thinking by encouraging students to synthesize information and think critically about what they have read. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Refugee. Before the ceremony begins, the Rabbi asks the captain to take down the portrait of Hitler, which the captain does. Review: Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. (one code per order). Even Mahmouds precarious raft is a promise of tomorrow. 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. Padron tells Josef and his mother that Landau has been sedated and is recovering in a Cuban hospital. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprisingconnections will tie their stories together in the end. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Out of these passengers, it was mostly those who found asylum in England who survived World War II. for a customized plan. Josefs fathers jump into the sea symbolizes his desire to annihilate himself. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? Isabel trades her trumpet to a fisherman for gasoline, paying her familys way onto Ivns familys boat. After a violent conflict between the rebels and the Syrian government, Mahmoud and his family walk to the Turkish border. 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. 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. 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 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. Lito, Isabels grandfather, also joins them. The Nazis invade France just a few months after Josefs family arrives there. The book revolves around three main characters from three different eras: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria. 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. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. 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. His mother gives the sailor their tickets and they board the boat. Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida - 1994, 5 days (1) Themes and Colors Key Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. When Josefs father is reunited with his family, they notice that Dachau has changed him: he is paranoid and very thin. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: The journey aboard the St. Louis from Hamburg to Havana is a sunny interlude in Josef and Ruths troubled childhood. The second date is today's Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Officer Padron, a Cuban policeman assigned to the St. Louis, saves Josefs father. How does each of the characters experience the feeling of fear inRefugeeby Alan Gratz? All storyboards and images are private and secure. The interplay between water and vessel, then, marks the unpredictable nature of a refugees journey. Josefs father is taken to Havana to recover. Each child experiences traumatic losses and personal victories as they struggle to escape the political instability of their homelands. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. eNotes Editorial. Refugee Characters. Refugee is a New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. His family decides to leave and trek to Germany. However, soon enough, Germany invades Poland, thus beginning World War II. However, despite the presence of kind adults like Captain Schroeder, the ship is also haunted by Nazi spies, like Otto Schiendick, who mistreat Jews. Mahmoud and his traumatized younger brother, Waleed, have learned to survive the frequent bombings and the bullying by majority Sunnis by learning to be invisible. However, the family is forced to act when their neighborhood is bombed. Captain Schroeder demonstrates how to change the ship's speed. Josef's life is turned upside down on the night when Nazi Brownshirts take his father away to a concentration camp. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? The audio version provides an ideal (even mandatory) opportunity for libraries to share these resonating tales with readers reluctant to pick up the page. 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. Once a beautiful, thriving city, Aleppo is now a bombed shell of its former self. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Their city of Aleppo is in ruins and the family decide that leaving Syria is their only option if they wish to survive. Refugee is a heart-pounding adventure as well as an important book that shines a light on a too often invisible and politicized problem. Mahmoud decides that he no longer wants to be ignored and leads the refugees out of the prison, walking twelve hours to Austria. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The family face incredible hardship and tragedy throughout their long journey through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary on their way to Germany. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Ed. Interestingly, the stories are also tied together through the symbolism of water and boats. With the fall of the Soviet Union, aid to Cuba has dried up, and many families starve. The trip is initially joyous and hopeful. Isabels boat, too, tips over, the sea claiming her familys food and water. Contact us At another level, however, water represents change, which many of the main characters have to undergo either to survive or to redeem themselves. You have successfully joined Alan's newsletter list! Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. This is a fascinating tale. 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. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. It is shabbos and time for Josef's Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. The two families face many challenges as they try to cross the Caribbean Sea to Florida. While walking on the boat afterwards, a newly minted man, he overhears the stewards discussing how the ships engines are maxed out - in order to beat the other ships to Cuba. 4 Mar. However, the trouble begins when the ship docks in Havana harbor and the Cuban government does not allow the passengers to disembark. 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. Isabels best friend and neighbor, Ivn, is building a small boat with his father so that his family can flee to America. The Castillos have been secretly building a makeshift boat and the next day, they set out together for Miami. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. After the war ended, Ruth returned to Germany to look for Josef and Rachel, but learned that the two were killed in concentration camps. Summary Plot Overview 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. 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. SparkNotes PLUS The second is the date of Just when Miami becomes visible on the horizon, a U.S. Coast Guard boat tries to intercept the two families. The rest of the passengers grow angry. 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. Fatima holds little Hana over her head, while Mahmoud keeps Fatima afloat. Dont have an account? Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Discount, Discount Code Six months later, his mother receives a telegram that her husband has been released, but the family must leave Germany immediately. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . 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. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Renews March 11, 2023 After Mahmouds home is destroyed, his brother Waleed, sister Hana, and his parents drive to the border of Turkey, hoping to escape. Already a member? 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. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. As Landau's hysteria increases, Josef slaps his father's face. Josef's father, along with thousands of other Jewish men, was arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp. Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. Anincredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. Complete your free account to request a guide. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Christina Diaz Gonzalez, author of The Red Umbrella and A Thunderous Whisper. Despite his father's absence, Josef is pleased to see 100 men gathered to perform the ritual with him. Braving extremely choppy and shark-infested waters, the two families make the ninety-mile run to Florida. When the family finally gets to their promised boat, they find that it is merely a rubber raft. LitCharts Teacher Editions. 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. All three stories make for a great novel and it will teach you a lot and appreciate how good we have it. Though Josef is devastated, he wonders if this is what becoming a man means - not relying on your father. Isabel wakes up, still in the boat, now 3 days from home. 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. eNotes.com, Inc. Thus, the waters are deceptive for Josef, as is proved when the St. Louis is turned back from the Cuban shore. Through the perils and forced courage of his protagonists, Gratz highlights the biggest tragedy of all refugee crises in history: the loss of childhood. 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. In the end, these three stories are connected. A gripping, visceral, and hold-your-breath intense story of three young refugees. According to Gratz, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to wage war on his own people. Josef recites the blessing and after the ceremony everyone congratulates him. And why do children lead the novels action? 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. Josef, his sister Ruth, and his mother all travel to Hamburg to board a ship that will take them to Cuba. The boat the Castillos have cobbled together becomes the center of Isabels existence. Isabels story starts with a riot. 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. 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. 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.