Refugee

Oh wow, is this ever an important book for kids. Three refugees' stories are told in alternating, short, cliffhanging chapters: Josef, whose Jewish family was ordered to leave Germany in 1939; Isabel with her family and her neighbors fleeing Cuba in a makeshift boat in 1994; and Mahmoud and his family fleeing Syria over land and over sea in 2015. Mr. Gratz somehow finds a way to bring their stories together in the end. Nothing is sugar-coated here. This is an excellent book for readers 5th grade and up who may want to know more about refugees. The book does an excellent job of showing why desperate families may have no choice but a desperate escape, and that the refugees simply want to live, not to take anything away from anyone. The show more stories are based on real events, and the book includes maps and resources for kids who want to help. I am so thrilled this is a Colorado Children's Book Award nominee for 2020. show less

This is a powerful book. 4 voices of refugees in different times and places weaving together over both common and unique experiences. Realistically depicts fleeing for your lives, so don't think for a moment that it won't pack an emotional punch. The short story aspect is compelling, the scenarios are harrowing, and the characters are appealing in their everyday humanity. Deeply moving, but not without hope. If you are looking for a book to experience empathy on the plight of refugees, this one can't be oversold.

This is a truly incredible book. I have been reading many refugee stories lately, and I loved how although this one was historical fiction, it painted a very realistic and historically accurate picture. It also forces readers to think about the refugee crisis by connecting past to present. The book talks about three different refugees and their experiences. The first is Josef who is Jewish and living Germany in 1939. Next is Isabel who is living in Cuba in 1994. Lastly Mahmoud is living in Syria in 2015. The book describes the push factors that force them to leave-all three taking off by boat to escape their countries. The book cycles through the three stories and the plot moves in parallel. For example, when Josef gets on the St. Louis show more bound for Cuba, Isabel gets on a boat bound for the US and in the next chapter Mahmoud boards a dinghy he hopes will take him to Greece. Similarly, all three have interactions with some sort of law enforcement individual at the same point in the novel. The book has some very sad experiences faced by each character. All of the characters experience devastating loss. Alan Gratz does a great job of developing truly unique characters, despite telling three separate stories. The most impressive part about the book is how the stories all tie together in the end. This tying together is what really calls the reader to action. Reading Josef's story, almost everyone (except for a few psychopaths) can acknowledge that the Nazis were on the wrong side of history and that the US should ave done more to help Jewish refugees, especially accepting passangers from the St. Louis. Knowing this, it makes one really look at the current situations of the refugee crisis in Europe and the so called "immigration crisis" at the Mexican border-of course also a true refugee crisis-and ask, how can I sit here and do nothing? show less

This is the perfect book for what it is. Less skilled middle school readers can access it because the stories and language are straightforward. Chapters are short and always end on a cliffhanger. The pain of these histories is honest, without being hopeless. There’s enough “why did the character do that? What do you think they should have done?” to get into real discussions of compassion, welcome, trauma, and comparative history. Almost no historical background is required, and there are plenty of points to introduce that history. We taught it as a 7th grade book club choice to HUGE success — one of those books that almost everyone likes and many say is their favorite!

"Refugee" broke me heart and left me shattered. This book followed the journey of three children and their families, who left everything they knew and owned to flee war and bloodshed which was tearing their homes apart. Despite being decades and countries apart, sadly their stories were the same and I was totally invested in their journeys - I just had to keep reading!

These families faced so much heartache, so much loss and so much cruelty, simply because first world countries wouldn't welcome them with open arms, despite them facing incredible challenges and dangers to find safety and shelter. I was moved by their determination, resilience and courage, and ashamed at the cold, heartlessness of those who should know better.

Ironically, show more Josef's family was fleeing Nazi Germany to seek refuge in Cuba. Isabel and her family were escaping Castro's Cuba to find solace in America and Mahmoud's family was escaping Syria to find sanctuary in Germany. A vicious circle, repeated over the decades. However, I loved how the author wove these stories together at the end.

"Refugee" was a harsh, compelling read that would made a fabulous English novel. It would lead to in-depth discussions and, hopefully, develop an empathy to those so less fortunate than ourselves. A must read. show less

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Very Good
Recommended: Highly Recommended/Must-Buy
Level: Middle Grade/Middle School

This book is an important, engaging, and powerful teaching tool for both the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and two other refugee crises in the not-too-distant past. The book follows three young people: Josef, a Jewish boy trying to escape to Cuba during the Holocaust; Isabela, a Cuban girl fleeing with her family to Miami in the 1990's in a rickety boat; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy trying to flee to Germany in 2015. The characterization for all three protagonists is strong, but side characters can sometimes feel a little slight. However, all three stories succeed as windows that allow young readers to experience the show more lives of refugees firsthand. There are stories here of bravery, hope, and horrifying tragedy. Gratz doesn't shy away from the sadness and horror that permeates many refugees' lives, but the content remains appropriate enough for tween readers. Scenes of violence are galling but not graphic. The three protagonists' stories are linked together thematically - all three's hopes are bound to escape by sea - and by their own personal connections, which are both surprising and deeply rewarding to readers. The book's main message to readers can be summed up in an observation by Mahmoud: "They only see us when we do something they don't like." The book challenges the reader to acknowledge the desperation, loss, and humanity of refugees while also examining our own culpability for their situation when we refuse to see refugees as people. An author's note gives historical background for each protagonist and advice for how kids can help the world's refugees. show less

Refugee tells the tales of three children throughout history, fleeing their dangerous and warn torn countries in the hopes of finding safety elsewhere. Josef is fleeing Nazi occupied Berlin in 1939 with his parents and young sister aboard the St. Louis bound or Cuba. Mahmoud is on the run from war-torn Aleppo with his parents, brother, and infant sister. Isabel boards a rickety homemade boat with her parents, neighbors, and grandfather in the hopes of reaching el norte, Miami and life of freedom and possibility. Each child faces obstacles and setbacks throughout their journey. Devastating loss and unimaginably tough choices are forced upon these children, these families.

While not biographical accounts, they are based in fact and are show more bites and pieces of real stories, of real people, fleeing unimaginable horrors in the search for a better life and these stories were all heavy hitting. It was amazing how relatable each character was. While spanning different eras, different cultures, different struggles, their humanity bound them together. They each had hopes and dreams for a better life, love for their families, unimaginable courage in the face of adversity. They once had friends, played games, watched TV, played with toys and yet faced such terrifying obstacles to living the simple, happy lives they were meant to live.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was how each story was in some small part connected. It really highlighted the point that we are all, as a human race, connected in some way or fashion and the choices of our actions ripple throughout not only our life, but generations of lives. It is really quite powerful to sit back and look at in a novel which spans so many decades and generations. These stories were touching, and heartbreaking but most of all important. Mahmouds story is all too relevant in today's time. The United States continues to wag war on refugees in the political sphere and books like Refugee are important to putting a face, a story, an actual human being, to the elusive word, "refugee". Stories like Josefs, Isabels, or Mahmouds could be our own; we are only separated by good fortune of circumstance. show less