Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. All storyboards and images are private and secure. 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. However, soon enough, Germany invades Poland, thus beginning World War II. The chapter ends as Josef searches for his father and realizes his father has jumped overboard. Already a member? His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. (including. School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? Out of the 937 aboard, roughly 254 ultimately perished in Nazi concentration camps. They have come to arrest Josef's father: "Other Jewish homes and businesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of . 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. Gratz illustrates more dehumanization from the Nazis, exemplified in Schiendicks equation of the children with rats. In the book "Games at Twilight", what details do you notice that show this story is not taking place in the United States? Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. Refugee looks readers straight in the eye, challenging them to truly see these kids who are battling the worst moments of our recent history. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Forced to be an asylum-seeker himself, Lito finally understands the predicament of those on the ship. Gratzs stirring novel humanizes the plight of refugees worldwide. Officer Padron insists they had the right papers but the crowd gets mad insisting they also have the right papers. creating and saving your own notes as you read. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Thus, it would be a mistake to interpret Refugee as only a tale about extraordinary, heroic children. This is thebeets in a brownieof kid lit. date the date you are citing the material. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs (He is Officer Padron from Josefs story.) 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. Josef did, and he sacrificed himself for Ruth. He promises the passengers that he will try to deliver them to a country other than Germany. Josef wonders what this means for (read more from the Pages 74 - 109 Summary). . Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. 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. How does the. The Castillos have been secretly building a makeshift boat and the next day, they set out together for Miami. Lito atones for the past by treading water and returning to Cuba. Want 100 or more? publication in traditional print. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Lito keeps reminding himself and Isabel that they will get to America tomorrowmaanaa promise that soon reveals a deeper meaning. 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. The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. Josef and his sister Ruthie are just children, and yet they are needlessly abused by the soldiers. In one, Josef and his Jewish family flee Nazi Berlin in 1938. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Refugee. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. 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. The scale of the devastation in Syria is immense: Given its historical roots, why did Gratz write the novel as a work of fiction? 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. Refine any search. 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. Renews March 11, 2023 The novel follows the stories of three refugee children in three different geographic locations and points in time. 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.. For one, fiction enables the reader to inhabit history in a way that textbooks and newsprint cannot accommodate. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. Thus, Gratz presents the stark reality of the perils of such a passage. Sometimes it can end up there. Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. Empathy and Social Responsibility. Dont have an account? 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. He is of average height with brown hair and brown eyes. The Nazis invade France in 1940, forcing the Landaus to go on the run once again. 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 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. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. His only distinguishing characteristics are big ears and wire-rimmed glasses. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The ship leaves for Europe, and Captain Schroeder promises to divide the passengers between England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Padron tells Josef and his mother that Landau has been sedated and is recovering in a Cuban hospital. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. 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. Summary Josef is still outside the Havana Harbor, 21 days from home. 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. A gripping, visceral, and hold-your-breath intense story of three young refugees. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Frau Rosenberg takes Mahmoud aside and tells him the story of her childhood: she is Ruth, Josefs sister. Josef's father, along with thousands of other Jewish men, was arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp. All three stories make for a great novel and it will teach you a lot and appreciate how good we have it. Refine any search. Josef Landauis fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. What can you learn about the people and the time period from these allusions? Complete your free account to request a guide. Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida - 1994, 5 days (1) Themes and Colors Key All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Writing of the Syrian crisis, he notes. A passing, overcrowded boat cannot accommodate all of them, but at Mahmouds insistence, a woman onboard agrees to take Hana. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. 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. Each version of Storyboard That has a different privacy and security model that is tailored for the expected usage. 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. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. This summary should be accessible to high beginning or low intermediate ENL students. The Bisharas set sail on the crowded raft, standing in the freezing rain and cold. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% They wash their hands and pray facing Mecca, praising God and reciting from the Qur'an. Mahmoud's story is set in Syria in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray. Josef understands himself to be German, and yet the Nazis are trying to take away this aspect of German Jewish peoples identity. The second is the date of 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 an engaging tale. The rest of the passengers grow angry. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Finally, storyboards are a great way to assess student understanding because they provide a visual representation of student learning. And why do children lead the novels action? 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. 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. For Aaron, it represents a metaphorical death, as he disappears into the water and subsequently out of Josefs life. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor winning author of The War That Saved My Life. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. $24.99 Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Instant PDF downloads. It only gets worse for them, but in the end, he learns a powerful life lesson: Its better to be visible than invisible, because even though the bad people can harm you, the good people can help you. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. LitCharts Teacher Editions. When the St. Louis reaches Havana Harbor in Cuba, the ship is not allowed to dock. Mahmouds city, the once-beautiful Aleppo, is particularly vulnerable, since it houses a large number of rebels opposed to al-Assad. 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. 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. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Also, there are parallels between the three stories, and at the end, all of the three stories are connected. 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. The rest, like Josef and his mother, were largely sent to concentration camps after Germany invaded other European countries. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Contact us 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. Teachers and parents! If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original In the end, these three stories are connected. Get news and updates about the stuff Alan writes! 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. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Continue to start your free trial. Scholastic|July 25,2017|Ages 8and Up. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Teachers and parents! Josef recites the blessing and after the ceremony everyone congratulates him. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. 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. In large numbers, Cubans are protesting the regime of Fidel Castro, whose flawed policies they believe have led to the economic catastrophe. Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. Teachers and parents! Josef again shows his passage into adulthood, as he notices and worries about his mothers mental condition. Thus, the sea comes to represent death, chaos, and uncertainty at one level. 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. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. However, despite the presence of kind adults like Captain Schroeder, the ship is also haunted by Nazi spies, like Otto Schiendick, who mistreat Jews. The smugglers raft is destroyed by rocks as they cross the Mediterranean. Interestingly, the stories are also tied together through the symbolism of water and boats. 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. Chapter 22 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" . Mahmoud; Waleed; their parents, Youssef and Fatima; and their baby sister, Hana, leave for Germany. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original You can also use Storyboard That to create a summary of the book, a movie poster, or analyze themes and events. This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. 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. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Injustice and Cruelty vs. Each child experiences traumatic losses and personal victories as they struggle to escape the political instability of their homelands. Please wait while we process your payment. 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. Also, there are parallels between the three stories, and at the end, all of the three stories are connected. 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. Discount, Discount Code Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. 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. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Eventually, the captain announces that they are not going to be allowed to dock in Havana and that the boat will be leaving. Empathy and Social Responsibility. 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. Mahmoud hands his sister, Hana, to another passing raft of refugees, knowing that his mother cannot hold her and swim. The book revolves around three main characters from three different eras: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria. 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. A haunting fictional treatment of historic events. The last date is today's Alan Gratzs novel Refugee (2017) illuminates the worldwide refugee crisis through the stories of three children fleeing possible death with their families in different times and places. Through the perils and forced courage of his protagonists, Gratz highlights the biggest tragedy of all refugee crises in history: the loss of childhood. 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. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. 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. Despite his father's absence, Josef is pleased to see 100 men gathered to perform the ritual with him. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. 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. 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. They will also appear in Google search results. The two families face much peril in the Florida straits: giant tankers, a hurricane that blows them off course, running out of fuel and water, deadly sharks, and Mami's going into labor all while trying to avoid the U.S. Coast guard so that they can make it to shore where they can claim asylum. 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. Last Updated on June 29, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. Instant PDF downloads. They skipped the chapters on the other two characters, and the students that read Josef's story had to read the last chapter of Mahmoud's . Josef's father suffers greatly from post traumatic stress disorder from his months of torture, starvation, and hard labor in the concentration camp. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. At another level, however, water represents change, which many of the main characters have to undergo either to survive or to redeem themselves. Refugee: Josef: Havana Harbor - 1939, 19 days (2) Summary & Analysis Next. While they travel, they ask if anyone has seen Hana. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. When the family finally gets to their promised boat, they find that it is merely a rubber raft. 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 . Josef's family is finally reunited months later in 1939, and they attempt to escape Nazi Germany aboard the M.S. 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. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. When students storyboard, they are actively engaged in the learning process and can make connections between the text and their own lives. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/refugee-by-alan-gratz, *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed). 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. 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. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. 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. They board the ship St. Louis, based on the actual ship that brought Jewish refugees to Cuba and then to the United States but was denied entry by both.That ship had to return the refugees to Europe, where they were split among four countries, and when those countries . Chapter 1 Summary: "Josef: Berlin, Germany1938". St. Louis, a ship taking Jewish refugees to Havana, Cuba. In Josefs story, the very calm of the Atlantic Ocean is menacing, hiding a darker future. Like everyone else during the Holocaust, he was scarred, both emotionally and physically. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Refugee: 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. Word Count: 1329. However, unspeakable tragedy occurs when Ivn dies in a sudden shark attack. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. You'll also receive an email with the link. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The refugees are welcomed in Austria, and Mahmouds family takes a train to Germany. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. This dude does his history homework and then hides it in a total page-turner. 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. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Free trial is available to new customers only. Josefs father gets sent to a concentration camp. Lito tells the story of the St. Louis and how he had to turn away so many refugees when he was a young policeman. Josef's story is set in Nazi Germany in 1939. 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 two families face many challenges as they try to cross the Caribbean Sea to Florida. 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. What are the different settings of the novel and how does it affect and shape the characters? What were some allusions (references to real people, places, events, religious practices, art, literature) present in the novel? Refugeeis both. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. From the outset, Gratz places readers in the middle of the action and immediately demonstrates the cruelty of the Nazis against the Jews. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. 4 Mar. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. However, because the number of people fleeing Cuba was enormous, the US government was extremely ambiguous about granting them asylum, placing the refugees in a very precarious position. On Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, seven Nazi Brownshirts (storm troopers) raid his home. A stunning, poignant novel about the plight of refugees Grade A. 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. 3 Mar. 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. 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