Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. publication in traditional print. Even though Aaron still lives, his suicide attempt shows not only his own inner despair but the trauma that this event causes for Josef. Isabel Fernandez lives in Cuba in 1994. His selflessness is made evident when he sacrifices his own life for his sister's. Josef later dies in a concentration camp. 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. His mother gives the sailor their tickets and they board the boat. His family decides to leave and trek to Germany. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Subscribe now. It is shabbos and time for Josef's Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. Amidst the celebration of leaving, Josef is concerned about his father. eNotes.com, Inc. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Storyboards also promote higher-level thinking by encouraging students to synthesize information and think critically about what they have read. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs With urgent, clear-eyed storytelling, Gratzs Refugee compellingly explores the desperation and strength that unites those struggling for a place to call home. Through the perils and forced courage of his protagonists, Gratz highlights the biggest tragedy of all refugee crises in history: the loss of childhood. The stories are set in different times and places and are told from the perspective of the refugee children. Isabels story starts with a riot. The family struggles between needing to stay "invisible" in order to avoid danger and survive and becoming "visible" so that those with means can give them aid. 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. 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 . Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. From the outset, Gratz places readers in the middle of the action and immediately demonstrates the cruelty of the Nazis against the Jews. After . Josef's family is finally reunited months later in 1939, and they attempt to escape Nazi Germany aboard the M.S. It is shabbos and time for Josefs Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 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. Refugee is both thrilling and heartrending. Isabel wakes up, still in the boat, now 3 days from home. When the family finally gets to their promised boat, they find that it is merely a rubber raft. However, the trouble begins when the ship docks in Havana harbor and the Cuban government does not allow the passengers to disembark. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. A few of the crew, however, openly dislike the Jewish passengers, especially Otto Schiendick, who proudly states his Nazi allegiance. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. publication online or last modification online. 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. After Mahmouds home is destroyed, his brother Waleed, sister Hana, and his parents drive to the border of Turkey, hoping to escape. What are some ways we can all help. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Impossible odds and families in peril make for vivid and unrelenting suspense in these stories of flight and daring. 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. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. 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. The scale of the devastation in Syria is immense: Given its historical roots, why did Gratz write the novel as a work of fiction? Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. The second is the date of Active Themes Related Quotes with Explanations The Nazis invade France just a few months after Josefs family arrives there. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. After the police see Isabels father participate in a riot, there is no option but for the Fernandez family to leave Cuba by boat. 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. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor winning author of The War That Saved My Life. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. Mahmoud Bisharas story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. Writing of the Syrian crisis, he notes. Summary Josef is still outside the Havana Harbor, 21 days from home. A haunting fictional treatment of historic events. Josef, his family, and the passengers are now faced with the possibility of being returned to Germany and to their certain death. 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. They board the St. Louis, a large German ship, and set out. The second is the date of The refugees aboard the St. Louis are delivered to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Yet instead of succumbing to the despair of these events, Josef and the rest of his family resolve to try to find a better life in a new country. eNotes Editorial. 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. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. Struggling with distance learning? Josefs father gets sent to a concentration camp. The audio version provides an ideal (even mandatory) opportunity for libraries to share these resonating tales with readers reluctant to pick up the page. The rest of the passengers grow angry. 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. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba has become inhospitable for most of its citizens under the regime of Fidel Castro. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." He promises the passengers that he will try to deliver them to a country other than Germany. Wed love to have you back! Mahmouds father arranges for a smuggler to take them to the island of Lesbos, in Greece. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. You have successfully joined Alan's newsletter list! Interestingly, the stories are also tied together through the symbolism of water and boats. Christina Diaz Gonzalez, author of The Red Umbrella and A Thunderous Whisper. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Josef's father, along with thousands of other Jewish men, was arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp. 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. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. 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. This is an easy summary of the book Refugee by Alan Gratz. Josef and his sister Ruthie are just children, and yet they are needlessly abused by the soldiers. Officer Padron, a Cuban policeman assigned to the St. Louis, saves Josefs father. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. Thus, the sea comes to represent death, chaos, and uncertainty at one level. Storyboard That is the perfect tool for novel lesson plans and activities because it's so easy to use and extremely versatile. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. 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. Josefs fathers mental state deteriorates further, and he eventually jumps from the ship, trying to kill himself. It tells the story of three refugee children and their families in different times and places. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 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. Frau Rosenberg takes Mahmoud aside and tells him the story of her childhood: she is Ruth, Josefs sister. As Gratz observes in his author's note to the novel, the MS St. Louis was a real ship carrying . Josefs father is convinced there is a trap, so Josef and his mother go without him. 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. A large part of the novels narrative focuses on boats, which represent tenuous hope. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Get news and updates about the stuff Alan writes! Josef Landau's story begins in 1938 in Nazi Germany. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Chapter 13 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" During the Atlantic crossing in 1939, Josef's bar mitzvah ceremony is about to take place. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs A passing, overcrowded boat cannot accommodate all of them, but at Mahmouds insistence, a woman onboard agrees to take Hana. Josef is loyal, compassionate, paternal, and selfless. After a riot in Havana, Isabels family decides that they should also leave Cuba immediately. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. According to Gratz, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to wage war on his own people. Please wait while we process your payment. Empathy and Social Responsibility. Struggling with distance learning? Refine any search. 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. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. Mahmoud hands his sister, Hana, to another passing raft of refugees, knowing that his mother cannot hold her and swim. 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. This immediately places Josef in the role of an adult, forcing him to grow up quickly. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? 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. The trip is initially joyous and hopeful. Josef Landau, from the book Refugee, is a 13 year old boy born into the life of World War 2. publication online or last modification online. Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray. 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 . 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. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Josef again shows his passage into adulthood, as he notices and worries about his mothers mental condition. In their memory, she decided to make Berlin her home. Refugee: Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean - 1939, 10 days Summary & Analysis Next Isabel: Straits of Florida - 1994, 1 day (2) Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Josef and some of the other children on the St. Louis take a tour of the ship 's bridge and engine room. In Cuba in 1994, eleven-year-old Isabel Fernandez lives a life of poverty and uncertainty in the middle of civil strife. They have come to arrest Josef's father: "Other Jewish homes and businesses and synagogues were destroyed all over Germany, and tens of . 4 Mar. date the date you are citing the material. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. In the end, these three stories are connected. 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. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. What were some allusions (references to real people, places, events, religious practices, art, literature) present in the novel? 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. Want 100 or more? Word Count: 1329. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. The woman promises Mahmoud that she will help them find Hana and reveals to them her own story of being a refugee. 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: 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. Josefs hope starts to waver following the discovery that the ship may not actually allow them to find a new life in Cuba. What are some of the themes, symbols and motifs present in the novel? Isabel's story is set in Cuba in 1994 during a time of great economic crisis and upheaval. Lito, Isabels grandfather, also joins them. (including. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. 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. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. Lito tells the story of the St. Louis and how he had to turn away so many refugees when he was a young policeman. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Josef's life is turned upside down on the night when Nazi Brownshirts take his father away to a concentration camp. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely. On their way to Switzerland, the Landaus unfortunately run into German soldiers. The Landau's went through many hardships during the . Like Josef, Isabel too has to grow up overnight in the face of uncertainty and assume the mantle of the adult of the family. 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. Empathy and Social Responsibility. This Study Guide consists of approximately 70pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. 2023 . They will also appear in Google search results. Isabel Fernandez's story begins in 1994 in Havana, Cuba under the oppressive rule of Fidel Castro. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. . Is Ravis experience Josef Landau is a Jewish boy in Germany in 1938. REFUGEE braids three different stories of young refugees. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. His mother, father, little brother Waleed, and baby sister Hana barely manage to escape the bombing of their apartment building. What is a conflict in the book Refugee by Alan Gratz? Log in here. The last date is today's The third story belongs to thirteen-year-old Mahmoud Bishara, who lives in war-torn Aleppo, Syria, against the backdrop of a crisis which continues into the present day. The ship leaves for Europe, and Captain Schroeder promises to divide the passengers between England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Chapter 22 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" . 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. Full of struggle, heroism, and non-stop adventure, Refugee is not only an important book, its a terrific story. 20% creating and saving your own notes as you read. The Nazis labelling Aarons practice as a crime against the German people inherently detaches them from their own German culture. 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. Each child experiences traumatic losses and personal victories as they struggle to escape the political instability of their homelands. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Before the ceremony begins, the Rabbi asks the captain to take down the portrait of Hitler, which the captain does. With the fall of the Soviet Union, aid to Cuba has dried up, and many families starve. St. Louis, a ship taking Jewish refugees to Havana, Cuba. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. That day in 1940 in France, her mother could not make the impossible choice before her. date the date you are citing the material. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Making their way past ISIS operatives, they get to Turkey by road, where a boat is to take them to Greece tomorrow. Again, like it was for the Landaus at the Cuban coast, that tomorrow is deferred, day after day and week after week, and the family is forced to take shelter in an abandoned Turkish mall. This section starts with Josefs perspective, somewhere on the Atlantic in 1939, 8 days from home (74). 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. This compelling novel will help young people make sense of todays refugee crisis. Mahmouds story starts with their apartment building collapsing, due to people rioting because of the civil war going on in Syria. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. You can view our. Anincredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom. Instant PDF downloads. 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. 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. 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. A gripping, visceral, and hold-your-breath intense story of three young refugees. In Refugee, what is the climax of Mahmoud's story. In the end, these three stories are connected. Review: Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. What are the different settings of the novel and how does it affect and shape the characters? Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Refugee Chapters 22-32 Summary & Analysis. LitCharts Teacher Editions. And why do children lead the novels action? Lito is rescued and deported to Cuba. $24.99 Refugee: Josef: Havana Harbor - 1939, 19 days (2) Summary & Analysis Next. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Purchasing What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. 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. 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. 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. Things dont go as planned when a fight breaks out and the family has to leave their car and belongings behind. Complete your free account to request a guide. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. 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. Isabel trades her trumpet to a fisherman for gasoline, paying her familys way onto Ivns familys boat. Fatima holds little Hana over her head, while Mahmoud keeps Fatima afloat. On the ship, Ruth, born in Nazi Germany, has the freedom to play openly for the first time in her life. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Im a big fan of that, and it was executed brilliantly here. Even Mahmouds precarious raft is a promise of tomorrow. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Instant PDF downloads. Josefs fathers jump into the sea symbolizes his desire to annihilate himself. In exchange for Rachels diamonds, the soldiers offer her an impossible bargain: she can save just one of her children from being arrested. 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. Plus, our printable worksheets make it easy to take the fun offline. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. Already a member? Powerful and compelling. Gratz illustrates more dehumanization from the Nazis, exemplified in Schiendicks equation of the children with rats. A heartrending and important tale for our time. Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba.