Summary: Refugee
Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are three kids living in the 1940s, 1990s, and 2015, respectively. They are also all refugees trying to escape their homes in search of a better life. Josef is a Jew fleeing Germany with his family, Isabel is leaving Cuba via boat to Miami, and Mahmoud and his family are fleeing Syria amidst the civil unrest. But will they make it to safety?
REFUGEE Novel Unit
A comprehensive resource for teaching Alan Gratz’s award-winning novel, Refugee. This novel unit features a 3-week lesson plan with chapter-by-chapter discussion questions, daily lesson slides, student resources, and weekly assessments. Teach vocabulary, point-of-view, literary devices, writing, character analysis, and so much more with this all-in-one plug-and-play resource. Available digitally and as a printable PDF, and includes a handy Student Notebook to keep all student activities in one place. Each purchase comes with complimentary one-month access to Reading Middle Grade’s Patreon community on THE EDUCATOR tier. Our Refugee novel unit was created in line with Common Core standards by Afoma Umesi, founder of Reading Middle Grade, and Evelyn Khoo-Schwartz, a fifth-grade teacher-librarian in the US. TRY THE FIRST LESSON FREE!
The Good
This is an absolutely gripping story with a compelling theme. Refugees have always existed, and as long as civil unrest and global inequities exist, they always will, so this book almost becomes more and more relevant as time passes by. Gratz does not hold back on the distressing experiences of all three characters throughout the book, presenting everything in a suspenseful, age-appropriate way.
I loved that there were three narrators in different countries at different points in time. It was fascinating to see these stories intersect over time and enlightening for me, as I never would have guessed the connections between Germany and Cuba, or Syria and Germany. There is considerable potential for this book as a novel study, class read-aloud, or book club selection, as it offers a wealth of knowledge about world history and social studies.
Refugee
Refugee is a riveting exploration of the harrowing journey most refugees make to keep themselves and their families alive. This book sheds light on the heartbreaking global refugee crisis and the ways in which history continues to repeat itself, presenting the information in a fast-paced, irresistible format for young readers.
Star Rating
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: One character dies from a shark attack, and another almost dies by drowning.
- Alcohol/substance abuse: None.
- Sexual content: None.
- Violence: Josef and his family experience violence in Nazi Germany.
- Language: None.
Diversity
- Ethnic: The main characters are Jewish, Latina, and Middle Eastern.
- Sexual orientation: None.
Recommended for ages: 10+
Good for teens who like:
Publisher Details
| Publisher details | Scholastic |
| Author | Alan Gratz |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Publication date | July 25, 2017 |
| Audiobook? | Yes, Libro.Fm |
| Page count: | 352 |
| Cover artists | Designer: | Nina Goffi |
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