Refugee

Wow.

Alan Gratz’s Refugee should be required reading for middle school students. In this novel, Gratz tells the story of three refugees: 1) Josef, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany, in 1938, 2) Isabel, a Cuban girl escaping Castro’s rule in 1994, and 3) Mahmoud, a boy fleeing from Syria in 2015. Alternating points of view, Gratz tells three stories that are gripping and unforgettable.

Confession: I read this book in two days; I cried a lot, and even though I’m done reading, I’m still thinking about these characters and those who follow (or have followed) similar paths.

Alan Gratz skillfully weaves together the stories of 3 families: one fleeing Nazi Germany, one fleeing Castro’s Cuba, and one fleeing Syria. Although each is from a different part of the world and a different time in history, their suffering and tragedy are similar. Gratz shows us readers how the horror of war and political oppression affect lives of innocent children. Characters are real. Plot is gripping. Great emotional impact. A timely, must read for young adults!

This book is so heart wrenching you won't be able to put it down until it's done. Then you will immediately pick it back up to give it another read. Gratz puts you right there in the middle of the action with Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud. We need to open our eyes and our hearts to this issue.

One of the most powerful pieces of educational literature-our classroom riveted by the realistic truth. May every teacher of appropriate age groups share this novel to shape a new generation of those who will do the good. As an Americans, we are accountable to liberty and justice for all, not just some-may we do what we profess as Americans and be again, the beacon of light for the huddled masses. May God turn our hearts to be the compassionate, as is our hope filled destiny. Otherwise, many lives will be counted and our shame unwashable. We do not have to buy the lies of "protectionsim" we know the truth of humanity and this book will help anyone with a conscience recommit to what it means to be a member of society.

This book challenged my thinking about those who come from other countries in search of a better life or just in search of life--period. The three different stories, each from different time periods in history are eloquently written. Each story invites you in and before you realize it has the reader rooting for the characters' survival.

An important book everyone should read. I love the writing and how the different storylines are told throughout so you get different perspectives of different refugees from various places and time periods. An eye opening page turner!

Wow. Honestly I might leave it at that. This book should be required reading for all students in American schools. Theee powerful stories of the great American dream - not all of the stories are dreams unfortunately.

Hi there is a great deal of money and the kids are going to be a long way from home today and tomorrow night at home with you and me and my friends house in Washington post office today and tomorrow night at home with me and my phone is dead in this country and the region of money to buy some more time with your mom.

Every once and while a book comes along and you just know that this is one everyone should read. The author has created a compelling look at refugees throughout history and done it in a way that young readers will find compelling. Not an easy feat! As an adult reader, I was thoroughly blown away by the similarities between the three stories the author features. Given the current political climate, this book resonated with me in a totally unexpected way. Each young person's story is delivered in a way that is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats as each child faces death not only for themselves but also their family members. Their experiences are disturbing and the author's storytelling so vivid that it really shows the horror of war and the power of political oppression through the eyes of a child. The author deftly weaves the stories together, periodically switching between the three in a way that seems totally natural. The narrative flows well and the suspense runs high.

The publisher marks this book for the 9-12 age group. It is written in the appropriate style for this group, however I would be cautious about giving
this to students at the younger end of this range simply due to the subject matter. The violence is real and peril is vivid. This is an excellent read that every young person should experience. It is sure to prompt discussion and is an enthusiastic recommend.

From the perspective of reading difficulty, "Refugee" is an easy-to-read book. However from a human perspective, Alan Gratz' latest novel is a difficult, heart-breaking volume. Focusing on three children, each separated from the preceding individual by decades and from different parts of the world, this book depicts the horror of war and its effects on the lives of innocent children.

Josef, a German Jew, experiences the brutality of Hitler's madness when his father is imprisoned and then released, a broken man. Seeking to escape Germany and find refuge in another country, Josef's family begins their journey on the St. Louis, a ship bound for Cuba. Fifty-six years years later, Isabel and her family begin their own desperate sea journey to escape the brutality of Castro's regime; her father has also been imprisoned and released. Only 21-years later, Mahmoud and his family seek sanctuary in Germany as they flee the Syrian war and Assad's dictatorship.

Formatted using chapters that move from Josef to Isabel to Mahmoud and then repeating the sequence, "Refugee" emphasizes the similarities and the effects of war and dictators on the lives of children. Despite their different cultures and countries, each child's story connects to the others. Alan Gratz gives each child and each family member distinct personalities and roles in "Refugee". Each character represents some aspect of the effect of war and oppression on individuals; each one brings a different dimension to the story. Further, the interconnection between individuals and their actions throughout the span of the book's narrative provides some surprising revelations.

"Refugee" is an important book for young readers - and for their parents. While the book speaks of horrific events and actions, it never becomes graphic or inappropriate. The emotional impact of "Refugee" is immense. Targeted at ages 9 to 12 years old, the book may be read by children a bit younger as long as a parent is comfortable with having the child read about the events being depicted.

Gratz has done some excellent research and put together a story that is chilling and will stay with you long after you have read this book. The intertwining stories of three refugee children from different times in history is heartbreakingly real and deeply moving. A young boy whose family is trying to escape the Holocaust on the ill fated St Louis, a young girl trying to escape the Castro regime in Cuba - and the newest refugee story of today - a young boy living through the horror of Syria; these three are separated by decades and yet the threads of their lives intertwine to show how each one of us is tied to the other and how easily we could be one of these children too.

These are honest, brutal and violent stories. Gratz does not gloss over them or over the trauma of what these refugees go through. I would say that it is a bit of a stretch to slate this as a middle school novel. Perhaps a mature middle school child could handle it but I would say that it is more suitable for High School. Each parent decides for themselves but, if handing this book to a younger child, I would recommend reading it yourself first.

Josef is a Jewish boy about to turn thirteen in 1930s Germany. When his father gets a chance to be released from a concentration camp if he'll leave the country immediately, his mother pounces on the opportunity and books the family passage on the MS St Louis bound for Cuba.

Isabel is a tween girl in 1994 Cuba. When her father is targeted after a riot, he must leave the country during the window Castro has given people to leave if they want. The entire family decides to try for Florida with their neighbors in a boat Isabel's friend Iván has made with his father.

Mahmoud is a tween boy in Aleppo, Syria in 2015. When a drone strike destroys their apartment building, his family decides this is no kind of life any more and they should go north through Turkey to Germany before they are all dead in the never-ending war.

Readers follow all three young people and their families as they risk life and limb to find a place where they can be free and safe.

This reminds me a lot of <i>Echo</i> by Ryan. It has three kids in three different time periods tied together by their flights for freedom and eventually you get to see how they all tie together, but for the most part it is like three books in one. Their stories are all harrowing in the kinds of challenges and situations they face, but authentic in their historical accuracy and realistic portrayal of what refugees during each of these time periods faced. I love the way that this book makes current events come alive for readers who have probably become immune to reports of unrest in Syria or the plight of refugees. It really helps you step into their shoes. Through the variety of responses to emotional and physical trauma faced by each of these families, it also gives a painfully accurate look at how such experiences can damage people emotionally. Hopefully, readers will come away more empathetic and aware of the suffering in their world, and moved to do what they can to make a difference in the lives of people whose. It may not necessarily be a fun read, but it is an important read. Based on the popularity of <i>Echo</i> I think this will also find a big audience.

Notes on content: One minor swear word that I remember. No sexual content. All three children witness death right in front of them and it is described on page. Bleeding, a mangled limb described, a shooting, and drowning victims washed up on a beach described. Torture at a concentration camp and beatings in a refugee camp are also mentioned. Definitely know the child you hand this to. The amount of death bumps the interest level up to the upper end of middle grade.

It's difficult to know how to review a book that takes the lives of three young people from three different periods of time, who are escaping from atrocities in three different countries and weaves them into one volume. Each chapter tells a different part of each refugee's story and each (see warning above) ends in a cliff-hanger. Masterfully written and entwined together, the reader never loses track of who is speaking and the events that character faces.

In 1938, Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old German Jew who's family barely escapes the concentration camp. In 1994, Isabel Fernandez is an eleven-year-old who is hungry, musical, and afraid. Castro has been making life difficult for her and her fellow Cubans for years. In 2015, Mahmoud Bishara is a twelve-year-old stocky Syrian who prefers to stay invisible so that he can survive artillery shells and bombs.

Although they are worlds and cultures apart, their stories intermingle. Their stories include broken glass, threatening soldiers, harrowing escapes, unbelievable obstacles, bodies of water which swallow family members, music, close-knit family ties, and heroism on each character's part.

Here are a few bits and pieces to entice you to read this book:

After Mahmoud's apartment building is bombed and crumbles his father says, "We should have gone long ago. Ready or not, if we want to live, we have to leave Syria." (p. 55)

This scene takes place soon after Isabel's family escapes to Florida in a makeshift boat their neighbors built.
They [the fathers] kept arguing, but the engine and the slap of the boat against the saves drowned their words out for Isabel. She wasn't paying any attention anyway. All she could think about was the ninety miles they still had to go, and the water pouring in from the gunshot hole in the side of the boat. (p. 65)
Josef turns 13 onboard the MS St. Louis. Like other Jewish boys, it is time for him to have his bar Mitzvah, which the men on board arrange. His father, who was tormented in Dachau, refuses to attend believing that the Nazis will snatch him away. Here is Josef in this sad yet foreshadowing scene:
Josef felt like someone had yanked his heart from his chest. In all the times he'd dreamed of this day, his father had always been there to recite a blessing with him. But maybe this is what becoming a man is, Josef thought. Maybe becoming a man means not relying on your father anymore. (p. 75)
While Mahmoud's family meets one obstacle after another as they seek to get to Germany, they meet a Palestinian refugee who left his home in 1948 during the first Arab-Israeli war. Since I was listening to Blood Brothers, the story of the displaced Palestinians (to be reviewed and given away soon)--this man's help to the Bishara family added another dimension to the history and plight of refugees.

On their cobbled-together boat Isabel thinks about her beloved music.
This journey was a song, Isabel realized, a son cubano, and each part of it was a verse. The first verse had been the riot: a blast of trumpets, the rat-a-tat-tat of a snare drum. Then the pre-chorus of trading her trumpet for gasoline--the piano that gave the son its rhythm--and then the chorus itself: leaving home. They were still leaving home, still hadn't gotten to where they were going. They would return to the chorus again and again before they were done. (p.155-6)

Floating on a dinghy in the Mediterranean Sea with his mother, Mahmoud is hoping to be rescued. In the dark he hears a boat, but can't see it.
But the sound of the motor stills stayed frustratingly, agonizingly, far away. If only whoever was on the boat could see him, Mahmoud thought. All his life he'd practiced being hidden. Unnoticed. Now, at last, when he most needed to be seen, he was truly invisible. (p.192)
Josef contemplates joining nine other men who plan to storm the bridge of the St. Louis and demand that the ship be run aground in America instead of being returned to Germany. As much as he wishes he could return to childhood he thinks,

But he wasn't a kid anymore. He had responsibilities. Like keeping his sister and his mother safe. Papa had told him what the concentration camps were like. He couldn't let that happen to Ruthie and his mother. (p. 253)
Alan expertly wraps up the three refugee's stories in an unexpected ending. This is a timely book that both adults and readers from ages 12 and up will enjoy; it is also be a tremendous curriculum resource.

See us, he thought. Hear us. Help us.”
?
This audiobook made my heart hurt.  But, that’s a good thing.  Refugee follows three main characters and their harrowing journeys to find their way home: Josef, a Jewish boy trying to escape Nazi-controlled Germany in 1938, Isabel, fleeing Cuba for the safety of the United States in 1994, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy running from war-torn Aleppo in 2015.
?
This is a powerful book for middle grade readers. (Just as timely and apt for the grown-up set too.) Not so intense or graphic as to bump it up to YA or Adult Lit, but not shying away from the hard stuff, either.  Refugee breathes life into the sound bites and unemotional news headlines that we hear all the time.  It forces readers to see faces, hear names and stories behind terms like “refugee crisis”, “illegal immigrants” and “hate crimes”. I enjoyed all three storylines, however Mahmoud’s chapters were the ones that resonated with me most. (I absolutely adored Mahmoud’s father – always trying to look for the good and make his family laugh in every situation, no matter how dire the circumstances. I want to be that person!)
?
One of the most important traits I hope to teach my Littles is empathy.  I want them to have the ability to look at a situation and see the other side, (to realize there is always, ALWAYS another side). I want them to strive to understand the feelings of others, and to advocate for those whose voices have been marginalized or taken away completely.  The wonderful, beautiful thing about reading is that it is a sure-fire way to cultivate empathy.  Without relatable situations, names and stories, it’s easier to be silent.  It’s easier to ignore.  Books like Refugee make you want to speak up, get up, DO something.  That is why this book will be leaving my hands and landing squarely in the little palms of my fifth grader.  Highly recommended.

Josef was almost thirteen-years-old in 1938 when Kristallnacht sent the strong message that Jews were not welcome in Germany. Soon afterwards, he, his father, mother and little sister, along with hundreds of other Jews, boarded the MS St. Louis bound for Cuba where they hoped to escape bigotry and start a new life.

In 1994 Isabel lived with her mother, father and grandfather in Cuba but, with the fall of the Soviet Union, food, gasoline and medicine had become scarce and people began to starve. After riots began, Castro allowed them to leave without fear of arrest. Knowing their only chance of survival was to flee to Miami, Isabel and her family joined their neighbors on a rickety homemade boat. Their 90-mile trip would be dangerous, but they were willing to risk everything to be free.

Twelve-year-old Mahmoud lived with his father, mother, little brother and baby sister in Aleppo Syria in 2015. Four years ago people revolted against their dictator president, which led to war and constant bombings. Their apartment building was blown apart, and they had nowhere to go, so Mahmoud and his family joined thousands of other Syrians on a long march to Germany, hoping to start a new life without fear of war.

Real-life occurrences from World War II, the early 90’s, and current events are combined in alternating voices to tell the story of three children who all hope to grow older. This well-researched book will get conversation flowing about immigrants, xenophobia, acceptance and intolerance. It is excellent for book clubs, especially in middle schools.

Highly recommended for ages 11-15.

I’d read very good reviews of this book, so I got it in part for my own benefit and in part to see if it seemed like something my 4th-grade daughter might like. I wanted to like this book a lot. I wanted to feel a connection to the characters and really live their harrowing journeys with them (and the journeys WERE harrowing). The problem is that the book is so action-driven (understandably so) that we never really get to know the main characters. They’re THERE, of course, and the author tells us things about them, but I never really felt a connection with them, which is frustrating because I wanted to. I think the structure of the book (one mishap on top of another) just didn’t lend itself to being able to develop the characters more thoroughly. That said, this is an important read for understanding the struggles refugees have gone through and continue to go through, and it helps to highlight the connections we all have to one another.

My heart.

This was an emotional read and I am still reeling from it. Yet, this is a must read for everyone! Forget about it being a middle school or young adult book, it's an EVERYONE book.

I have seen this novel pop up on list after list. From Twitter to school reading lists, it has been a constant reminder for the past few months. So, I've picked it up and I am so glad I did. With the current political climate, this is an important story to share with everyone.

Joseph's story is focused on the escape of one Jewish family from Nazi Germany just before the party picks up steam and full-blown war breaks out. I have read several holocaust survival and escape stories, and this one belongs up there with the greats. 

Isabel's is a story of how two families come together to leave Cuba and ask for asylum in the USA. The struggles out in the open sea on a small, barely holding together raft ripped my heart in two. Grab a tissue box as you continue reading through all three plots. 

Mahmoud's story broke my heart time after time and I am still trying to put it back together. I am not sure if it is because it is about events so close to our time period (even happening now) but this plotline really hit me in the gut. Without spoiling anything, I just have to say that as a mother, I do not know how anyone could cope with events as they unfold in the story; especially, knowing that they are still unfolding today. 

Gratz's characters, their plight, and emotions really came out on the page and left me shouting out for joy but also sobbing through the hard times. As a teacher, I see the value of this book in the classroom for both English and Social Science teachers. I borrowed this book from the library but quickly realized that this is a must own and bought a few copies for myself and to share with some friends. 

Do yourself a favor and read this book! Yes, you are going to cry but it is something you need to experience.

REFUGEE is a great book for readers who like suspense, mysteries, and surprises. In REFUGEE, each chapter leaves off with twist. Then when you read the next chapter all your questions are answered. In the book, Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930's Nazi Germany who is taking the journey to America with his sister Ruthie, and his mom, and dad. Isabel a Cuban girl in 1944, is going on a journey to Florida with her grandfather, father, mother, and her little brother, which is on the way, but she’s also going on the journey with her best friend Ivan his mom and dad, his older brother, and his brothers girlfriend. Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 is taking his journey to Germany with his brother Waleed, his sister Hana, and his mom and dad. While reading this book, you can experience many feelings, such as sadness, happiness, and suspense for not knowing what could happen next to the characters. REFUGEE is a great book for anyone. I recommend this book for everyone who love to learn about events in history. I think this because while reading this book I was able to learn about things in the world that I didn't even know happened. The theme of the this story is that patience is key. For the three stories in REFUGEE each character has to wait before going to a land where they’re free, and can enjoy the simple things in life without getting in trouble. The authors word play made me feel like I was sailing across the Gulf of Mexico, going on a long journey to Florida, traveling across the vast Atlantic ocean to get to America, and traveling across hot and dry deserts to get to Germany.

James
6th Grade Student

I think you should read this book if you are interested in WWII. It's all about how life was during the late 1930's and the early 1940's. It also goes deeply into how and why families were being torn apart by people getting put in concentration camps. All these kids were young. They also didn’t have many friends. The story was based on how kids had to work harder and when they get older they get sent to a concentration camp. The kids go through many hardships with school and how Hitler is taking over. The Nazis are killing Jews and showing no mercy. However, it doesn’t go in depth with informing you about what happened in the war. Its more focused on what the families were feeling during it. How mothers were left without some children and husbands. If you're a fan of the war and don’t want it to be too violent Refugee is for you.

Mike
7th Grade Student

I’ve been in a reading slump for almost a year. Very few books have held my attention after the first chapter. REFUGEE is the first book in that year that I didn’t want to put down. It’s simply written yet powerful, and I definitely had some tears by the end.

The book tells the stories of three young refugees from different times.

Josef, 12, is a Jewish boy from Berlin, Germany in 1938.

Isabel, 11, is a girl from Havana, Cuba in 1994.

Mahmoud, 12, is a Sunni Muslim from Aleppo, Syria in 2015.

Each of their stories is heartbreaking but inspiring, and I was particularly taken with how the author entwined their tales at the end. I think any reader could find something in Josef, Isabel, and/or Mahmoud’s story to identify and sympathize with.

Josef yearns to be a man, but when his father is imprisoned in Dachau, he shoulders the responsibility of keeping his family safe on the St. Louis. Isabel doesn’t want to leave Cuba, fearful she’ll never hear the hidden clave beat of Cuban music, but when her father rebels against Castro, the family has no choice. And Mahmoud just wants to be invisible, to keep himself and his brother alive, but when a bomb destroys their apartment, the family flees.

I liked the emphasis on family for each character, as so often there’s the absent parent trope. In REFUGEE, each character grows into their own, but their family is always still important to them and a priority.

Hopefully REFUGEE will help younger readers recognize the plight of refugees who have to leave their home country often for reasons outside of their control. The Author’s Note includes additional historical background, so readers can fully understand why each character had to flee.

Refugee is a fantastic book that shows how children who are faced with crises in their countries can persevere. There are three stories to this novel. One is about a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi Germany, another is of a young girl fleeing Cuba in the 90s, and the third tells of a boy fleeing war torn Syria in 2015. All are moving with their families, looking for a better home and secure future elsewhere. They are strong and courageous and face dangers that many children never know.

Gratz did a wonderful job of describing the harrowing plights of his characters. The book was thoroughly engaging and I couldn't put it down. It's recommended for readers aged 9 to 12 years, but I think that's too tight a window. Younger readers may have a hard time relating to the horribly sad circumstances, but readers older than 12 would definitely get a lot out of this book. Especially students in middle school who start to study wars, would have a better understanding of what is happening in the worlds of these children. My kids read this book and agreed with me that it was very well done and an enlightening novel to read.

Refugee by Alan Gratz
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 11 - 16 year olds, 5th through 11th grade.
Worth a Check Out: Yes, check it out.
Buy It or Not: It's a great purchase.
Read Aloud: Middle school teachers even early high school teachers could have some powerful discussions and essays written about this book.
Lesson Ideas: History, Refugees, WWII, Cuba, Syria, Will to Live, Choices, Most value, How to help, Should government allow more refugees, etc.

Germany, Cuba, Syria aren't known for having too much in common. Three different places. Three different times. Three different families. Refugee by Alan Gratz is the common denominator.

Refugee gets 5 out of 5 stars in my book review of this upper middle grade (great choice for teens and adults as well) historical fiction. This book is fantastic, powerful, emotional, inspiring, eye-opening, and a chance to change who you are and how you treat others.

Refugee is well deserving of the 5 star rating. It's a clean read (with some intense parts) and perfect for 5th grade through 10th grade. However, all teens and adults could greatly benefit from and enjoy this read. The chapters are short and perfect for short attention spans. There's enough detail, but it isn't a super wordy read which is great for this targeted audience. All in all, the format and writing of the story is well done.

Gratz intertwines three different characters, all refugees, from different time periods and different locations. The connection between the three isn't as intertwined as other books I've read, like Echo. Even though I was a tad confused at first and wasn't sure how these, what seemed to be, different stories would connect they did come together.

I really enjoyed the stories of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, and I gained new insight into a refugees life. Josef a Jewish boy from Germany was trying to get to Cuba with his family in the 1930s. Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1994 was trying to take a man made boat to America with her family and close friends. Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 was trying to escape to Germany with his family. All three refugees had heartbreaking moments. All three refugees reminded me of the importance of families and how quickly lives can change. All three refugees had a somewhat happy ending even though they did go through a lot of hardship. I liked their mostly happy ending, but I also realize not all refugees have happy endings. I wouldn't say it is an uplifting book, b/.c there were times i was saddened for these characters. However, Refugee is a very enlightening read, and I really enjoyed it.

This book is powerful. Teachers, parents, and librarians should try and get this book into the hands of as many kids, and adults, as you can. There is power in this book to change people, and maybe help others to reach out to help refugees.

More book review(s) at AlohamoraOpenaBook

I kept putting off reading Refugee by Alan Gratz. The thought of the subject matter wasn't jiving with me for a long time... but then. Well, given the current times it seemed a fitting book to finally tackle. What surprised me was not how quickly I got through the book, but how much I was sucked into the experiences. Gratz makes the book accessible to a middle age reading group by simplifying some of what really happened and throttling down the horror-o-meter, but that's part of what makes the book work. At some point it becomes a little obvious that he's trying to tie three separate stories together in a way that is a bit, trite, though. Regardless, the writing is on par for age group. There's a bit of WWII history mixed in with more recent refugee crises that's fitting for our modern times. In the end we are all connected in some way through our humanity, which is what Gratz is really getting at with the book. A solid read on a timely topic that too often gets shoved under the rug when it shouldn't be.

This book is intense, highly recommended for middle schoolers on up to adults. An especially good selection for a reluctant reader. I could hardly put down this book once I started reading, and I also couldn't fall asleep after reading it. The book weaves in and out of three different refugee stories in three different settings (recent Syria, WWII Germany, and early 90s Cuba). Even with the three different settings, the stories are often in the same place at the same time: peril, courage, open water, against all odds, etc. The pace is swift. Switching among the three stories might be confusing for readers who don't have much background knowledge on modern-day Syria, Castro's Cuba, or WWII Jewish refugees. But hopefully the book will spark interest in learning more about each of these events. Books like Wonder by RJ Palacio have introduced adolescent and tween readers to narratives that switch among characters' POV. This is a great book to up the ante with not only a switch in POV but shifting entirely across narratives. Keeps the reader on his/her toes, but perhaps the most powerful aspect of this novel is the fact that the reader will automatically draw connections and develop a sense of migration, an understanding of refugees, and the patterns of history. Sure, this would make a class read, but it doesn't have to be a class read to change the way a reader looks at the world and his/her role in it. This book does just that.

Summary: Three stories in one book: Isabel is escaping Castro’s Cuba in 1994; Mahmoud is escaping Syria in 2015; Josef is escaping Nazi Germany in 1939. These gently interwoven stories remind readers that refugees -- issues with their home countries, their plights, and the indifference they face from possible host countries -- are an ongoing issue, not a recent one.

Appeal: Short chapters, brisk pacing, and cliffhanger ends of chapters give this book a lot of motion. The intensity of the stories (minor spoiler: expect some deaths) make this a more YA escape story than a middle grades escape story. Gratz really knows how to write to readers. Given the intensity of the story, the possibilities for historical research, and the book’s relationship with current events, I anticipate that my students will enjoy this one -- I’ll pick up multiples for book club.

Issues with comprehension: The 3 stories in 1 approach might be difficult for readers who struggle with tracking characters, so graphic organizers and lists of characters will help. Some scenes are difficult to visualize if you don’t have a good working knowledge of what a boat looks like or what it’s like to be on water.

Recommended for: Readers who have already gone through a Holocaust book phase on the gentler and more optimistic titles (perennial classroom favorite: Once by Morris Gleitzman) and are looking for something more intense.

Hello!

You visited my school recently since we are huge fans of your books! I wasn't sure about reading Refugee (the class favorite) but when you came, and told us about your books, you really convinced everyone to read the books (if they haven't read it already, which most kids did).

Just persuading me so easily made me realize that you were a good writer because you knew HOW to persuade people. So I am starting to read all your books.

I'm enjoying them a lot! It's fun how you also educate by incorporating historical facts in the books that you make.

Anyways, I don't have time to review every book you've made (even though there's not that many so far). I thought I would review one book, and choose the class favorite: REFUGEE

P.S. Thanks for your Xbox username, I'll remember, hopefully! xD Never knew you were a gamer!

-PM4K

This is the story of three families that are fleeing their countries for another. It is three families that need and deserve help, but due to the violent and hate filled people out there that don't deserve help, they have to suffer.

We meet Josef. Him and his Jewish family are trying to escape Hitler's reign in Germany in the 30s. Isabel and her family are trying to escape Cuba in the 90s, and Mahmoud and his family are fleeing Syria in 2015. They all see horrors and have losses.

This is a good book to get a look at what many refugees have to go through. (Each and every one of us might be in the same place one day!) It's not for sensitive children. It does have death and violence and great heartbreak throughout, but it's written in a way that still sheilds much of the horror that's truly out there.

This is a book I'd pass along to family members and friends. I'd also love to see it as part of churches/places of worship's library.
The book follows three different families’ experiences and displays how similar they are in spite of their religion, home country, and the year.
It highlights how when reading history it is so easy to think, "Why didn't other countries/people do more to help?" and perhaps smugly assume you would, when the very same story is playing out with a new set of characters somewhere else in the world.
There were a few characters that seemed a little too black and white and some things perhaps a little too simplistic. However the story was compelling and it is timely. The author goes a step further and gives the differing narratives a common thread towards the end which helps the book feel finished in a way it might not otherwise. There are still some unknowns but no story of a life is ever really finished.
If you are taking the time to read the synopsis and this review then you probably would enjoy the book.
There is also a section in the end that talks about the historical events the book is based on- this is best saved for after you read the book to avoid spoilers.

This book is so timely. It does a marvelous job of highlighting the history of marginalized groups from three different eras. If the plight of all three groups doesn't give you pause then you don't have a heart. What a great idea to tell the story from the perspectives of three children. You can't help but feel their sense of hopelessness, and yet their will to survive certainly has something to do with their ages. I think this book should be read in every classroom of fifth, sixth, and seventh graders. Then adults with negative feelings towards refugees should be made to read it as well.

I had a hard time putting this novel down.  Each of the three stories that made up this novel was fascinating, adventitious and energizing.  Whether I was with Aaron escaping Europe, or with Isabel as she tries to make it to the United States or with Mahoud as they try to sneak into Turkey, I was emotionally attached to these refugees as they fought for a better life.  They each started their journey with their families, their sights were on freedom, and I found myself getting upset as each chapter came to a close.  I didn't want to leave each of the individual worlds as the author changed the scenes and the characters, I wanted these children to step on free soil, I wanted to know that they had finally made it.  There were scenes in the novel that made me gasp, scenes that almost made me cry and scenes that flooded me with emotions. Traveling to unfamiliar territory, there is fear of the unknown, the fear that they will be welcomed after their journey and the fear that they will survive the ordeal.  I highly recommend this novel.  

Refugee by Alan Gratz is a dynamic story of three kids around the age of 12 years old from different time periods/places (Josef 1938 Germany, Isabel 1994 Cuba, Mahmoud 2015 Syria). Vivid details and excellent writing put the reader in the shoes of the kids. Each journey can be read separately but the stories are intertwined and set up to read together in alternating chapters. Notes from the author at the end of the book describe how he took real life events to form these composite characters. Maps show routes taken to demonstrate the distance these kids went for freedom. A quote in Mahmoud's story rings true for them all: "But there was no reason they couldn't make a new life for themselves somewhere else. Start over. Be happy again." Author recommends UNICEF and Save the Children as worthy organizations we can support to help the refugees today that need our assistance. The heartbreaking book is a must read for everyone!

There are not many books that hold my interest like Refugee has. I'm not a fast reader. This was a hard book to put down. Finished it in two days.

This is is a true story of 3 children, ages 13 to 15 yrs. old, and there innocent families fighting to try and come to America during the time in there country with a war going on. The only way to survive is Not going to a prison, staying hidden, and praying you have food and shelter, and
Praying there is a country that will let you in.

Very appropriate for what is going on in the world today trying to survive when your home does not exists any more from bombs, and people hating you because of your religion,color of your skin or what country you are from.
These families have Never hurt anyone.
We all want a better life for there children, a better education, and to give back to our country that saved them.

This book shows there day to day living trying to escape, going from one country to another.

I was born in the USA, as my parents where, but my Grandparents on both sides came here from a different country.
It was not really talked about why they came here, and the tragedies they had to go through.
All I can say is, read this book and get to know these people, and you will understand how fortunate we all are.
We all had to come from somewhere first to get to a free country, and there families had to be tough just to get to the Usa and struggle
To survive, and not know the language.
For me, I had given it some thought , but not as much till I read this book can I really appreciate what my Grandparents gave to me , and all My family by coming to the USA.

If I could give this book a 10 stars i would.
Thank You Alan Gratz for letting the world know the Truth.

Switching between the three main characters Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud really gave me a exceptional perception of the conflicts refugees face every single day.

Josef’s was by far the most alluring. Having to abandon the life he once knew all because of his religion, continually on the run from Hitler and his Nazi’s. Trying to keep his family from crumbling like stale bread, when he father was sent to a concentration camp. I just found his narrative to be the most bitter.

I found Isabel’s narrative on the other hand to be a bit dull. The setting for her story was mostly on a little boat in the middle of the Atlantic ocean trying to get from Cuba to Florida. During her whole trip I only found two events to be appalling. When Ivan died and when Isabel’s mother had her baby on the little boat. Other than that I felt that this story was dragged out longer than it should’ve been.

Mahmoud’s narrative was very maniacal. Having your house blown up right in front of his eyes, living in a refugee camp, being held at gunpoint, having gas sprayed in his face, and finally being separated from his family in the middle of the ocean. His narrative was more enterprising then let’s say Isabel’s. His and Josef’s stories really kept me on the edge of my seat.

The constant fear of not knowing if you would live to see the next day was always running through their minds, every single day. All three of them could only hope that their future would turn out well.

Overall, this book was very intense. I recommend this book to everyone. I believe anyone would fall in love with this book. Hands down one of the best books I have ever read.

-Miranda

Geared towards middle grade readers, and obviously didactic, this is a timely tale, featuring three (fictional children, but based in fact) stories of refugees fleeing war torn countries for the safety of America. Josef is a Jew fleeing Nazi Europe in the 1940s, Isabel is a Cuban running from Castro in the 1990s and, lastly, Mahmoud a Syrian boy fleeing his war-torn country in 2015.

All three stories are harrowing, poignant and educational, but also emotional and interesting to read. The tales are moving and in no way feel like homework, even though they're clearly designed to illustrate just what a refugee is -- what they go through to get here, and why they're willing to sacrifice everything to survive.

My 10-year-old said it made his "heart hurt" and asked how we could help kids like this. The modern tale is especially important, as we tend to think of such horrible things befalling children as from another era, not something that happens "today," but especially given the current political climate in America this book is a much needed treatise on human nature, kindness and our will to survive and care for those less fortunate than us.

I cried reading it as well. Well done and important.

Wonderful book! I would highly recommend this book for young adults or young teens who like historical fiction. This book is full of tragedies, high points, low points and sadness. I think that there is a lot of violence and sadness. Three different kids who have to leave their homeland with their families for safety. These 3 kids face lots of danger and have to make very hard choices. Refugee may be a little depressing for some people, especially if you know these things really happened to some people. I would recommend reading a happy book after you read Refugee. Overall, Refugee is a must read. (written by an 11-year-old)

Refugee is an amazing story that will stick with me for a long time. Gratz writes of three refugees from different times: Josef, a Jew during World War II, Isabel, a Cuban in 1994 and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015. Each child is forced to leave their country for different reasons, yet all three have the experience of being a refugee and trying to find a home in a new place. Gratz's story is full of suspense, and chapter endings often left me hanging, wanting to know what would happen next. Gratz does a fantastic job of tying these three people together by book's end, despite the different time periods.

Although I read this for enjoyment (and loved it), as an educator I can see so many ways middle school teachers could use this book in their classrooms. I am hoping this becomes a must read for students at a way of looking at how history repeats itself, how we can learn from past events, how our community can help refugees, and giving an awareness of the political environment in different places that lead people to leave their homes.

This is one of the best middle grade/YA novels I've read this year.

Not sure I would add this to my children's personal library, but this is an outstanding book for school and classroom libraries for mature elementary students. Author Gratz alternates the stories of three refugees, a Jewish refugee who ends up on board the ship which was turned away by the U.S., a Cuban refugee and a Syrian refugee. This book accurately portrays the refugee experience which means it may be a bit rough for some elementary students, but for the mature student, it allows children to see the similarities of the refugee experience over the decades and helps them empathize with refugees from all countries. The three different refugees stories are told in ways that highlight the similarities. This is an apolitical book which creates empathy and understanding. I'd love to see it in every school library.

Josef, a Jewish boy in 1939 Germany, Isabella, a girl in 1994 Cuba, and Mahmoud, a boy in 2015 Syria, all must flee their countries with their families. Time and location separate them, but their fears and emotions are much the same. The twists and turns of the journeys take the refugees from hope to despair to ???. Not all of the stories end happily, but there are survivors in each story. For many American children this book would be an eye opener to the circumstances with which many children must deal. I highly recommend this book and feel that it would provide a good place to begin a discussion of refugees today.

This book was very well written and captivating, and captured the heartbreak and devastation of refugees across the world and across decades. The end of each story was particularly wrenching and has motivated me to do more to help refugees. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book is an absolute MUST read for children (probably 5th grade +?) and adults! It is a beautiful book that weaves together stories of three refugee children from three different time periods and places in the world. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter, filled with worry and concern for these three families...I couldn't put it down because I had to know what happend to them!

I read this book in a day because it is absolutely impossible to put down and completely phenomenal. As an immigrant whose family sought political asylum, I somewhat related to this story of three refugee teens: Josef (whose family is attempting to escape Nazi Germany), Isabel (a Cuban girl—like myself—whose family is on a raft sailing to America) and Mahmoud (a Syrian boy whose homeland is torn apart by Civil War). Intriguing and heartfelt, I highly recommend this YA novel.

Beautiful and heart wrenching story, I was in tears by the time I was done reading it. It gives you a reminder that these are some people’s realities and it reminds me of how blessed we are. The choices and sacrifices that the characters had to make were so painful I felt as if I was the one making them (especially the mother’s sacrificing so much for a future for their children) it was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. And I agree with the age range that is recommended for this book because children should know how blessed they are to not have to go through these terrible situations and learn to look around them and be grateful. I also love how even though these events are decades apart, they still have ties and connections by the end of the story. I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere who want to know more about how the world around us really is.

The author does a very good job of showing the horrendous difficulties refugees face when fleeing violence in their home countries. Gratz doesn't limit himself to modern refugees, but instead uses three different time periods and cultural settings to demonstrate that refugees often face the same obstacles. The writing is a bit clunky at times, but this is overcome by the stories themselves.

Engrossing stories of how children, forced to leave their war-torn homelands, have to grow up fast to survive. Three parallel stores, separated by decades, are based on actual events, including the current war in Syria. I recommend this book for Middle Graders, but also for every adult. This book brings home the fact that refugees aren’t bit players on cable news, but fellow humans who have been stripped of everything we hold dear.

"Refugee" is an outstanding book on this timely subject.
The book is about the plights of three different children who, along with their families, must leave their countries at different times in history.

Josef, fleeing Germany, heading for Cuba in 1939.
Isabel fleeing Cuba, heading for Florida in 1994.
Mahmoud, fleeing Syria, heading for Germany in 2015.

Each child has a story to tell, and each story is filled with longing, nostalgia, high hopes and dashed hopes.
Each child's experience is unique, yet true of the enormous number of refugees of his time.

Josef is a child who wants to be a man, in fact he technically becomes one according to Jewish custom in a ceremony held while he is sailing for freedom.
But Josef also remains an easily distracted and impulsive boy, endangering his own family several times during their seemingly endless journey.

Isabel is a lyrical soul.
She played a violin back home, and she continues to strive to hear the elusive "clave" underlying the traditional Cuban music she loves.
Isabel is travelling with too many people aboard an appallingly inadequate homemade boat.
Her thoughts as she travels are like music and poetry, deep and delightful.

Mahmoud also longs to be a man. He and his family decided to leave Syria when half of their apartment home collapsed during a bomb raid.
Mahmoud does his utmost to help preserve his family and keep them alive. During their long hard flight to freedom, we watch as tribulation indeed turns him into man, and a fine and courageous one at that.

Anyone at any time could become a refugee in our world of turmoil. As more and more people must leave their homelands, more and more people are becoming less compassionate, less willing to see refugees as real people, as these souls huddle together like animals; often treated with less compassion than animals.

Alan Gratz does an impressive job with this book. His characters are real to us, and we feel what they feel as they chart unknown waters in search of homes to replace the ones they lost.

This book doesn't spare the target audience, children age 9-12, the hard facts of being a refugee. But Mr. Gratz does take into consideration the age of his audience, I believe.
For the most part I think children of our day can handle reading this book, preferably with a trusted adult to help them get the most and the best out of it. An adult viewpoint will also help them come to terms with the often unkind way humans deal with each other.

Be forewarned, there is one incident mentioned in the book that I found truly horrifying.
I strongly objected to its being included, but on thinking it over, I realized that really, it was pertinent to the story line.
I still wish it wasn't there.

"Refugee" is a book for adults as well as for children. Perhaps even more so.
Gratz has done society an excellent service by writing this book, and opening our eyes to one of the worst plights of our fellow human beings.

I read this book in a day because it is absolutely impossible to put down and completely phenomenal. As an immigrant whose family sought political asylum, I somewhat related to this story of three refugee teens: Josef (whose family is attempting to escape Nazi Germany), Isabel (a Cuban girl—like myself—whose family is on a raft sailing to America) and Mahmoud (a Syrian boy whose homeland is torn apart by Civil War). Intriguing and heartfelt, I highly recommend this YA novel.

Refugee by Alan Gratz was published in 2017. This was a wonderful book that showcased the story of refugees from different time periods and circumstances, although the way all the stories are connected in the end is not as fantastic as it is stated on the cover of the book.
This book is a historical fiction book just like other titles by Alan Gratz such as Prisoner B-3087, Projekt 1065, and finally the book you are interested about Refugee. Refugee takes place in three main time periods. The first time period is Nazi Germany and it is centered around Josef and his family who are Jews living in Germany around the time that Kristallnacht takes place. During Kristallnacht their home is raided and Josefs father is taken away to a concentration camp. The second time period is Fidel Castro era Cuba around 1994 this time period focuses on Isabel, a young Cuban girl trying to escape Cuba with her family. During this time period Cubans are rioting in Havana and Fidel Castro issues a statement that any Cubans willing to leave Cuba could and they would not be punished by the government. The final time period is modern day Syria during the Syrian Civil War. This time periods main characters is Mahmoud and his family. Their family home was just recently bombed and destroyed so they begin their long journey from Syria to Germany.
Refugee is altogether a magnificent book that shows the struggles of refugees from the past and in the present all across the world and how much they have to go through.

Beautiful and heart wrenching story, I was in tears by the time I was done reading it. It gives you a reminder that these are some people’s realities and it reminds me of how blessed we are. The choices and sacrifices that the characters had to make were so painful I felt as if I was the one making them (especially the mother’s sacrificing so much for a future for their children) it was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. And I agree with the age range that is recommended for this book because children should know how blessed they are to not have to go through these terrible situations and learn to look around them and be grateful. I also love how even though these events are decades apart, they still have ties and connections by the end of the story. I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere who want to know more about how the world around us really is.

The author does a very good job of showing the horrendous difficulties refugees face when fleeing violence in their home countries. Gratz doesn't limit himself to modern refugees, but instead uses three different time periods and cultural settings to demonstrate that refugees often face the same obstacles. The writing is a bit clunky at times, but this is overcome by the stories themselves.

Engrossing stories of how children, forced to leave their war-torn homelands, have to grow up fast to survive. Three parallel stores, separated by decades, are based on actual events, including the current war in Syria. I recommend this book for Middle Graders, but also for every adult. This book brings home the fact that refugees aren’t bit players on cable news, but fellow humans who have been stripped of everything we hold dear.

"Refugee" is an outstanding book on this timely subject.
The book is about the plights of three different children who, along with their families, must leave their countries at different times in history.

Josef, fleeing Germany, heading for Cuba in 1939.
Isabel fleeing Cuba, heading for Florida in 1994.
Mahmoud, fleeing Syria, heading for Germany in 2015.

Each child has a story to tell, and each story is filled with longing, nostalgia, high hopes and dashed hopes.
Each child's experience is unique, yet true of the enormous number of refugees of his time.

Josef is a child who wants to be a man, in fact he technically becomes one according to Jewish custom in a ceremony held while he is sailing for freedom.
But Josef also remains an easily distracted and impulsive boy, endangering his own family several times during their seemingly endless journey.

Isabel is a lyrical soul.
She played a violin back home, and she continues to strive to hear the elusive "clave" underlying the traditional Cuban music she loves.
Isabel is travelling with too many people aboard an appallingly inadequate homemade boat.
Her thoughts as she travels are like music and poetry, deep and delightful.

Mahmoud also longs to be a man. He and his family decided to leave Syria when half of their apartment home collapsed during a bomb raid.
Mahmoud does his utmost to help preserve his family and keep them alive. During their long hard flight to freedom, we watch as tribulation indeed turns him into man, and a fine and courageous one at that.

Anyone at any time could become a refugee in our world of turmoil. As more and more people must leave their homelands, more and more people are becoming less compassionate, less willing to see refugees as real people, as these souls huddle together like animals; often treated with less compassion than animals.

Alan Gratz does an impressive job with this book. His characters are real to us, and we feel what they feel as they chart unknown waters in search of homes to replace the ones they lost.

This book doesn't spare the target audience, children age 9-12, the hard facts of being a refugee. But Mr. Gratz does take into consideration the age of his audience, I believe.
For the most part I think children of our day can handle reading this book, preferably with a trusted adult to help them get the most and the best out of it. An adult viewpoint will also help them come to terms with the often unkind way humans deal with each other.

Be forewarned, there is one incident mentioned in the book that I found truly horrifying.
I strongly objected to its being included, but on thinking it over, I realized that really, it was pertinent to the story line.
I still wish it wasn't there.

"Refugee" is a book for adults as well as for children. Perhaps even more so.
Gratz has done society an excellent service by writing this book, and opening our eyes to one of the worst plights of our fellow human beings.

I am excited to share this book with my 8th and 9th graders. While it is targeted to the 9-12 year old age range, my students with language based learning disabilities will enjoy this book. It is interesting the way the author uses three different perspectives across different eras and cultures to tell the story. I think my students, especially the ones that enjoy historic fiction. As an adult reader, I was captivated by this book and I found it to be a great page turner.

This book was expertly crafted with three narrators that hooked the reader immediately with their curiosity, sensitivity, and bravery.

The action and tension was so real, at times I felt myself flinch while turning the pages.

It's a wonderfully educational piece of history fiction for middle grade and YA readers, while at the same time supremely emotional and moving. Wow!

This is a YA novel that is prescient for today's times. It tells the stories of three refugees, and the remarkable likenesses between the stories would be excellent discussion points for kids. I highly recommend this book, especially for teachers looking for a book with a historical focus, yet current on today's issues.

I generally don't gravitate towards historical fiction, but this book was highly recommended and I decided to read the first few chapters and see what all the fuss was about. I finished the book in a couple of days and genuinely enjoyed it. Thank you Alan Gratz for this eye opening story about what refugees face in their struggle to survive.

This book can be found on the classroom program Accelerated Reader
BL: 5.3 - AR Quiz Pts: 10.0

Although written for middle school aged children, this coming of age story about sacrifice, loss, and resilience should be read by all. I finished the book within hours because I just simply couldn't put it down unless I had to. My heart ached for the three children and their families.

I just wish that Gratz included somewhere within the story line, or in his author's note that two of these children came from a life with privilege and that was what helped in their journey. Mahmoud's father was an engineer and Josef's father was a lawyer. Both families were able to stash away cash and pay their way to freedom. This is far from the reality for many and since this book is meant to be enjoyed by young ones I worry what kind of impression that might leave.

As a junior high librarian, I purchased several of Gratz’s WWII historical fiction works and the eighth graders, especially, kept them checked out. Now a 4th-5th grade librarian, I eagerly purchased his latest historical fiction book, “Refugee,” which was recently placed on the 2018-2019 Texas Bluebonnet list which is geared towards my patrons’ age group. The premise of following three refugee children from three different time periods and three different regions of the world intrigued me. Reviewers compare Refugee to Pam Munoz Ryan’s masterpiece Bluebonnet nominee “Echo” and Munoz herself praises Gratz’s book. So with great excitement, I dove in! Verdict? It’s a winner. All three featured children, Syrian refugee Mahmoud, Cuban Isabel and Jewish Josef, are all vividly described and readers will anxiously read on to discover the fate of the trio and their families. History buffs will appreciate Gratz’s attempt to stay more on the historical side of the genre rather than the fiction. While the three stories do not come together as seamlessly as Munoz achieved with her triad of children in “Echo,” readers will not be disappointed and I look forward to actively promoting this book with my students. Adults who might worry about the potential intensity of the content need not worry—while factual, Gratz does not elaborate unnecessarily on the hardships of war torn Aleppo, the atrocities perpetuated by the Nazi regime or the dangers of sailing from Cuba to Miami in a homemade craft. Students in grades 4-9 should read this one, but those at the lower end of that range may find the 300+ pages and 5+ reading level a bit intimidating. Great choice for families to read and discuss together.

The audio version of this book was great. Three different narrators, for each of the main characters, each with the appropriate pronunciation to add variation and reality to the story. Loved how the 3 refugee's countries of refuge tied together. The novel was a very somber picture of how refugees have had to struggle over years, and unfortunately, will likely continue. Really made me think of what it would be like to be in their shoes and how it would feel to be turned away by so many.

Refugee.
Wow - This book is so moving and powerful. Is a read that you will not forget.
Touches your soul and leaves a mark on you.
Now first thing is I personally am not so sure about the age range for this book.
It is marked Age Range: 9 - 12 years or Grade Level: 4 - 7
I think this could be more for a mature 5th - 9th.
The chapters are easy reads and flows well for the younger age range however this is very heavy subject matter.
Those kids who are more tenderhearted will not do well reading this too soon.
As you can imagine being that subject that it is there is death and the writing is done so well that at times I was so caught up in it really felt like was there with the character that was dealing with the tragedy. Like I said this is such a powerful heart wrenching at times story.
Though the characters in the three different stories are fictitious they are based on real things that happened and in the back of the book there is a part that talks about the real characters in each time period and what they went through.

The story is really three different stories going on at the same time.
1st Josef Berlin Germany 1938
2nd Isabel Havana Cuba 1994
3rd Mahmoud Aleppo Syria 2015

Now at first this drove me crazy but the chapters are short enough and after the first few it just came naturally the flow was so smooth.
Each is going through similar things at the same time. Not going do any spoilers but by the end they are woven together in such amazing ways.
This would make a great read for a classroom to do together. Really open up for conversation.
If you have a younger child reading this you will want to be sure to read it before they do so you can talk through things or read it with them at the same time.
The conversations alone that students will have after reading this makes me say this should really be one that6th or 7th grade classrooms read.

As a middle school librarian, I have been look for the perfect book to introduce my students to the plight of refugees- especially the current experiences of Syrians. This book is a home run. I bought 50 copies and we made it out all school read. It's only the 3rd week of school and all copies are checked out and we have 72 students on hold already. ❤️

While reading Refugee, my feelings were along the lines of "This is an okay book. Not great, not bad. Just okay. Three star worthy, for sure." Somewhere along the way, though, this book changed to a four star book.

The Good: Refugee is a middle grade novel. A middle grade novel dealing with the atrocities that come with war and being a refugee. With it being a middle grade novel, I had assumed that those atrocities would be, I don't want to say dumbed down, but rather would be downplayed. I was happy to see that it wasn't. You get a really good picture of the destruction that war causes.

The Eh: I feel like there was a lot packed into Refugee. It's supposed to be like three books in one since we have three completely different journeys, but I feel like there was enough here that it would have been more cohesive to have three completely separate books focusing on each of the journeys. I also wasn't a huge fan of how Refugee was written. Stylistically, there were just a few things that were a bit off-putting for me (i.e. like the sounds being verbalized).

So, why did I end up giving Refugee four stars instead of the three that I had originally been debating? Because in the last 10 pages of the book, I started bawling my eyes out. The resolution to one of the journeys was just so utterly heartbreaking and it really got to me. And if a book can make me feel that much, I think that it's worthy of that fourth star.

In the end, I highly recommend Refugee. It was an action-packed yet heartbreaking book that deals with a subject matter that's just so incredibly important.

This is an extraordinary set of stories about three children who are forced from their homes and lives.

It is incredibly timely for children who are safe. This is a high interest story.

It is about yesterday and today. It is about fear and hope.

While the writing is clunky at times and the stories' connections seem forced, my main objection to this book is the recommended age range. It is unconscionable to suggest that even a very mature 4th grader could handle this story, full as it is of deaths by drowning, shark bites and casual sadism. Yes, it is a "true" and important story, and yes, how lucky the children under my care at my K-5 library ("snowflakes" all) are to be sheltered from the brutal facts of the world, but traumatizing them with stories of people hung upside down and drowned slowly in barrels will not develop their empathy & awareness in any real way. I don't believe any child younger than 14 (roughly the age of the children in the three main stories) has the emotional maturity to handle the numerous intense scenes in this book.

This book felt so honest and true to each culture. It was fast paced and emotional. I loved seeing these stories of hope. Isabel’s journey seemed like one that many immigrants make to chase the American dream, but it always comes at a cost. I was torn by the culmination of Josef’s story. He sacrificed everything to save someone he loved, and he really became a brave man, like he had always hoped. Mahmoud’s change from being wanting to be invisible to understanding the importance of being visible to get help was also a big breakthrough. I would recommend this book to my middle school students and any fans of historical fiction.

This was a difficult, but necessary book to read. It follows the refugee experience of three children escaping from Nazi Germany, Cuba, and Syria. The book rotates each chapter telling it from that child’s perspective. Each chapter somehow manages to end on a cliffhanger, which is no small feat. The stories are hard, raw, real, and stirring.

This was an absolutely amazing book! Three intense, realistic refugee stories rotating between three different children's experiences at three different points of history. The writing is incredibly engaging, not just to read the next page or chapter, but the next 3 chapters, as you have to read the next two chapters about the other characters, just to find out what happens next. The final connections are a creative surprise!

I rate this book 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get an idea of what refugees go through to find a better life. It gives you details of the journey people go through to escape their countries, the disappointments of rejection, the loss of someone you love and hope to keep going even if is hard. This book has 3 different stories, in 3 different time periods and all connected.

My 13 year old daughter is reading this for her summer reading for middle school. Tonight she told me that reading this is making her feel really sad and that she wishes that her summer reading was more cheerful... I think that it's OK if she feels uncomfortably sad. That is how you learn how to feel empathy. We need to read this book so that we can understand the HORRIBLE situations that would make people flee their homes . . . .

Alan Gratz’s young adult novel “Refugee” is being added to book lists in schools across the world at the moment, and is getting great reviews on the store.

So I thought I’d offer my thoughts on the book, as a parent whose child has been given the book as required reading in school.

TL;DR review: Intellectually dishonest, politically biased. An average read but requiring strong parental supervision. Some strong violence.

NOTE: This post contains many spoilers.

Broad overview of Gratz’s 2016 novel “Refugee”

Refugee follows the stories of three young adults, as their families leave their homes in search of a better life. Josef is a Jew attempting to escape Nazi Germany in 1938, Isabel and her family are part of the Balseros fleet exiting Cuba in 1994, and Mahmoud is leaving war-torn Syria with his family in 2015.

The three stories are rotated evenly, so each chapter we follow the adventures of each character, and many chapters end on a cliffhanger.

Josef’s story is based on the infamous historic journey on the MS St Louis, which carried over 900 Jewish refugees to Cuba, then was denied entry. While Josef is fictional, the events in his portion of the story are based in reality. Of the 937 Jewish refugees on board, approximately one quarter eventually ended up dying during the Holocaust.

Isabel’s story is based on a rough account of the infamous balseros, the hundreds of thousands of Cubans who built rafts and found their way to the USA to avoid communism during Castro’s regime.

Mahmoud’s story is based, according to Gratz’s comments in the epilogue, largely on mass media stories and photographs of the Syrian refugee’s movements through Europe since 2015.

Is it well-written?

For the most part, the story is well-written, although it is very derivative.

I found the conclusion of Joself’s story in particular, which is pretty much a re-hash of the Meryl Streep movie Sophie’s Choice, to be a cheap cop out. Perhaps Gratz didn’t figure his young readers would notice his lack of originality?

As a reader, I would have liked to see more originality in some of the key events in the novel. It felt very much like Gratz was more interested in pushing a political point than in creating memorable characters, interesting dialogue and challenging scenes. Some characters seemed to exist purely for shock value (soldiers getting shot in the head in Syria, Hana the baby being separated from Mahmoud’s family, Josef’s father going crazy and diving off the MS St Louis), and the tie-ins between the character plotlines at the conclusion were obvious and forced.

Is it historically accurate?

Yes – and no. Gratz does admit that he takes poetic license with many of the plot details. The bigger question is strong bias, rather than historical accuracy.

Is it politically biased?

The novel is very politically biased, and I would argue that the primary reason for Gratz writing the novel is to sway his young audience politically and emotionally, resulting in manipulating their viewpoint of current hot topic political events in Europe.

The big question is – are all his three protagonists actually refugees?

I’d argue that only one qualifies for the term for the entirety of his story, yet by linking the three protagonsists, Gratz associates the term “refugee” with all three, thereby gaining sympathy ad political support for all three.

Josef

There is absolutely no doubt, historically and politically, that the Jews of the MS St Louis were genuine refugees, and deserving of the term. At all points in Josef’s story he is in fear for his life, he has a regime after him who will kill him given the chance, he is attempting to find a safe place for his family, and he is on the run. As Josef considers on page 226, “He would live anywhere so long as it was away from the Nazis.”

Isabel

Isabel and her family, by comparison, are not in fear for their lives in Cuba by the Castro regime. They do not leave Cuba because they is under a death sentence. Her father is seen rioting (which in most countries is a criminal act), and they leave to avoid him being put in prison as a criminal.

While this is an understandable thing to want to do, and the Castro regime resulted in pretty much a failed state and much hardship, I don’t view it as Isabel being a “refugee”. I view it as being a criminal and his family on the run.

During Isabel’s journey, her best friend dies as a result of a shark attack, so it could also be argued that they would have been better off remaining in Cuba, where her young friend would have lived rather than died.

Overall, it is made clear that Isabel and her family are in search of a better life, but this doesn’t mean they are refugees. It simply means they are hopeful immigrants.

Mahmoud

As for Mahmoud, he is a refugee at the beginning of his journey, as his home is shelled by an air strike and he is left with nowhere to live. It is absolutely clear that his family cannot stay in his home city of Aleppo.

But very early on in the story he and his family reach safety across the Turkish border, and are granted asylum, safety and a place to stay in a Turkish refugee camp.

This is not good enough for Mahmoud and his family, and from this point on in the story, they decide to become criminals, hiding out in an abandoned shopping mall, living on the streets, paying illegal people smugglers to smuggle them across to Lesbos in Greece, crossing borders illegal, becoming involved in a riot on the Hungarian border, breaking through a border fence into Hungary, and breaking out of detention centers in Austria.

They also lose track of Mahmoud’s baby sister when the people smuggler’s dingy sinks, and they almost drown – both of these terrible events could have been avoided had they stayed in their safe refugee camp in Turkey.

By this point in the story – for the majority of Mahmoud’s story – they are shopping around for a better life, and are no longer refugees. At one point in the story, they actually refuse to stay in Hungary when offered the option, because it is not their preferred destination.

Should you talk to your child about the issues in the novel?

Absolutely yes.

Children are easily swayed, and the material in the story is presented in such a way that kids would undoubtedly believe that all three protagonists are equally deserving of sympathy and assistance, yet that is clearly not the case. The book’s own content cannot even make such a case.

I would argue that the book is extreme-left propaganda, fuelling a globalist point of view and encouraging children to support the movement of more people across borders.

While you may or may not agree with this political stance, it is disingenuous to present false narratives that equate all immigrant stories as equal to one another, as Gratz does in “Refugee.”

Should schools be adding this book to required reading lists?

I do not believe so. I believe strongly that schools should stay out of politics, and should not be setting such books on reading lists. Setting such a book is tantamount to brainwashing, in my opinion.

Should you prevent your child from reading “Refugee”?

I believe it depends on the parent. In our case, our twelve-year-old was set this book in school, and at first we were thinking of requesting that she sit out of class, and read something else instead.

However, what we have decided is that we will encourage her to read the book, but we have read it too, and are discussing its contents at home, using the novel as a great example of “What Not To Read”, and how what we read can sway how we think.

Some reading list alternatives to “Refugee”

Books that deal with the issue of genuine refugees that you may want your child to read instead include Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl and Ian Serrailler’s The Silver Sword. The former needs no introduction. The latter deals with the journey of three children across the battlefields of Europe from Poland to Switzerland in an attempt to find their parents.

Refuge is a book about 3 people fleeing their countries for different reasons. I really liked this book because each chapter of each person's story is a cliffhanger. I would recommend this book to people who like to be in someone else's shoes. Overall this is a really good book.
-Alexander H. 11 years old

This was a thrilling, intriguing, compelling story. I was tears throughout and eager to find out how each character's story ended. The history intertwined was powerfully told through the perspectives of the three characters. This is a must read!

This book follows the journey of 3 families from 3 different countries in 3 different time periods. I literally had no idea what these refugees went through to find a safe way of live. The trials they went through, EVEN today. It’s not a happy book but as a person I think we should all be educated with what a “refugee” truly is. I will be passing this book on to my kids and husband, a history teacher. There is no language or gross stuff that I can remember not to recommend to kids - other than it being such a serious subject. Excellent read.

Amazing story! I would recommend this story for middle school and up. Extremely intense, yet very current. Exploring the lives of 4 young people who are leaving their homelands in turmoil to find a new home.

I'm in 6th grade and my friend recommended this book. I cried 2 times, both near the end. Really helped me understand how hard life is for some people. I didn't think they had cell phones in Syria. Each of the stories connected to one of the others. Isabel's story connects to Joseff's story and Joseff's story connects to Mahmoud's story.

Refugee is a wonderful book because of it's heart-warming and nail-biting sequence to make you want to read more. Refugee is a wonderful book about the lives of three children who are seeking refuge in times of hardship in their home countries. This book shows that with the power of love and courage, anything is possible.

This book should be mandatory reading for everyone. Especially i today's divisive and nationalistic society. t's a reminder of how history repeats itself, and that we continue to punish the innocent. And a reminder of the need for compassion and tolerance.

I thought it was an important story and worth reading. I just didn’t like how quickly the story changed between characters. I didn’t have time to settle into one character before the booker switched into another.

Such a sad and powerful book. It is a true statement; they don't see us until we do things they don't like.

3 stories. 3 different time periods. 3 countries. All interconnected and intertwined. Loved everything about this book.

Garbage. We should not allow insidious propaganda to teach our children that we should help the Third World destroy our culture by allowing invaders to sew violence among us and replace us in the process.

Through his historical fiction novel Refugee, author Alan Gratz offers readers the opportunity to walk miles in the shoes of three young respected children: Josef, a Jewish boy living under Nazi’s control in 1930s in Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl striving to keep his family together in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy who watches his home turn into the broken pieces of waste. The distance of their homeland may be far, and the time periods of their suffering may be different, but they are all in the search for an unknown land people call home. Until they find that place, they will have to learn how to ignore their hunger, tiredness, fear and continue to take another step. Through Gratz’s words, readers are able to completely live through the reality of these young children’s lives.

Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud’s stories represent thousands of lives. They are voices that are being used to remind the readers of how our lives are being tied, despite the geography and time. In our modern world, many cut the string that ties us together. We forget that any of us could fall and we might need a hand that can rescue us. Gratz is reiterating the importance of picking one another up. In our recent time, we tend to ignore the one we see fall. If you want to discover the uniqueness of how we are being tied and learn the secret of Gratz tying all three stories together, while learning how to stand with resilience in the middle of “the dark sea”, then I highly recommend this book.

Refugee by Alan Gratz was published in 2017. This was a wonderful book that showcased the story of refugees from different time periods and circumstances, although the way all the stories are connected in the end is not as fantastic as it is stated on the cover of the book.
This book is a historical fiction book just like other titles by Alan Gratz such as Prisoner B-3087, Projekt 1065, and finally the book you are interested about Refugee. Refugee takes place in three main time periods. The first time period is Nazi Germany and it is centered around Josef and his family who are Jews living in Germany around the time that Kristallnacht takes place. During Kristallnacht their home is raided and Josefs father is taken away to a concentration camp. The second time period is Fidel Castro era Cuba around 1994 this time period focuses on Isabel, a young Cuban girl trying to escape Cuba with her family. During this time period Cubans are rioting in Havana and Fidel Castro issues a statement that any Cubans willing to leave Cuba could and they would not be punished by the government. The final time period is modern day Syria during the Syrian Civil War. This time periods main characters is Mahmoud and his family. Their family home was just recently bombed and destroyed so they begin their long journey from Syria to Germany.
Refugee is altogether a magnificent book that shows the struggles of refugees from the past and in the present all across the world and how much they have to go through.

What a truly moving book. It was recommended to me by a family member and WOW I didn't know what I was in for. So many tears...I didn't think my heart could be broken over and over again as I fell in love with the characters and longed to help them... I'll definitely be looking for a way to help those in real need right now. Thank you so much for writing this book, Mr. Gratz. I applaud you.

This book is very well written. It is sad and made me cry. I feel much more grateful for what I have now.. I would recommend it, but it is very sad, so be prepared to cry. It made me feel our current president and vice president should be abdicated. -- Lola.

I really enjoyed the way the author weaves three different refugee plot lines into a overall narrative. I think that this book is geared towards young adults, especially high school and college students. It was a fast read but had enough plot twists to keep me interested.

Oh my goodness. This book. These characters. Refugee by Alan Gratz is middle grade literature at its finest, and once again, my mind is blown by the quality and richness of the stories that are available to our children. Kid lit has come such a long way since I was little, and I love it so much! I’d heard huge accolades about Refugee, and I’m always a bit nervous to read something when my expectations are set so high. But this book didn't let me down. To the contrary, Refugee exceeded my expectations. Simply put: it was absolutely phenomenal.

Refugee tells three seemingly separate stories that all merge in beautiful ways at the end. Josef is a young Jewish boy living in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. With the horrific threat of concentration camps on the near horizon, he boards the St. Louis with his family, seeking refuge on the other side of the world. Isabel is a Cuban girl, and her story is set in 1994 as riots and unrest plague her community and her country. She and her family set out on a scrappy raft for Miami, hoping for freedom and safety. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. When a bomb strikes his home and his entire world is torn apart by violence, he and his family begin a harrowing journey to Europe. All three kids are driven from their homes due to extreme danger, and all embark on unimaginable voyages towards refuge and freedom.

I cannot get over this book. The characterization was stellar. The settings were vivid and authentic, and though the stories shared many similarities, the uniqueness of each journey was made evident through the authors meticulously researched details. The pacing was terrific, the pages begged to be read, and the suspense left me with my heart in my throat. This is a must read -- for learning about world history, for providing windows into the harrowing experiences so many children face on a regular basis, and for recognizing that, despite our differences, we all long for the same things: safety, security, and a welcoming homeland in which to establish our roots. Two trunks up.