Refugee

Refugee by Alan Gratz is a powerful and emotional middle-grade historical fiction novel that follows the harrowing journeys of three young refugees from different time periods and places in history.

The book intertwines the stories of:

1.            Josef, a Jewish boy in 1939 Nazi Germany, who is forced to flee with his family on a ship, hoping to find safety in Cuba as the Nazis close in.

2.            Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1994, who sets out with her family on a makeshift boat to escape the poverty and violence of Havana, risking their lives in search of a better future.

3.            Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015, who must leave his war-torn home in Aleppo to find safety, enduring a perilous journey through Europe and facing dangerous obstacles along the way.

As their stories unfold, readers see the common thread of hope, survival, and the will to find a safe place in a world torn apart by war, persecution, and violence. Gratz’s novel vividly portrays the struggles and strength of these young protagonists as they each confront the horrors of being a refugee, while reminding readers of the shared humanity that connects us all.

Through these compelling narratives, Refugee highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of empathy, understanding, and support for those who are displaced and seeking refuge.