For audio files, please go to YouTube and search "Refugee audiobook" for a free reading of the novel.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=refugee+by+alan+gratz+audiobook
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=refugee+by+alan+gratz+audiobook
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name:____________________
Day 1 Page 1-33 (Chapter 1 - 6 on audio)
Josef, Berlin, Germany 1938:
Isabel, Cuba 1994:
Mahmoud, Aleppo, Syria 2015:
Discussion Questions:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Indignation p.17: anger at supposed unfair conduct or treatment
Truncheon p. 28 a short club carried by a police officer
Adhan p. 30 Islamic call to worship, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day.
Catatonic p. 31 not responsive due to illness, not emotional, in a catatonic state
Qur’an p. 31 the Islamic holy book, believed to be the word of God as told to Muhammed and written down in Arabic.
Refugee
Day 2: pages 34-65 (Chapter 7 -
Josef:
Isabel:
_______________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
Vocabulary: Gestapo p.34 Nazi’s secret state poice
Discussion Questions:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Refugee
Day 3: page 66-98
Mahmoud:
Josef:
Isabel:
Discussion Questions:
Vocabulary:
Refugee
Day 4: p. 99-135
Isabel:
Mahmoud:
Josef:
Discussion questions:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Lenient: (p.102): to go easy on (in terms of punishment)
Squatters: (p.108): claiming ownership by (illegally) occupying a building or space
Inconsolable: (p.133): unable to be comforted
Refugee
Day 5: 136-170
Isabel:
Josef:
Mahmoud:
____________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
Vocabulary:
Pandemonium (p.148) wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name; ______________________
Day 6: 171-202
Isabel:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Josef:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Thinking ahead:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name: ________________
Day 7: 203-235
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
Isabel:
_________________________________________________________________
Josef:
Mahmoud:
Discussion Questions:
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name: ________________
Day 8: 236-269
ANSWER IN COMPLETE SENTENCES!
Josef:
Isabel:
Mahmoud:
Discussion Questions:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 1 Page 1-33 (Chapter 1 - 6 on audio)
Josef, Berlin, Germany 1938:
- Why were there “shadows” in Josef Landau’s house? And who were they? _______________________________________________________________________
- What was forbidden under the Civil Service Restoration Act of 1933? Where were they taking Aaron Landau? _____________________________________________________
- What is Kristallnacht? _____________________________________________________
- What is the bright yellow star of David represent? _______________________________
- What mistake did Josef make in the train? _____________________________________
- Why had Klaus joined Hitler youth? P.23 _____________________________________
Isabel, Cuba 1994:
- What happened when the Soviets left Cuba? (p.8) _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ - What was the name of the Havana baseball team? _______________________________
- What was the “doghouse”?__________________________________________________
- Who was Fidel Castro? ____________________________________________________
- What is Isbel’s nickname? __________________________________________________
- Why did Isabel’s Papi have to leave Cuba, tonight!? P. 28-29
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud, Aleppo, Syria 2015:
- Why was Mahmoud “invisible”? __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - What is a barrel bomb? P.13 ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - Who is Bashar al-Assad? And how was he “elected” p, 14 ______________________________________________________________________
- What is the “Arab Spring” refer to? ________________________________________
- What are the two types of muslims represented by Mahmoud and Khalid? p.16
- What happened to Mahmoud’s apartment after he finished prayers? p.32____________
_____________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think the Arabic proverb “Close the door that brings the wind and relax” means? P.14
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What do you think that Hitler, Castro and Bashar al-Assad have in common? P. 26 “People caught criticizing Fidel were thrown into jail and never heard from again”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Compare Josef and Mahmoud’s invisibility.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What similarities have you noticed so far between the three stories?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Indignation p.17: anger at supposed unfair conduct or treatment
Truncheon p. 28 a short club carried by a police officer
Adhan p. 30 Islamic call to worship, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day.
Catatonic p. 31 not responsive due to illness, not emotional, in a catatonic state
Qur’an p. 31 the Islamic holy book, believed to be the word of God as told to Muhammed and written down in Arabic.
Refugee
Day 2: pages 34-65 (Chapter 7 -
Josef:
- What happened on the train to Hamburg that terrified Josef?
_______________________________________________________________________ - What had happened to Aaron Landau (Josef’s father)?
_______________________________________________________________________ - What was the name of the ship? What was different about it?
_______________________________________________________________________ - Where was the ship headed? Why?
_______________________________________________________________________ - What is a bar mitzvah?
_______________________________________________________________________
Isabel:
- Why was there a riot on the Malecon? What caused it?
_______________________________________________________________________ - What does “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” refer to? P.41
_______________________________________________________________________
- What does Castro say on p. 43 that is important to Isabel’s family?
_______________________________________________________________________ - How does Isabel convince the Castillo family to take them in their “boat”?
_______________________________________________________________________ - Who was on the boat when they left the beach?
_______________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- Waleed’s eyes were empty but alive. Explain what is meant in this phrase.
_______________________________________________________________________ - Why didn’t the police or ambulances come to Mahmoud’s apartment after it had been hit?
_______________________________________________________________________ - Why are they leaving Aleppo so suddenly? Where are they going?
_______________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary: Gestapo p.34 Nazi’s secret state poice
Discussion Questions:
- What drove each of the 3 characters out of their homeland?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Although the three different stories take place over the span of 80 years, what binds them together? (Consider their ages, their family situations and the politics in their respective countries)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What risks do each of these characters take? At what point does someone feel the need to leave their homeland?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Refugee
Day 3: page 66-98
Mahmoud:
- Why do Mahmoud and Waleed react so differently at the road stop? P.67
______________________________________________________________________ - How does Waleed save them at the road stop?
______________________________________________________________________
- What country did Mahmoud and his family finally enter when they left Syria?
______________________________________________________________________
- Where are they hoping to end up?
______________________________________________________________________
Josef:
- What has happened to Josef’s father?
______________________________________________________________________
- Who is Gustav Schroeder?
______________________________________________________________________
- What other ships were the stewards talking about? (p.79)
______________________________________________________________________
- Is there really a race to reach Cuba?
______________________________________________________________________
Isabel:
- Who is the “other person” in the boat?
______________________________________________________________________
- What are some of their dreams and hopes for El Norte (the United States)?
______________________________________________________________________
- What is clave?
______________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- What is the significance of Josef’s bar mitzvah? Consider his family and their situation.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - Why does Alan Gratz use humour in each of these stories despite the terrible situations? Give an example for each character.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - Fight Against the Impossible and Win. is the slogan under Castro’s posters. How does this apply to Isabel, Josef and Mahmoud?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - What is asylum? P.90
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
- Hijab: a head covering that covers the head and shoulders, often worn by Muslim women
- Daesh (ISIS): a terrorist organization
- Kurds: member of (mainly pastoral) Muslim people living in mainly in Kurdistan and other areas of the Middle East.
- Shabbos: The Jewish Sabbath
- Synagogue: a Jewish house of prayer
- Yarmulkes: a skullcap worn by Jewish men and boys
- Squalid: very dirty and unpleasant
Refugee
Day 4: p. 99-135
Isabel:
- What news does Isabel’s grandfather (Lito) share with her and Ivan about el norte? What significance does this have?
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - What was the Maritime Law that they were trying to avoid?
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - What happened to Senor Castillo?
_____________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- What observation does Mahmoud make about Turkey compared to Syria
_____________________________________________________________________ - Who is trying to benefit from Mahmoud’s family’s distress?
_____________________________________________________________________ - Why was Mahmoud’s father refusing the offer of help from the man in the Skoda that spoke Arabic?
_____________________________________________________________________
Josef:
- Why did the ship need to slow down even though it had been going full speed to reach Cuba?
_____________________________________________________________________ - Josef sees the Malecon, where have we seen this before? P.130
_____________________________________________________________________
- How does Josef protect his father during the inspection?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Discussion questions:
- Josef’s father had survived in Dachau by staying quiet and not drawing attention to himself. How can being invisible help you survive? Consider the courage it takes to be visible?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
- Manana, tomorrow. How does this reflect the stories of Josef and Mahmoud? How can people keep hope in the face of constantly being told “tomorrow”?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Lenient: (p.102): to go easy on (in terms of punishment)
Squatters: (p.108): claiming ownership by (illegally) occupying a building or space
Inconsolable: (p.133): unable to be comforted
Refugee
Day 5: 136-170
Isabel:
- Who did Isabel jump into the water of the Gulf Stream to save from drowning?
_____________________________________________________________________ - What had happened to Isabel’s grandmother (Abuelita, Lita )?
____________________________________________________________________
Josef:
- What changes are taking place on the St. Louis?
- What did Otto Schiendick and his “firemen” do?
____________________________________________________________________ - The horrors of the traumas that Aaron Landau (his father) experienced in Dachau have taken control over him and left him paranoid and unable to cope. What does Aaron Landau do at the end of today’s reading?
____________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- What is the significance of arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos?
____________________________________________________________________ - What ends up happening to Mahmoud’s “boat”?
____________________________________________________________________
- What do we learn about the lifejackets?
____________________________________________________________________ - What has happened to baby Hana?
____________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- What do Isabel and Mahmoud’s stories have in common in today’s reading?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ - There are several references to being invisible, on p. 145 Mahmoud thinks, “Here he was at the mercy of nature, an invisible brown speck, in an invisible black rubber dinghy”. Does the world see refugees as invisible?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
- “So tired, so very, very tired.” Why is this line repeated in the different stories?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Pandemonium (p.148) wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name; ______________________
Day 6: 171-202
Isabel:
- Where does the boat end up in today’s reading?
- What is the dilemma they face at the shore?
__________________________________________________________________________
- What is their strategy for keeping the boat afloat?
__________________________________________________________________________
Josef:
- Why does Josef’s father yell “Let me die”?
__________________________________________________________________________
- How does Josef end this reading today?
__________________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- Where are Mahmoud and his family?
__________________________________________________________________________
- How did Mahmoud manage to save his mother?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
- What unimaginable task does Mahmoud’s father give him when they arrive on land?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- Why are so many countries unwilling to help refugees? Why are there laws prohibiting refugees from landing?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
- Why does everyone in Isabel’s boat start fighting?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
- Mahmoud thinks, “Now, at last, when he needed to be seen, he was truly invisible” p.192 How is this ironic?
__________________________________________________________________________
Thinking ahead:
- What memory do you think is coming back to Lito while they are in the boat? P.188
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name: ________________
Day 7: 203-235
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
Isabel:
- What does Lito think that they should name their “boat”? (Hint: Where have you seen this name before?)
_________________________________________________________________
- Explain what happened to Ivan.
_________________________________________________________________
- How do they bury Ivan?
_________________________________________________________________
Josef:
- Why was Dr Aber (Renate and Evelyne’s father) able to take his girls off the St. Louis?
_________________________________________________________________
- What was Captain Schroeder ordered to do?
_________________________________________________________________
- On p.222 what does Josef realize?
_________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- What is the scene like when the family arrives? _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ - Who does his mother keep looking for?
_________________________________________________________________
- What was the unexpected conclusion rather than arriving in Hungary?
_________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- There is a phenomenon called “survivor guilt”, what do you think it means AND how does it apply in today’s reading?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ - Mahmoud has a revelation “They only see us when we do something they don’t want us to do” p.214 and realizes that being invisible might be their death in Europe. Explain this change in thinking.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
- When Castro and the communists had taken over, they had discouraged the practice of religion. (P.226) Why would they do this? _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Refugee by Alan Gratz Name: ________________
Day 8: 236-269
ANSWER IN COMPLETE SENTENCES!
Josef:
- Why was the St Louis big news in the US as they were passing by?
_______________________________________________________________________ - Why did Josef’s mother start dancing in the dancehall? AND What does Josef learn about his name?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ - What is the plan when it is announced that the ship must return to Europe.
_______________________________________________________________________
Isabel:
- Isabel says that her tears are sadness and guilt. What does she mean? P.243
_______________________________________________________________________ - What is the irony of Castro’s message?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Mahmoud:
- After the taxi driver made them give him 300 euros, where did he actually drop them off?
_______________________________________________________________________
- How does Hungary treat the Syrian refugees?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Discussion Questions:
- P. 239 “You can live life like a ghost, waiting for death to come, or you can dance.” What does Josef’s mother mean when she says this to her son?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why do you think that Waleed able to sleep through the horror of having a gun pointed at his head?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________