Book Review - Refugee by Alan Gratz

 

This book is about 3 young people and their journeys for refuge. They are from 3 different countries and eras but all shared similar struggles trying to find safety. They were all looking for a brighter tomorrow.

Josef, a young Jewish boy that has to leave Nazi Germany in 1938 with his family. He board a ship to Cuba to find a refuge there but all doesn't go to plan.

Isabel, a young Cuban girl that leaves Havana in 1994 on a home made boat to escape Fidel Castro and hunger riots. She is headed to Florida to find a safer, brighter future. 

Mahmoud, a Syrian boy who leave Aleppo in 2015 with his family after his house is destroyed in an airstrike. Syria no longer safe, they head for Turkey with the dream of seeking refuge in Germany. 

I read this book aloud to my older 3 children aged 10+ who were gripped from the beginning, rooting for the characters and hoping they find a new home safely with their families. The fact that the characters were around the same age as them, allowed them to connect with them and put themselves in their shoes. 

The story brought history and statistics into reality.  The book creates an empathy for refugees and the struggles they face. There were so many harrowing and heartbreaking moments in the book. At times I struggled to read on, not knowing if i could without breaking down, my heart ached.

So many discussions came from this book: 

* My children thought about if they had to leave their home - with only a few personal belongings, just to be safe. The thought of having to find a new place to call home, a new language, culture - a new beginning. 

* Discussion about the people in the book who helped the refugees on their journeys and those who didn't. 

*What we can do to help refugees and current situations of those around the world. 

*How the childhood of the characters were affected by their journeys.

I would highly recommend this book for children 10+. It is very emotional and extremely sad in parts but the stories are gripping. Not only does it allow you to put yourself in their shoes, it highlights that people are still suffering today and that we have a duty to help.