Refugee

Chapters 1-11

Reading Check

1. He is a young Jewish boy living in Germany in the late 1930s (1938). (Ch.1 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1938”).

2. The “storm troopers” of Hitler take Josef’s father away to Dachau concentration camp for continuing to practice law even though he is Jewish. (Ch.1 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1938”)

3. Kristallnacht was the night in 1938 when Nazis attacked various Jewish homes and individuals, as well as sending people to concentration camps. (Ch.1 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1938”)

4. Isabel is an 11-year-old girl living in Cuba in the early 1990s (1994). (Ch. 2 “Isabel: Just Outside Havana, Cuba—1994”)

5. They are secretly building a boat to go to the United States. (Ch. 2 “Isabel: Just Outside Havana, Cuba—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

6. Mahmoud is a 12-year-old boy living in Aleppo, Syria in 2015. (Ch. 3 “Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

7. They will board a ship headed for Cuba. (Ch.4 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1939”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

8. A missile hits their home and destroys one of the walls. (Ch. 6 “Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria—2015”; Ch. 9 “Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria—2015”) This question relates to the theme of home.

9. It is the “ceremony at which a boy officially became a man under Jewish law” (57). Josef will mostly likely have his ceremony on the St. Louis ship. (Ch. 10 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the theme of becoming an adult.

Multiple Choice

1. C (Ch.4 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1939”)

2. D (Ch. 5 “Isabel: Havana, Cuba—1994)

3. D (Ch. 7 “Josef: On a Train to Hamburg, Germany—1939”)

4. A (Ch. 8 “Isabel: Just outside of Havana—1994”)

5. C (Ch. 9 “Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

Short-Answer Response

1. Before the Arab Spring, Aleppo was very modern, with malls, skyscrapers, and movie theaters; however, after 2011, the city became a war zone with destruction from bombs. (Ch. 3 “Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

2. Josef enters the car with the armband in his pocket and buys a newspaper and a candy from the dining car. The Star of David falls from his pocket and a Hitler Youth sees it and catches him. The boy from the Hitler Youth leads him back to the car designated for Jews and gives him a warning. He is relieved, and he is very cautious during the rest of the train journey. (Ch.4 “Josef: Berlin, Germany—1939” and Ch. 7 “Josef: On a Train to Hamburg, Germany”)

3. “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” means that “if Cuban refugees were caught at sea with ‘wet feet,’ they were sent to the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, at the southern end of Cuba. [...] But if they managed to survive the trip across the Straights of Florida and evade the U.S. Coast Guard and actually set foot on United States soil—be caught with “dry feet”—they were granted special refugee status and allowed to remain and become U.S. citizens.” (Ch. 8 “Isabel, Just Outside of Havana—1994,” 41) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

4. Isabel and her parents and grandfather, along with her friend Ivan and his father and mother, head to the beach nervously to start their journey. There, they are surprised to find many other families like themselves trying to leave. There is also a CNN reporter, who tries to interview Isabel. Quickly, they get in the water and begin to leave, and as they do, two policemen rush forward to the boat, who turn out to be Ivan’s brother Luis and his girlfriend. Policemen shoot after the two deserters, leaving bullet holes in the boat. (Ch. 11 “Isabel, Just Outside of Havana—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

Chapters 12-21

Reading Check

1. They are stopped by anti-government rebels. (Ch. 12 “Mahmoud: Just Outside of Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

2. their phones to help them with the journey (Ch. 12 “Mahmoud: Just Outside of Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

3. the name for the ten Jewish men required for a public service, such as a bar mitzvah (Ch. 13 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the theme of becoming an adult.

4. that the ship is speeding up, presumably to get to Cuba before other ships to ensure that the passengers can depart (Ch. 13 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

5. He sees a wedding procession of a bride being led to her wedding in a taxi through the camp. (Ch. 15 “Mahmoud: Kilis, Turkey—2015”)

6. He gets to see the bridge, or where the ship’s crew worked. (Ch. 16 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”)

7. The boat’s engine stops working. (Ch. 17 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere north of Cuba—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

8. “Tomorrow” (Ch. 18 “Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey—2015”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and the promise of "tomorrow."

9. They sleep in an abandoned shopping mall with other families who are waiting to board the boats to Greece. (Ch. 18 “Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey—2015”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and the promise of "tomorrow."

10. They meet another refugee, Mr. Samih Nasseer, who has lived in Turkey for 67 years since he cannot return to his homeland of Palestine. He offers them shelter and eventually takes them to the port to go to Greece. (Ch. 21 “Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey—2015”)

Multiple Choice

1. A (Ch. 12 “Mahmoud: Just outside of Aleppo, Syria—2015”)

2. B (Ch. 14 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”)

3. A (Ch. 17 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”) This question relates to the theme of home.

4. D (Ch. 21 “Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey—2015”)

Short-Answer Response

1. Mahmoud sees many white tents and electricity poles, with no parks or green spaces anywhere. There is also a main street with many different stores that are selling practical items, like a “rummage sale.” (Ch. 15 “Mahmoud: Kilis, Turkey—2015”)

2. Josef’s father believes that the ship might be a decoy to trap and imprison everyone on board and take them to a concentration camp. He believes that the family must hide and get off the ship, and not join public events such as Josef’s bar mitzvah; however he does attend the funeral of another passenger. (Ch. 19 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

3. Isabel and her companions on the boat frantically try to start the engine again, when they see a ship coming directly at them. They are able to get the engine started just in time; however, Ivan’s father falls into the water. Isabel jumps in after him to save him. (Ch. 20 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

Chapters 22-32

Reading Check

1. He realizes that he is an adult now and his father is the child. Because his father is panicking at the health inspection, he slaps him across the face. (Ch. 22 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys, becoming an adult and loss of familial relations.

2. The officer says “mañana,” which means “tomorrow” in English. (Ch. 22 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939.” This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and the promise of “tomorrow.”

3. They learn they have lost the box containing their medicine. (Ch. 23 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”)

4. In the time that the St. Louis has been docked at the Cuban port and waiting to disembark, both ships have come, disembarked, and left. (Ch. 25 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”)

5. He destroys it along with several items while the family watches helplessly. Josef believes it was payback for how his father acted at the other passenger’s funeral. (Ch. 25 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”)

6. They discover they are fake. (Ch. 27 “Mahmoud: Somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea—2015”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

7. She goes to get a sleeping draught in order to calm Josef’s father; however, the doctor makes her take the medicine in front of him, and instead she falls into a deep sleep. During this time, Josef’s father jumps overboard. (Ch. 28 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”)

8. Isabel is worried that the U.S. may not be as “magical” as they once thought. (Ch. 29 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”)

9. Mahmoud takes a real life vest from the passenger. (Ch. 30 “Mahmoud: Somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea—2015”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

10. They decide to take turns in the water, holding on the boat and floating next it to in order to relieve the weight of the boat and prevent sinking. (Ch. 32 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”)

Multiple Choice

1. C (Ch. 22 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

2. A (Ch. 24 “Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey—2015”)

3. B (Ch. 26 “Isabel: The Straights of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba—1994”)

4. C (Ch. 31 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”) This question relates to the themes of becoming an adult and loss of familial relations.

Short-Answer Response

1. The dinghy that Mahmoud and his family are on crashes into rocks and the passengers fall into the water. The family is separated and tries to swim with their fake life vests in order to stay afloat. They see another dinghy with refugees heading towards them, which does not stop. Mahmoud hands his baby sister to someone in that dinghy, to prevent her from drowning. (Ch. 27 “Mahmoud: Somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea—2015”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

2. They have reached The Bahamas, where they are told that if they choose to disembark, they will be sent back to Cuba. Isabel and her companions choose not to disembark, and to continue their journey to the U.S. (Ch. 29 “Isabel: Somewhere on the Caribbean Sea—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys. (TEACHING NOTE: This instance can be related to the discussion of the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol. The Bahamas became a signatory of both agreements in 1993, meaning that this information given to Isabel in 1994 would have been in violation of these agreements, since signatories are obliged to fairly process any asylum claims made from individuals instead of immediately returning them to their country of origin.)

Chapters 33-43

Reading Check

1. Mahmoud’s father and brother (Ch. 33 “Mahmoud: Somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea—2015”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

2. tomorrow (Ch. 35 “Isabel: Somewhere between The Bahamas and Florida—1994”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and the promise of “tomorrow.”

3. They decide to immediately continue their journey to Macedonia. (Ch. 36 “Mahmoud: Lesbos, Greece to Athens, Greece—2015”)

4. He is the father of Josef’s friends on board, Evelyn and Renata, and he is given special permission to come get his daughters while others must wait continue to wait to disembark. (Ch. 37 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”) This question relates to the theme of the promise of “tomorrow.”

5. Miami, Florida (Ch. 38 “Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida—1994” and Ch. 40 “Josef: Off the American Coast—1939”)

6. by reminding him that he is a man since because he had his bar mitzvah (Ch. 40 “Josef: Off the American Coast—1939”) This question relates to the theme of becoming an adult.

7. the U.S. Coast Guard (Ch. 41 “Isabel: Off the Coast of Florida—1994)

8. They are robbed at gunpoint by their taxi driver. (Ch. 42 “Mahmoud: Serbia to Hungary—2015”)

Multiple Choice

1. B (Ch. 34 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the themes of invisibility and loss of familial relations.

2. C (Ch. 38 “Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida—1994)

3. D (Ch. 39 “Mahmoud: Macedonia to Serbia—2015”) This question relates to the themes of loss of familial relations.

Short Answer

1. He is bitten by a shark and dies almost immediately. (Ch. 35 “Isabel: Somewhere between The Bahamas and Florida—1994”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

2. Mahmoud notes that there was joy and laughter at the camp in Turkey, whereas the camp in Lesbos is quiet and mournful. He understands the difference considering the difficult journey he just experienced in losing his sister, Hana. (Ch. 36 “Mahmoud: Lesbos, Greece to Athens, Greece—2015”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

3. It is ironic because it is another promise of tomorrow, although this time it is not to leave the boat (as falsely promised previously), but instead to leave the country altogether. Additionally, unlike the previous false promises, this promise will happen. (Ch. 37 “Josef: Just Outside the Havana Harbor—1939”) This question relates to the theme of the promise of “tomorrow.”

4. Josef and several other men prepare to take over the ship and sail it to a country other than Germany. Captain Schroeder manages to convince them not to continue, and the mutiny is ended. Josef is now very concerned that the ship will be sent back to Germany. (Ch. 43 “Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean—1939”) This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys.

Chapters 44-53

Reading Check

1. She begins to have her baby—i.e., goes into labor. (Ch. 44 “Isabel: Off the coast of Florida—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

2. because the countries of Belgium, England, France and Holland have agreed to take the ship’s passengers (Ch. 46 “Josef: Antwerp, Belgium—1939”)

3. They are sent to a detention center in Hungary. (Ch. 48 “Mahmoud: Hungary—2015”)

4. She is able to find her clave in her new home of Miami. (Ch. 52 Isabel: Miami, Florida—1994”)

Multiple Choice

1. B (Ch. 45 “Mahmoud: Hungary—2015”)

2. A, C, D (Ch. 46 “Josef: Antwerp, Belgium—1939”) This question relates to the theme of the promise of “tomorrow.”

3. B (Ch. 51 “Mahmoud: Hungary to Germany—2015”)

Short Answer

1. Isabel’s grandfather was a police officer on the St. Louis, the same ship that Josef sailed on. Filled with remorse from his previous actions, he decides to jump off Isabel’s boat as a diversion for the U.S. Coast Guard will save him instead of pursuing the boat. He will most likely be sent to Guantanamo Bay. (Ch. 47 “Isabel: Off the coast of Florida—1994”). This question relates to the themes of boat/sea journeys and loss of familial relations.

2. Mahmoud makes a decision that it is better to be visible than invisible. He decides to leave the detention center and walk to Austria. Neither the UN officials nor Hungarian police react, and the other refugees follow him. (Ch. 48 “Mahmoud: Hungary—2015”) This question relates to the theme of invisibility.

3. Eight months after Josef, his mother, and his sister arrive in France, the Nazis invade their new home. As a result, they are on the run again. They are caught one day, and the Nazi accepts a bribe from Josef’s mother to let one of her children free. (Ch. 49 “Josef: Vornay, France—1940”) This question relates to the theme of home.

4. Isabel’s mother gives birth to her baby brother as the U.S. Coast Guard ship is closing in on the family. They are able to get the boat ashore and step foot on land without getting caught. The U.S. Coast Guard sails back towards the sea, and people on land immediately come to the passengers’ aid. (Ch. 50 “Isabel: Miami Beach, Florida—1994”) This question relates to the theme of boat/sea journeys.

5. Mahmoud arrives in his new home in Berlin, Germany. He meets his new host family, who is Josef’s younger sister, Ruthie. Ruthie explains that Josef sacrificed himself so that Ruthie could live. Mahmoud feels like he is home. (Ch. 53 “Mahmoud: Berlin, Germany—2015”) This question relates to the themes of home, loss of familial relations and becoming an adult.