Refugee by Alan Gratz poses the story of three teenage kids living in difficult times around the world. They were forced to move away to the safety of a different country because of all the hardship around them. The three stories take place in areas where

people were persecuted or threatened and were forced to pick up their stake and escape to a safer environment.

The first character the reader learns about lives in the 1930s during Hitler’s reign of terror in Germany. Josef Landau, a young Jewish boy living in Berlin, Germany with his family, plans on escaping to America because of persecution. They are forced to make this decision right after his father comes home from a concentration camp. Landau and his family escape aboard the St. Louis bound for Cuba. Along the way, the Landaus avoid Nazis on the boat all the while praying for a successful trip to Cuba.

Communist Cuba in 1994 under Fidel Castro posed a difficult setting and life for people living in this setting. Isabel Fernandez, a teenage girl, experiences food shortages and riots that can pose deadly dangers to many people that are unprotected. Fernandez’ father attempts to leave Cuba twice, however, is stopped both times. His attempts at escaping made him a target, making any other efforts a death wish. When Fidel Castro announces that anybody may leave as they please her father attempts to leave once again, this time with his whole family. As they escape, Isabel’s family travels through heavily trafficked shipping lanes in a homemade boat with a sputtering engine. Partly through their voyage the ship starts leaking and only a few of the passengers know how to swim. 

Mahmoud, a Syrian Muslim lives during 2015 in war-torn Syria. After his house is destroyed and he only barely escapes, Mahmoud’s family decides to leave for Europe. Along the way, they encounter fierce fighting between the ruler of Assyria Bashar al-Assad and the revolutionaries trying to bring him down. Also in the mix are the Daesh Muslims otherwise known as ISIS who are trying to force their radical ideas of Islam on the people of the area. In the path in front of Mahmoud’s family are thieves and cheats willing to take their money all on their trip to freedom.

This book presented a lot to think about and I really felt like it presented these problems without having to be an intense book. Other books can bring the same feelings but with a surplus of violence.

When first reading Refugee the book switched characters every chapter and readers might find it difficult to stay entertained. As the stories progress, however, the cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter made it easier to anticipate what happens next. I was drawn in and it really made up for the confusion at the beginning of the story.

The one thing that made this book a winner to me was how Gratz really tied all the mini stories together in the end when the final chapters rounded the corner. The best part was that in some way or another all of the characters interacted with each other. Whether it be through their grandparents or in person they managed to associate with one another, which was pretty intriguing.

Other books by Alan Gratz include Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087 and Code of Honor. All of these books, including this one, are historical fiction although Prisoner B-3087 is based on the experiences of Jack Gruener. Other books that may intrigue readers who enjoyed this book include The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne or The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.

Some downsides to the novel include the basic storytelling feel and the lack of challenging vocabulary throughout. However, the book is a quick read and leaves a lot of material to ponder over. In the end, I think that this a good book for students looking for an easy read over the weekend. Perfect for someone who enjoys reading about the effects of history.

For more reviews read: The Forgotten Book review. For more articles read: Hyatt and and Pouliot bring new skill to track team, hope to break records.

Andrew Rieker can be reached via email.