Refugee By Alan Gratz: A Summary

Refugee by Alan Gratz is one of the most powerful stories that I have read in a huge amount of time. This book is from three different points of view, Isabel, Joseph and Mahmoud. I will say that it did get a little agonizing switching from point to point. I got really engaged into Isabel’s story of crossing the sea, and then we switch to Mahmoud crossing the desert. I was always trying to find time to read this book, I actually didn’t want it to end! I felt so many emotions during this book,and I’m almost positive you will too.

It’s 1938, Joseph and his sister Ruth are rudely awaken by a big crash and their bedroom door being knocked down. About ten big, buff guys storm in and trash the place. Joseph notices their Nazi armbands. They are here for his father! They take them down into their living room and take his father away. A couple months go by and the get a letter, from Joseph’s dad! He’s been released from Kristallnacht! Under one condition, that he leave the country within one week. They pack their bags and meet
All is okay in Aleppo, they are far away from where the fighting is going on and there are not many bombs being dropped on them. Until one day, Mahmoud’s mom gets home and with little baby Hana after she was running some errands. She says it is time to pray, so, she goes into her room to pray, and Mahmoud and Waleed, his younger brother, start to pray in their living room. Seconds after they're done praying, the whistle of a bomb is heard. BOOM! Their wall of their apartment collapses on the building, Waleed is covered. Mahmoud drags him out and their mother gives Hana to Mahmoud and tells him to run out of building while she stays behind. They run out and seconds later, the building collapses… Mahmoud’s mom comes out with backpacks full of supplies. Then comes the sound of a car, Mahmoud’s dad! They pile in a drive off, where will they go? Everything they’ve ever known is