Summary: Refugee by Alan Gratz is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that joins together the stories of three young refugees from different time periods and regions. Josef, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany in 1939, Isabel, a Cuban girl aboard a makeshift raft fleeing to America in 1994, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy seeking safety in Europe in 2015. Each character faces unimaginable hardships and dangers as they journey towards the promise of a better life. Their individual struggles and resilience highlight the universal truth of refugees throughout history and powerfully depict the challenges they endure in their quest for safety and freedom. The novel shows how difficult it can be for some refugees and how we should always be grateful for what we have.
Opinion: The most compelling aspect of Refugee by Alan Gratz is its ability to connect the readers with the experiences of refugees throughout history. I especially felt that it connected to me, because my parents are not from America. By joining together the stories of three young protagonists from different time periods and regions, the book helps people, including me, understand the struggles and challenges faced by those seeking safety and freedom. The author's storytelling and empathy-driven approach make the characters' journeys deeply impactful. It impacted me in many ways and it makes you reflect on who you are. Personally, I was not disappointed at all during this book. This book was very empathetic and powerful. It described the struggles of refugees accurately and how it’s almost the same for every type of refugee. I would highly recommend Refugee to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, as well as those who seek books that tackle significant social themes. I would also recommend this to people who want to reflect on how different their lives can be compared to refugees around the world. It's an engaging book that broadens perspectives and it will encourage you to become more empathetic to refugees who work hard everyday to live a better life. I give this book a 5/5.