Book: Refugee | Author: Alan Gratz | Genre: Historical Fiction | Age: 10+
If you like to read about the past, and the historical events that have occurred, reading Alan Gratz’s books is a great choice. ‘Refugee’ is one of Gratz’s best books and is a great book to read to start your historical fiction reading journey. One of my personal “Gratz-Favorites”, Refugee is a very amazing book, and teaches you the realities of life, and shows the experiences that people in the past have had.
If you’d ask me, I would recommend this book for 10-12-year-olds. Although the publishers have recommended it as 9+, I feel that with all the mortal peril, sadness, and harsh topic about WWII, in the book, a 9-year-old would get a bit frightened. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars -⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, meaning that the book is a great book, but if thoroughly judged, the book may not be the best among all books. Now that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good book, it just means that it has some aspects in which not everyone would like it – (I LOVE IT!)
In this book, there are 3 main characters in ‘Refugee’ (an amazing work and writing style Gratz does), who are suffering from prejudice, political oppression, and war. The three characters are children and are Josef, who is suffering from WWII and the Nazi’s torture towards Jews, Isabel, who is suffering from political oppression by Fidel Castro in Cuba, and Mahmoud, who is suffering from the Syrian Civil War. The 3 each try to escape the sufferings they are having, and become Refugees. Josef wants to get away from Europe, Isabel wants to get away from Cuba, and Mahmoud wants to get away from Syria, the three depart from their homes, or what is left of their homes, and set off towards their goal, awaiting whatever may encounter them. What happens next? Do they get caught? Do they make it? Or do they have to retreat? Read ‘Refugee’ to find out! (NOTE: These characters aren’t all traveling in the same year/time, they are traveling in different time periods, but they all have a relationship despite the difference in their time periods in the end.)
The thing I like about this book is the imagery, time settings, and how everything comes together in the end. But what I love the most about ‘Refugee’, is the morals it teaches. Here are some I have been able to find :
- Be grateful for what you have
- Be visible and invisible when needed
- Sacrifice, for those whom you love
- Help those in need
- Stay away from violence and don’t do violent things – it helps!
- Surrender
- There is good in whatever happens
- Be brave
- Keep calm
- Don’t harass anyone for their race
- Do anything that you please, freely, but know that there may be consequences
- Don’t go off running stupidly of fear
- Fight for the right causes
- Don’t live back in time, nor in the future – Live in the present
- Think twice before acting
- Seek and give refuge
- Things always come back to you in a way – whether good or bad
- People can change within seconds
- Money is the ruler of the world, but that doesn’t mean that you can let it dominate you
- Don’t be too emotional
- Be optimistic
- Forget the past, Be in the present, and Don’t think much of the future
Important Links!
If you are interested to read this epic, action-filled, historical fiction book buy it at: Amazon.com – Refugee
Extra Info!
More about the Syrian Civil War
That was it for my book review for ‘Refugee’, written by Alan Gratz. Comment below on what you think of this book, and your learnings from this book, and please do write some feedback. For more, subscribe to my blog! Thanks!
-Kartik Lakhwani
The Kartik-Sphere 