Josef
This country finally accepted the passengers from the St. Louis after Cuba turned them away.
France
Isabel played this instrument throughout the story.
a trumpet
Where does Mahmoud’s family live at the end of the novel?
Berlin, Germany
Josef was leaving this country while Mahmoud was trying to get there.
Germany
Mahmoud originally believed it was better to be this.
invisible
What happened to Josef’s father in Cuba?
He passed away in Cuba before reuniting with his family
What happened to Lito at the end of the novel?
he stayed in Cuba
Who offered to host Mahmoud’s family?
Ruthie
OR
the Rosenbergs
How are Josef and Isabel’s stories connected?
Josef was trying to get into Cuba while Isabel was leaving Cuba
AND/OR
Lito was the guard on the St. Louis
Josef sacrificed himself for this person.
Ruthie/his sister
What happened to Josef and his mother?
They were taken to a concentration camp and killed
What song did Isabel play at the end of the novel?
The Star-Spangled Banner?
What gift does Frau Rosenberg (Ruthie) give Waleed?
a stuffed rabbit
How does Josef’s story connect to Mahmoud’s story?
Ruthie later helps Mahmoud’s family in Germany
This organization documented conditions in Mahmoud’s refugee camp.
the United Nations/UN
How did Ruthie survive?
she was taken in by another family
OR
Josef sacrificed himself for her - allowing her to escape
Why was Isabel’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” significant?
She played it with a Cuban beat/style
Why is the stuffed rabbit important?
she carried it as a child during her own refugee experience
All three main characters share this common goal.
finding safety/freedom/home
What major theme is shown through all three stories?
sacrifice/courage/family?
Josef’s story teaches readers this major theme about sacrifice and family.
Putting others before yourself
Ex. Josef sacrificing his life for his sister
How did Isabel’s family assimilate into the United States? In other words, what did they do after settling in the U.S.?
(Your answer must explain all three - Isabel, her mother, and her father)
Isabel started school, her mother opened an in-home daycare, and her father became a taxi driver
How did the author resolve Hana’s story?
Hana’s story was not fully resolved
OR
the family continues searching for her
How does the Star of David connect to Josef and Mahmoud’s stories?
Josef was forced to wear it, and it symbolizes the conflict between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East
What is the author’s main purpose in writing Refugee?
to help readers understand refugee experiences
and/or
build empathy