Josef
What country did Josef flee from?
Germany
What country is Isabel trying to escape? Where are they trying to flee to?
1. Cuba
2. Florida
What war forced Mahmoud & his family to leave?
Syrian civil war
What does the Star of David represent?
Those who practice Judaism.
What happened to Josef's father?
He was taken to a concentration camp.
What was the name of the event that targeted Jewish homes, businesses, and changed Josef's life?
Kristallnacht
Why is Cuba economically so challenged?
Soviet Union stopped buying sugar from Cuba which resulted in an economic collapse.
What religion does Mahmoud practice?
Islam
What is an anecdote?
personal short story
What did Joseph do on the train that caused him to get in trouble?
He wandered to other parts of the train that were only for the Germans, then he was caught when his star fell out of his sleeve.
What happens to Josef’s father, and how does it affect the family?
Josef’s father is arrested and sent to a concentration camp, which causes trauma and leaves Josef to take on more responsibility.
Why does Isabel and her family have to leave Cuba?
Since Papi had previously been in jail and he threw a bottle at the police during the protest, the police threatened that if they found him, he would be in jail forever.
What happened in Mahmoud's past that makes him desire staying invisible?
Mahmoud was beat up & bullied by these boys in his class because of religious beliefs. (Sunnis & Shiites)
What does a Bar Mitzvah symbolize?
The year a Jewish boy becomes a man. Independence.
When Mahmoud and his family are fleeing from Syria, who do they run into down the road?
What ship does Josef’s family board in hopes of finding safety?
MS St. Louis
1. Police.
2. They were shooting because Luis & his girlfriend who were apart of the police force were escaping with the family rather than staying to protect the country.
How does Mahmoud's family plan on leaving Turkey?
When one is described as being gaunt, what does that mean?
They are excessively thin.
Why is Mahmoud forced to grow up faster than other kids his age?
He is living in constant fear of being attacked.
He is having to look after his siblings and protect them at all costs.
He is having to sacrifice his values/beliefs in order to refrain from being beaten/killed.
At the end of chapter, we see a shift in Joseph's attitude toward the MS St. Lewis. What happened to cause this shift?
They were getting a tour of the boat when they crossed paths with Mr. Schiendick. He was singing that life would be better without Jews.
What brave action did Isabel take in order to help her family flee?
Gave her trumpet to the fisherman in return for 2 buckets of gasoline so that they could sail to the states.
Where does Mahmoud's family have to sleep after not being able to board the boat to Greece?
Abandoned Mall that is quartered into rooms for refugees.
Languish means..
to suffer neglect.
What type of conflict is Lito experiencing on the boat, now that the engine has died and they are in the middle of the ocean?
Internal conflict; Regretting getting on the boat, wishing they would've just been patient because "everything always gets better".