Could you imagine having to leave your home due to incredible violence? Or being forced to leave your homeland or else face death? These are the struggles that the three characters Isabel, Josef, and Mahmoud faced in the book Refugee.
Throughout the story each child is burdened with these hardships as well as overwhelming fear. Such as Isabel and her family, who barely made it to the safety of the Miami shore after being chased by the U.S. Coast Guard. Although she was terrified, she faced no choice but to remain strong and continue to paddle to the beach. She was forced to grow up quickly, as she had no choice but to gather all her courage for the sake of her family just as the other two characters did.
Refugees go through many difficult things
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Making big sacrifices in order to support her family for their journey to the States. When she had seen the Castillos building a boat to sail to Miami, she quickly realized that it was the only chance of her and her family’s survival. Grasping at the opportunity,
Cayla Yang
Ms Shockey Period 4
3/26/2023
she gave up something that was very dear to her heart, her trumpet.
She quickly decided to sell it to a fisherman who her grandfather knew, “She held out the trumpet. Iabel regretted that it was a little tarnished but it was the most valuable thing she owned. The fisherman had to take it in trade.” (Gratz 46) As she did this, she seemed to have felt nothing holding her back, for her family was her number one priority. As she later told her grandfather, “ But that trumpet was everything to you!” No not everything, Isabel thought. It wasn't my mother and father, and you, Lito.” (pg. 85) Other children, who are often selfish by nature, most likely would have had regrets or sad feelings after giving up something that they held dear to their heart. Isabel on the other hand, became a selfless and mature young woman, who had no fear of choosing her family over everything
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For “She didn’t want to go to the States if it meant leaving her parents - her family behind.” (pg. 294). Isabel truly cared and loved her family more than her own personal freedom and happiness. This really shows how she had come of age, and become an unselfish, strong young woman.
When Syria started to become more violent, Mahmoud became more fearful which caused him to seek refuge in becoming “invisible”. He held his head low, doing everything he could to not bring attention to himself. Later on in the book, we watch as Mahmoud realizes that sometimes, you must be seen in order to receive help. After he and his family are forced to find a place to sleep for a night,
Mahmoud begins to understand that he must become exposed to others if he wants to stay alive. Watching a man in a car pass by him, “Mahmoud darted out into the car's headlights and waved the life jackets on his arms. [ “Please can you help us?
Mahmoud begged.]” (pg. 125) The man not only offered him and his family a place to stay, but also ended up taking them back to the beach where a boat made for their escape finally arrived. Since Mahmoud had only become visible that