Mahmoud The Refugee
My first map Guide
The book Refugee by Alan Gratz is about three refugees. Josef , Isabel , and Mahmoud. In this book, you follow all of these characters' refugee journeys. Josef's journey is he and his family had to escape Nazi Germany. He and his family leave trying to go to Cuba the only country that would take Jews. Isabel was trying to escape the hard rule of Fidel Castro, so she and her family and some friends left the shore of Havana with only one boat and not too much food. They are trying to get to the USA for a better life. Mahmoud is living in Aleppo Syria, there is a major war going on in his home country. Mahmoud's house was bombed one day leaving him with nothing but his family. Mahmoud and his family start their refugee journey in Syria and are trying to get to Germany
Soldiers In The Car
"Two more soldiers crammed themselves into the back seat." (Gratz 6)
In this sketch, Mahmoud and his family are trying to get too hungry but before they can, soldiers want to check their car, but then the soldier joins them in the car helping them to find their way to Turkey. Making sure they get there.
Long Lines
"He stood in a long line with his family, waiting at the border to gain admission into Turkey." (Gratz 87)
In this sketch, Mahmoud and his family are waiting in a long line waiting to get approved to go into Turkey. This line was long and all these people were tired and did not smell the best because of all the walking. They waited in the line for a long time just standing there like zombies.
Time To leave
"No of the smugglers come with them. If the refugees were going to get to Lesbos, they were going to have to do it Themeselves." (Gratz 143)
In this sketch, Mahmoud and his family got into Turkey and now are on a smuggler's boat to go to an Island in Greece, the island is called Lesbos. Mahmoud and his family are shoved into a small boat with a bunch of other people. The people on this do not know if they are going to make it to Lesbos or drown trying. They put all their money and lives into the sumgglers
Keep Her Safe
" A women appeared at the side of the boat, her arms reached down to Mahmoud's mother reaching gor the baby." (Gratz 162)
In this sketch, Mahmoud and his family all got split up after their boat crashed into some rocks. Mahmoud and his mom have been treading water for many hours and trying to keep the baby above. After many hours a boat full of people found them, they were so desperate for the baby to be safe that they gave her away to a random person hoping that she going to be ok. They gave her away not knowing if she was going to live, not knowing if they will ever see her again.
Loud Sounds
'he couldn't breath. It was like he was drowing on land. He fell to his knee, clutching at his chest and gasping uselessy for air 'I'm going to die'" (Gratz 252)
In this sketch, Mahmoud is at the border between Serbia and Hungary and the people were getting impatient and started an attack and trying to get into Hungary. There were a lot of sounds and Mahmoud got hit by lots of things and felt his breath leaving and felt like he was going to die right there on the ground and never see his family again.
Home at Last
"She led him into the living room, mom dad were there, and Waleed and Herr Roseberg, and the space was bright and alive and filled with books and pictures of family and the smell of food. It felt like family." (Gratz 317)
In this sketch, Mahmoud and his family got to Germany and were taken in by a very sweet family, the family was Josef's sister's family who is also a refugee. After a long journey across a lot of countries and hard moments that Mahmoud had to face and overcome. But in the end, he and his family are home and are safe from the war, and can live a good life in Germany!
