Refugee
Three refugees. Three decades. One unforgettable story. Choose an activity below to review — earn XP as you go.
⭐ Josef · Germany 1939
🌊 Isabel · Cuba 1994
🕊️ Mahmoud · Syria 2015
Flashcards
Flip through 20 key questions about characters, plot, and meaning. Mark what you know and what to review.
20 cards · +5 XP each
Matching Game
Match characters to their key moments, symbols to their meanings, and quotes to who said them.
3 rounds · +40 XP per round
Fill in the Blank
Complete key sentences from the novel. Type your answer — get hints if you're stuck.
12 questions · +10 XP each
Quiz Challenge
15-question multiple choice challenge covering the entire book. Test yourself against the clock.
15 questions · up to +150 XP
Character Profiles
Quick-reference cards for Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud — facts, arcs, and key moments.
Reference guide
Themes & Symbols
Explore the major themes and symbols in Refugee — expandable cards with quotes and character connections.
6 themes · expandable
📇 Flashcards
Click a card to flip it. Mark ✓ Got It or ✗ Review to track your learning. +5 XP for each "Got It."
✓ Got It: 0
✗ Review: 0
Card 1 of 20
tap to reveal answer
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🧩 Matching Game
Click an item on the left, then its match on the right. Complete all pairs to win the round. +40 XP per round.
Round 1 of 3 · 0/6 matched
Select a blue left item first, then click its matching right item. Correct pairs turn green!
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RIGHT COLUMN
✏️ Fill in the Blank
Type the missing word or name. +10 XP for correct answers. Click "Hint" if you're stuck.
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🎯 Quiz Challenge
15 multiple-choice questions covering the whole book. Read carefully — some are tricky!
Question 1 of 15
Score: 0
👤 Character Profiles
Quick-reference guide to the three main characters of Refugee.
⭐
Josef Landau
Germany · 1939 · Age 12
Why Fleeing
Nazi persecution of Jews. Father was in Dachau concentration camp.How Traveling
Ocean liner MS St. Louis — 938 refugees, Hamburg to CubaKey Trait
Courage. Forces himself to be "the adult" when his father breaks down.Defining Moment
Volunteers himself so sister Ruthie can escape — sacrifices his lifeArc
Scared boy → reluctant leader → selfless heroConnection
His sister Ruthie later shelters Mahmoud's family — 75 years later
🌊
Isabel Fernandez
Cuba · 1994 · Age 11
Why Fleeing
Cuba's collapse — food riots, no food, father witnessed at riot, political dangerHow Traveling
Makeshift raft, 90 miles across shark-infested Florida StraitsKey Trait
Hope and music. Trumpet player — music is her joy and identity.Defining Moment
Throws her beloved trumpet into the sea to save her familyArc
Hopeful dreamer → faces brutal reality → resilient survivorBig Event
Mami gives birth to baby Mariano on the raft in the ocean
🕊️
Mahmoud Bishara
Syria · 2015 · Age 12
Why Fleeing
Syrian Civil War — barrel bombs destroy Aleppo, no safe placeHow Traveling
Rubber dinghy to Greece → foot → trains → Hungary → GermanyKey Trait
Starts invisible/hiding. Learns that being seen is necessary for survival.Defining Moment
Baby sister Hana handed to strangers when dinghy sinks — she disappearsArc
Invisible → forced to act → stands up and demands to be seen → finds HanaFamily
Baba, Mom, sister Hana, little brother Waleed (traumatized, emotionally numb)🔗 How the Stories Connect
Josef's sister Ruthie survives because Josef sacrifices himself. Ruthie emigrates to America, marries, and has children and grandchildren — one of whom helps Isabel's family in the 1994 story. Decades later, an elderly Ruthie (now living in Germany) takes in Mahmoud's family, honoring the debt she has felt for 75 years since her brother saved her. All three stories are one story.
📅 Story Timeline
Major events in order. Click "More Details" on any event to expand.
💡 Themes & Symbols
Click any theme to expand it. Know these for your essays and discussions.