In the beginning chapters of the novel, Refugee, Alan Gratz introduces his characters, Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, as well as their current situations in their homelands at specific time periods. Gratz specifically writes about Mahmoud blending in as a cloak of invisibility to help him survive his situation. He writes about Josef and those who wear the yellow Star of David armbands as being invisible and how the Cubans were unseen, forgotten and starving. How could it be positive and how could it be negative to be invisible in these situations?
Throughout the novel, Gratz writes about interactions between the Hitler Youth and Josef, Mr. Nasser and the Bishara family, and the Fernandez family, the Castillo family, and the tourists at the Bahamas. Why did Gratz include these interactions?
ReplyDeleteDear Officer Schmidt,
Thank you for blogging with us. Eli, Layton, Kodden, and I appreciate you taking the time to work with us.
Blog #1
For Joseph, Isabel, and Mahmoud, it was positive to be invisible because being invisible kept them safe. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, he explicitly stated on page seventeen, “ If the bullies didn’t notice you, they didn’t hit you.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving that it was better to be invisible because in Joseph’s, Isabel’s, and Mahmoud’s situations, it was how they survived. Eli, Layton, Kodden, and I can infer that to survive, Joseph, Isabel, and Mahmoud wanted to stand up for themselves, but knew it was smarter to lie low. Common sense tells us that being invisible was smarter at times because they could be further targeted.
On the other hand, it was also negative to be invisible because it took away some of their freedoms. In the novel, Refugee, Gratz does not specifically state it, but Eli, Layton, Kodden, and I believe being invisible can also mean they can become overlooked. For instance, Joseph and his family were not able to go to places other “Germans” could, Isabel and her family could not move to El Norte to survive, and Mahmoud had no friends so that he could stay invisible. Eli, Layton, Kodden, and I can infer that all of the characters’ situations are similar but different in their own way. It is obvious to us that the characters have to be street smart.
What do you think? We look forward to your response.
Hey guys…I look forward to blogging with you about the book. As far as the positive and negative aspects of being “invisible” in these situations, for me it’s easiest to understand and explain the positives. Whether it was the Nazis, Cuban government, or the Syrian army, if they couldn’t locate you they couldn’t easily harass, imprison, or kill you. A few other less extreme examples of this come to mind. How about bullying? Now days, schools and fellow students do an awful lot to discourage and stop bullying. However, back just 25-30 years ago there was very little, if any, talk about “bullying” at schools. I would have been in your shoes in 8th grade exactly 29 years ago, and I remember witnessing some bullying myself. And how did the victims of the bullying most often handle it? By avoiding the students bullying them, in much the same way that Josef, Isable, and Mahmoud avoided their oppressors. I remember getting ready to go to the police academy nearly 17 years ago, and the advice I received from some of the more senior officers. They told me while I was at the academy I’d be wise to use my ears and not my mouth, and warned me not to stand out amongst the other trainees (or the instructors may pick on me or try to make an example of me). I’ve never served in our military, but I’ve heard plenty of service members say that the best thing to do in basic training is to not stand out but instead blend in with everyone else (or in other words, try to be “invisible”).
ReplyDeleteThere are certainly negatives to being “invisible” as well. I agree with your comment regarding losing some of their freedoms. I imagine living in hiding like they did would be very difficult and depressing, especially for those that did so for years and years. I’m sure living in solitude like that really made them feel isolated. By living like that, in order to avoid their foes, they likely missed out on a lot of opportunities to meet and interact with good people who actually wanted to help them. This is actually a good thing to be aware of in our own, modern day lives. For the most part, we as Americans don’t have to fear much and therefore normally don’t need to make ourselves “invisible” to protect ourselves. Our own government isn’t out to hurt or imprison us, and other nations aren’t dropping bombs on us in our homes. However, there are definitely some people (even in our community) who still feel the need to be “invisible.” Those people may be getting picked on at school, abused at home, or maybe they just feel like they don’t fit in because they’re different from everyone else. In my profession as a police officer, I often interact with some of those people. It’s something to think about…and it’s a good reason to just be nice to everyone around you.
Thanks guys…I look forward to more blogging with you.
Blog 1 Response
DeleteDear Officer Schmidt,
Thank you for taking time out of your day to respond. Layton, Eli, Kodden and I appreciate it. As students now at Nuttall Middle School, we personally have not experienced bullying as there is a lot of work to stop it; we are thankful for that.
Blog 2
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, Gratz wrote about the interactions between the Hitler Youth and Joseph, Mr. Nasseer and the Bishara family, the Fernandez family and the Castillo family, and the tourists in the Bahamas. As Eli, Kodden, Layton, and I have read, we have come across different dictators in Isabel, Mahmoud, and Josef’s stories; yet at the same time, there are people willing to help them as they go along their journey. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, he explicitly shows on pages thirty-four and thirty-five that one of the Hitler Youth boys help Joseph by not turning him in. On pages 127-128 the Bishara family comes across Mr. Nasseer who allows them to stay until their boat arrives. Lastly, on page 175, Gratz shows and tells how all the tourists there were rushing in and out of the store to buy the supplies they needed to make their way to their final destination of America. This evidence backs up our claim by proving in Joseph's story the Hitler Youth boy knew what Hitler was doing “wrong” in the Nazis' eyes. By doing this, he partially stood up for what he believed in and became visible. In Isabel's story as the tourist disagreed with the officers, they stood up for the Castillos because they knew that it was not fair for them as Isabel's mother was pregnant. Finally for the Bishara’s, Mr. Nasseer was once a refugee himself. We can infer that there are people in this world who are sympathetic and/or empathetic to the plights of others. Therefore, there are people who may want to help more, but fear for themselves and their futures. All and all, we believe that Gratz decided to include these parts of the story to shows to never give up hope.
What are your thoughts?
I definitely agree with you guys on this issue, especially your last sentence. I think Gratz included these sympathetic and empathetic characters in his story in order to convey to the readers that even in the most dire of circumstances, positive things can and often do occur. Without the empathetic Hitler Youths, Josef and his family may have never made it to the Hamburg docks. Without the sympathetic Mr. Nasser, Mahmoud and his family may not have made it to their boat in time. And without the caring tourists in The Bahamas, Isabel and her group would likely have run out of food and water. These kind, helpful people really made an impact upon the three main characters, and the story as a whole. Without these generous acts that gave everyone (including the readers) hope, I think this book would not have been as enjoyable to read. I have never been a refugee of any sort, nor do I personally know anyone that has, but I’m sure that having and maintaining hope (as you’ve pointed out) is vitally important for them and their continued survival.
ReplyDeleteBlog #2 Response
DeleteDear Officer Schmidt,
Thank you for responding, we very much appreciate it. We agree with you on everything you have stated. We do believe that because of the kindness of others, it greatly affected the characters of the novel. Without the help each character received, their outcome could have been drastically different. We look forward to blog three.
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ReplyDeleteBlog #3
ReplyDeleteAs we have talked about in blog #1 and the invisibility situations, the characters become visible when they do something others do not understand, relate to, or do not like. One example of this is the homeless situation in our country. Some people just rush past them or avoid eye contact, but if their actions affect others such as begging, people tend to feel annoyed. On page 214, Gratz explicitly stated, “Mahmoud couldn’t understand what they were saying, he could hear the disgust in their words. Also on page 214, Gratz stated that they were “filthy, praying refugees”. This evidence backs up our claim by proving that some people just can not relate and feel it does not involve them. We can infer that people of a lower social class must not be overlooked. Layton, Eli, Kodden, and I believe that this is the point Gratz is trying to make. People should be treated with respect no matter what religion, race, or social class they are.
Great example guys...many Americans don't seem to notice or be bothered by things such as homelessness until it starts to annoy them or affect them personally. I think Gratz's point is that it is very common for people to become desensitized to the suffering of others. Whether it's homelessness, hunger, religious or political persecution - many people just don't seem to notice or care until they have personally been bothered or inconvenienced. I think this apathy is a big problem worldwide right now, as illustrated by the Syrian civil war which is still going on now, three years after Refugee was published. I agree that the main point Gratz is trying to make is that more people need to notice the plight of others and do what they can to help them, and not just tolerate them until they are personally inconvenienced. If more people were like the fictional Rosenberg's in Berlin...just think how much better of a world this could be.
DeleteBlog #3 Response
ReplyDeleteDear Officer Schmidt,
Thank you for responding, we very much appreciate it. We agree with you on everything you have stated. In the author’s note section on page 332, Grazt references the war in Syria. Mrs. Fuller also showed us the famous picture of Omran Daqneesh who Walleed is based off of. He was a five year old boy who was a victim in the war. We agree and feel that if everyone was kind and followed the “Golden Rule”, the world would be a better place.
We look forward to blog four.
Blog #4
ReplyDeleteEver since Lito walked onto the boat to sail away, he has had flashbacks. Lito has figured out that if he wants something to change he is going to have to act on it. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, on page 276, he explicitly stated, “‘The Jewish people were seeking asylum just like us.’” Gratz also stated, “‘Mañana, we told them. We will let you in Mañana. But we never did.” Then, on page 277, he explicitly stated, “‘I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.’” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving that Lito felt guilty for what he did to the Jews on the St. Louis, and he will not let the same thing happen to his family. Our group can infer that Lito did not want the same thing to happen to his family. Therefore, Lito has learned from his past and to save his family he risked his own life which is very selfless of him.
Yes, I think Lito is alluding to the situation with the Jewish people on the St. Louis that occurred decades earlier. He seems to have lived all those years with guilt from that experience. I also think he’s referring to his life in general in Cuba. When things got tough, he kept waiting for them to get better…but they never did. On the boat he is at a point in his life where he is much older and wiser, and he sees an opportunity to take action to try to impact his family’s future, rather than just waiting and hoping that things will work out for the best. I think we can all learn something from Lito. Sure, sometimes there are things that are truly beyong our control. But oftentimes our actions can impact our circumstances, and taking action rather than just waiting and hoping for the best can be the better option. Good job guys.
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ReplyDeleteBlog #4 Response
Dear Officer Schmidt,
Yes, we agree that Lito was living in the regret of that situation and even the situation in Cuba. Lito was waiting around for life to improve but it never did and that is why when Lito saw a chance to give his family a chance he did not hesitate. It was clear how important family was to Lito. We all can relate to Lito in this way too. Family is so important to us!