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?
Dear Coach Pinnell, Mayley, Aiden, Gracie, and I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read our response for our blog from the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz.
ReplyDeleteBlog #1
Invisibility can be positive. It can protect people from being targeted or harmed from others in the world. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, a child named Mahmoud had a situation where he had to stay hidden to stay away from danger. On page fifteen of the novel Gratz stated, “ Mahmoud and Waleed turned down a different rubble strewn alley than the day before and stopped dead. Just ahead of them, two boys had another boy up against what was left of a wall, about to take the bag of bread he carried. Instead of going towards the danger they put their heads down and walked on”. This textual evidence backs up our claim by picturing a situation where someone was being harmed. We can infer that Mahmoud would stay out of danger until he makes himself noticed because he most likely would not be targeted by anyone. In the end, if Mahmound stays invisible, he may protect himself from danger, and he may live a less dangerous life knowing that no one is trying to harm him.
On the other hand, invisibility can be a negative. It can distance someone from others, and how lonely it could make someone feel at certain times. In the novel, Refugee, Gratz explicitly stated on page seventeen, “Mahmoud and Khalid were bigger targets; alone, it was easier to be invisible. It was nothing they ever said to each other, just something they came to understand. Within a year they had drifted apart.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving why being invisible can lead to a person to become very lonely and how someone can drift away from a specific person, because Mahmoud and Khalid became lonely without one another just trying to be invisible. Mayley, Aiden, Gracie, and I can infer that this possibly happens to this day in the world, especially in Syria where fighting continues. Common sense tells us that Mahmoud has a hard time trying to be himself at all because of how he tries to be invisible, and that not too many people are very close with Mahmoud. It is probably easier to protect one’s heart.
Our group has heard that you have served for our country. Mayley, Aiden, Gracie, and I appreciate your service. With your knowledge and experience, do you believe that invisibility could be both positive and negative?
I want to begin by telling you folks how excited I am to go through this discussion with you! I appreciate you guys letting me be a part of this experience and I look forward to having some in depth discussions about what we’ve read and whatever else gets brought up. Thanks again for having me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of the idea of “invisibility” in the contexts of the story. I like the example you used from Mahmoud when he saw the young boy being beaten. Staying hidden and out of sight was what he thought was the best way to avoid danger for himself. This feeling of needing to stay invisible though was a learned reaction. It says later in the text that he and a friend were once beaten in similar fashion as the boy he saw. Mahmoud talks of his friend Khalid getting beaten up by older boys and how he jumped in to save him and was beaten just as badly when he did. “That’s when Mahmoud and Khalid had learned how valuable it was to be invisible” (p 16-17). In the case of Josef, I felt like his feeling of invisibility was completely different. I got the impression that he didn’t necessarily want to be invisible, but noticed that no one around him seemed to know they existed. When talking about walking at the train station he says “all the station attendants and other passengers gave them a wide berth, flowing around them like water around a stone.” (p 18). To me this indicates to the fact that he felt the people around him chose not to see him. I personally found one positive and one positive only to this feeling of being invisible or needing to feel invisible in the case of all three characters… and that seemed to be that it was necessary for them all to survive. The negatives of these feelings much outweighed the positives. You stated that feeling alienated from those around you, whether you have alienated yourself or others have decided to do it for you, can bring about a definite feeling of loneliness. I couldn’t agree more. I taught high school health for three years and we always discussed Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs. It basically describes an order of importance for our needs as humans to be the best that we can be. The initial needs are food, water, shelter, etc. Those are crucial to just pure survival. After those needs are met, humans have a longing desire to be secure and loved or feel like they are a part of something. This eerie feeling of invisibility deprives us of our very basic needs as humans of needing that sense of belonging. It prevents us from being the best us that we can be, and for that reason, I felt that there is nothing but negative reasons associated with the invisibility these characters felt.
To answer your question, I was in the military and did serve overseas in Baghdad, Iraq for 12 months. I remember trying to be invisible in basic training when I first got in the military. Drill sergeants were tough creatures! As long as I conformed to whatever they were asking us to do and stayed in line, I remained invisible to them… which was a good thing if you hated pushups! I think this idea of invisibility is a positive in certain situations, but only when needed to survive. It is not a positive at all if takes over your life and alters your ability to live a normal life.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and thanks for letting me share. Hopefully, my post wasn’t too long. I would leave you guys with this thought:
I think my experiences as a teacher and coach have shed more light on this topic than anything. The unfortunate truth is there are lots of Mahmouds, Josefs, and Isabels that sit right next to us every day in our classrooms. People that are trying to get away from something and trying to be unseen. Whether it’s their lives at home, the way they are treated by their peers, or some sort of past experience, people just like the characters in this book are all around us. It reminds me how important it is to treat everyone the right way. Never know when something as simple as a smile or being a friend to someone who needs one can change a life forever.
Gracie, Mayley, Aiden and I appreciate you reading our response. We strongly agree with what you thought of the term, “invisibility” in today's world and in the novel Refugee. We searched Maslow's Hierarchy as you have mentioned and have seen all the needs to be the best we can be. We had never heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy, but we fully agree with you on it.
ReplyDeleteMayley, Gracie, Aiden, and I look forward to blog #2 with you.
Gracie, Mayley, Aiden and I appreciate you reading our response. We strongly agree with what you thought of the term, “invisibility” in today's world and in the novel, Refugee. Gracie, Mayley, Aiden, and I searched Maslow's Hierarchy as you mentioned. We had never heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy, but we understand how the level of needs is stacked in the triangle. Even further, we understand how it relates to the novel.
ReplyDeleteMayley, Gracie, Aiden, and I look forward to blogging again with you.
Blog 2
ReplyDeleteDear Coach Pinnell,
Mayley, Gracie, Aiden and I look forward to your response for blog #2.
Gratz included these characters to give Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud hope for their futures. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, he explicitly stated on page 127, “This man was a refugee, and he owned his own car and his own business?” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving that Mahmoud feels he might make it and become something one day. On page 127 when Mahmoud was talking to Mr. Nasseer, we can infer that deep down Mahmoud and his family knew that it would be hard, but they hoped for a better future. Mr. Nasseer helped them believe even more by giving them the courage to push through hard times.
Gratz also included these interactions to show that there are people who have compassion for others. This compassion can benefit those who are in need. In Isabel’s story, the tourists felt compassion; they sympathized with the families. This fueled their need to help. On page 177, Gratz explicitly stated, “Before they got the engine restarted, one of the tourists tossed down a bottle of water to Señora Castillo. Soon the rest of the tourists were hurrying back and forth to the café, buying bottles of water and bags of chips and tossing them into everyone’s hands on the boat.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving some people did feel sympathy for the families especially Señora Castillo and her baby. We can guess that they understood the severity of the situation. It was dire, and if they did not help, someone could die.
Gratz even included an interaction between Josef and the Hitler Youth. He included this interaction to show that not all Germans agreed with Hitler’s rule of law. Some people had to be invisible in order to survive but some stepped ‘quietly’ out of invisibility in order to help those in need, especially in these life and death situations. On page thirty-four, Gratz explicitly stated, “‘What were you thinking?’ the boy whispered. Josef couldn’t speak. The boy thrust the armband at Josef’s chest. ‘Put that on. And don’t ever do that again’ the Hitler Youth told Josef. ‘Do you understand?’” This textual evidence proves that there were people who tried to help. Not everyone believed in the hatred for Jewish people and others. Standing up to that hatred in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s was difficult as it is difficult today. Gratz is telling us that when we witness hate, we need to try to stop it. It could be us calling somebody out on it or telling an adult. People should not just judge others when they first see them; people should learn and listen before making judgement. What do you think?
I think these are great answers. I personally like your thought of Gratz using these interactions with these other people to install hope in the characters of the book. It seemed that all of these interactions from these outside characters in the story happened when the main characters were at a turning point in their journeys. It seemed like all three families had reached a point where they were at rock bottom and thought that maybe things couldn’t be any worse. These interactions came at a time when they needed some hope the most. When Isabel and her family met the tourists her mother was battling a fever, the boat was slowly sinking, they were out of food and water, and the engine of the boat was struggling. When Mahmoud and his family met Mr. Nasser, they had been stranded in Turkey for what had felt like an eternity. They were running out of money, places to stay, and the boats they had been promised to take them away were never showing. Josef had lost his father, been forced from his home, and had been isolated. These interactions with the Bahamians, Mr. Nasser, and the Hitler youth provided the characters with hope. I think the author used these instances of hope in the book to fuel the characters to continue on. I think all of us at some point in life reach our “turning point” moment. I have included a link to a Steve Harvey segment where he talks about just this. When we reach that “turning point” moment in life we have two options: quit or find a way to keep going. The decision we make during that moment can have a lasting impact on the outcome of our life.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I know that I never knew what that moment was for me until years after it happened. I recognize now what that moment was for me, but didn’t see it as it was happening. It wasn’t until years later that I can sit here and reflect on that moment and be proud of the decisions I made and how it worked out. Do you think the characters understood at the time that their meetings with these people were possible “turning point” moments for them? Do you think the hope it provided them fueled them through?
Great answers this week. I think the one line this week from the book that summed up the answer to this question for me was on P. 178: “Her heart ached with gratitude toward these people. Just a moment’s kindness from each of them might mean the difference between death and survival for her mother and everyone.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igSh9IwMAc
Blog 2 Response
ReplyDeleteGracie, Mayley, Aiden and I first want to thank you for sharing that inspirational video with us. It really showed that no matter where you are in life, that if you keep pushing you will make something of yourself one day. We also agree very strongly with your response to our second blog. We look forward to your response to blog number 3.
Blog #3
ReplyDeleteThe point Gratz is trying to make is that everyone's life is different, and no one should be judged before knowing the person. On page 214, Gratz explicitly stated, “They only see us when you do something they don’t want us to do.” He is implying how unfair the world can be. People make impressions on other people without having any idea what they are actually like. There is more to a person than what is on the outside, such as looks or religion one may practice. On page 214, when Mahmoud was praying, he noticed people quietly talking about him. Mahmoud was talked about because he was different than them. Gratz is pointing out that if Mahmoud would act exactly like the people around him, then they may not judge him because he would not stand out to them. We can infer that some people are so quick to judge other people by their actions and they do not know their stories. What are your thoughts?
I apologize for the late response here!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your analysis to Gratz's idea of showing how we interact with people that are "different" than us. It's easy for us to judge others that maybe don't look or act like us. Those people can stand out in a crowd at times because they don't relate to the norms. I like how Gratz develops the relationship between us the readers and the characters of the book to give us a more self-aware vibe to the interaction with the people on the boat. Mahmoud and his family had prayed several times throughout the book with no notice by anyone until they were in a place where it was not the norm. By doing that, it allowed us the readers to be able to sympathize with them when they felt isolated while praying and we were able to understand the situation from their shoes. This is not always easy to do. Empathy is a very, very hard emotion for humans. We get so accustomed to certain things that we have a very hard time stepping away to what we think we know and see things from someone else's point of view. I love what you guys said about people being very quick to judge without knowing the full story. I know this is something I'm always trying to be aware of as a teacher and coach when dealing with kids. You never know what's going on in their lives.
Great work this week!
Thank you for reading our blog. No need to apologize!
DeleteWe strongly agree with what you stated in your comment about it's easy to judge others that don’t act like or look like us. We think that is very true because people have an image of what someone “normal” should look like. If they don’t look somewhat similar to that image, they are “different” and judged in public. We are reminded of empathy and kindness through reading this novel, class discussions, and blogging.
We look forward to blog 4! We hope you have a great day!
Blog #4
ReplyDeleteWhen Lito says that he is not going to make the same mistake twice to Isabel, he is inferring that he has been through these challenges before and does not want to go through them again nor does he want his family to go through those challenges. Lito jumped into the water and risked his life to protect his own family. He does not want Isabel to fear not making it to tomorrow. On page 278, Gratz explicitly stated, “Mañana is yours, my beautiful songbird. Go to Miami and be free!”. This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving that tomorrow is not promised for anyone, but Lito is fighting to make tomorrow a better possibility than before for Isabel and everyone else in the boat. If Lito would not have jumped out of the boat and into the water to distract the Coast Guard, then everyone in the boat would have been sent back to Cuba by the Coast Guard. Lito truly loved his family so much that he chose to save his family and friends knowing that he was not going to make it to America. Gratz probably wants us to understand that living with regret can haunt you. If there is ever a chance to help, to make a positive difference for anyone, we should try. If not, regret could follow us.