Refugee

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 7, 2018

Review

This is historical fiction at its finest. Fans of Alan Gratz will devour this book.

"Refugee" takes three young people in three different political times: Josef from Nazi Germany in 1938, Isabel from 1994 Cuba, and Mahmoud from 2015 Aleppo and tells of their harrowing journeys to freedom. Each face exceptional challenges through out the story that makes you feel their plight. Very moving and serious, this culturally diverse book is a must for library shelves.

Appropriate for middle grades and higher. A great resource on the political time periods and how it affected the people who lived through it. Each of the main character's background history is given at the back of the book under Author's Notes. Also, information is given to better help the reader understand the plight of refugee children and what they as readers can do help.

Overall Book Score: excellent