Another in the OBOB middle level series for this year, and what a strong list of books this year's seems to be! Refugee is no exception...I have seen Gratz's books before, and the covers are all done in the same colors and style, and his work is historical fiction, which I love, but I've never gotten started on one before...until now.
This book is powerful. Heartbreaking. Important. A page-turner! Maddening. Sad. Hopeful. Moving. Motivating. The story of three young people and their families, in three different times in history, all fleeing their homes and countries to survive the brutal conditions that are developing where they live. Escaping the Nazi's was not easy, or even usually successful, but that is what Josef and his family are trying to do. Escaping Castro's Cuba was equally difficult, as was trying to escape a war-torn Syria, but these three world tragedies happened, and in some cases are still happening, and Gratz does a great job of giving each a human face. Many human faces, actually.
This book will give you deeper insight to what is in the newspaper headlines each day. Headlines are easy to ignore...this book is not. I will definitely be reading his other books. 5 paws!
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