PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Summary Plot Overview Refugee follows the stories of three different children and their families, each attempting to flee their violent homelands, in different regions of the world and during different decades. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Just when Miami becomes visible on the horizon, a U.S. Coast Guard boat tries to intercept the two families. Refugee: Josef: Havana Harbor - 1939, 19 days (2) Summary & Analysis Next. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Josef demonstrates his personal desire to grow up, but over the course of the novel he comes to recognize the value of being able to be a child. Discount, Discount Code A storm sweeps them to the Bahamas, where they are not allowed to disembark; Ivn is attacked by sharks and eventually bleeds to death in the boat; and toward the end of the journey, Isabels pregnant mother goes into labor. Refugee Chapters 22-32 Summary & Analysis. Margaret Neville, The King's English Bookstore, 2018 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers, 2018 National Jewish Book Award Winner for Young Adults, New York Times Notable Middle Grade Childrens Book 2017, 2017 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner, 2018 Indies Choice/E.B. Purchasing Log in here. date the date you are citing the material. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. This is a powerful and inspirational book written by Alan Gratz, a great author. After it capsizes, it is another boat that gives Hana a chance at life, and it is a Greek Coast Guard boat that ultimately rescues Mahmouds family. Refugee Alan Gratz Study Guide Summary Plot Overview Chapter Summaries Summary Chapter Summaries Josef / Berlin, Germany-1938 Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany. Yet this episode also shows how Ruthie has been able to retain some of her innocence and childhood as she plays, which only showcases Josefs comparative maturity when he refuses. Not only does Isabel rescue her father from arrest, she also sells her beloved trumpet to enable the family to buy gasoline to power the boat her neighbors, the Castillos, have been secretly building. The summary is broken up into approximately 50-page blocks. But for each of them, thereis always the hope of tomorrow. All are escaping persecution and seeking safety and freedom. Meanwhile, there is a rumor spreading that the ships passengers are likely to be turned back from Cuba, a thought too terrible for Josef to accept. Isabels story starts with a riot. Josef's story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. publication in traditional print. It only gets worse for them, but in the end, he learns a powerful life lesson: Its better to be visible than invisible, because even though the bad people can harm you, the good people can help you. Eventually, the captain announces that they are not going to be allowed to dock in Havana and that the boat will be leaving. LitCharts Teacher Editions. In large numbers, Cubans are protesting the regime of Fidel Castro, whose flawed policies they believe have led to the economic catastrophe. The night that they were captured in France, Josef volunteered to be taken by the Nazis; both Josef and their mother were killed in concentration camps. One example is when Josefs family falls apart and he has to be the leader by talking to other people and acting as the main adult of his family. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance After a riot in Havana, Isabels family decides that they should also leave Cuba immediately. When Isabel is asked to play a song at her new school in America, she plays a Cuban salsa version of The Star-Spangled Banner.. Gratz illustrates more dehumanization from the Nazis, exemplified in Schiendicks equation of the children with rats. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. eNotes.com everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Refugee. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. Each version of Storyboard That has a different privacy and security model that is tailored for the expected usage. In the back of the book, the author Alan Gratz offers ways that people can help refugees like Josef, Isabel, Mahmoud, and their families. Source (s) Refugee Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Josef did, and he sacrificed himself for Ruth. The scale of the devastation in Syria is immense: Given its historical roots, why did Gratz write the novel as a work of fiction? Lito keeps reminding himself and Isabel that they will get to America tomorrowmaanaa promise that soon reveals a deeper meaning. Josef, his family, and the passengers are now faced with the possibility of being returned to Germany and to their certain death. Josef is 12 years old at the beginning of the book, living in Nazi Germany in 1938, where Jewish people like Josef are treated as "subhuman" and second-class citizens. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Last Updated on June 29, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 1050. As Landau's hysteria increases, Josef slaps his father's face. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original According to Gratz, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to wage war on his own people. In the end, these three stories are connected. Out of the 937 aboard, roughly 254 ultimately perished in Nazi concentration camps. Isabels family and friends have always wanted to leave the country, but Castro will throw you in jail if you try to escape. Refugee looks readers straight in the eye, challenging them to truly see these kids who are battling the worst moments of our recent history. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. on 50-99 accounts. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor winning author of The War That Saved My Life. However, unspeakable tragedy occurs when Ivn dies in a sudden shark attack. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. (read more from the Pages 164 - 215 Summary) More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Refugee (Alan Gratz). For one, fiction enables the reader to inhabit history in a way that textbooks and newsprint cannot accommodate. Isabel Fernandez's story begins in 1994 in Havana, Cuba under the oppressive rule of Fidel Castro. Isabel's story is like that of thousands of other Cuban immigrants who all fled Castro's Cuba. Aarons purported crime is that he is still practicing law when the Nazis have expressly forbidden the Jewish community from that profession. Summary & Analysis Josef: Berlin, Germany - 1938; Isabel: Outside Havana, Cuba - 1994 (1) Mahmoud: Aleppo, Syria - 2015 (1) . "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Chapter 13 Summary: "Josef: Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean1939" During the Atlantic crossing in 1939, Josef's bar mitzvah ceremony is about to take place. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 6 days, Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 8 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (2), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 11 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (3), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (1), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 14 days, Isabel: The Straits of Florida 1994, 1 day (4), Mahmoud: Izmir, Turkey 2015, 11 days (2), Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 17 days, Isabel: Straits of Florida 1994, 2 days, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (1), Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (2), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 4 days, Mahmoud: Lesbos to Athens 2015, 12 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Mahmoud: Macedonia to Serbia 2015, 14-15 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (1), Mahmoud: Serbia to Hungary 2015, 15-16 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (2), Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (3), Josef: Vornay, France 1940, 1 year, 1 month, 10 days, Isabel: Coast of Florida 1994, 5 days (4), Mahmoud: Hungary to Germany 2015, 17 days. On the ship, Ruth, born in Nazi Germany, has the freedom to play openly for the first time in her life. Equally real are the events of 1994 depicted in the novel. Isabels story starts with a riot. His only distinguishing characteristics are big ears and wire-rimmed glasses. This is thebeets in a brownieof kid lit. After the Soviet Union collapsed, so too did its aid to Cuba, forcing thousands of families like Isabels into utter poverty. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Mahmoud Bisharas story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany. publication in traditional print. Josef Landau's story begins in 1938 in Nazi Germany. Powerful and compelling. It is shabbos and time for Josef's Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish religious ceremony when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old. In Josefs story, the very calm of the Atlantic Ocean is menacing, hiding a darker future. They take a train to board the St. Louis, where it feels like paradise compared to the treatment they received the last couple of years. Fast paced, insightful, filled with drama and tension. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Some novels are engaging and some novels are important. They run into several problems, like being in bloody water with many sharks around on a sinking boat and there are high stakes at the end. The two families face many challenges as they try to cross the Caribbean Sea to Florida. Josef and his family flee Nazi Germany in 1938; Isabel and her family flee Cuba in 1994; and Mahmoud and his family flee Syria in 2015. After drifting off to the Bahamas, the Fernandez and Castillo families finally steer back on course to reach Florida, but not before Isabels mother delivers her baby brother in the boat. -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. What I really like about this book is the changing perspectives. You can also use Storyboard That to create a summary of the book, a movie poster, or analyze themes and events. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Meanwhile, the civil war in Syria still continues to precipitate one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. Empathy and Social Responsibility. You'll also receive an email with the link. However, beneath the surface, the ride isnt as perfect as it looks, and Josef has to take the initiative several times. What are some of the themes, symbols and motifs present in the novel? The way the content is organized, Mahmoud: The Mediterranean 2015, 11 days (3), Isabel: Between Bahamas and Florida 1994, 5 days (1), LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Injustice and Cruelty vs. Josef recites the blessing and after the ceremony everyone congratulates him. The Nazis labelling Aarons practice as a crime against the German people inherently detaches them from their own German culture. Braving extremely choppy and shark-infested waters, the two families make the ninety-mile run to Florida. $24.99 The trip is initially joyous and hopeful. Josef: Havana Harbor 1939, 19 days (2). St. Louis, a ship taking Jewish refugees to Havana, Cuba. Isabels beloved grandfather Litoshort for Abuelitois on board as well, though he is unsure about leaving Cuba. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The family struggles between needing to stay "invisible" in order to avoid danger and survive and becoming "visible" so that those with means can give them aid. Refugee is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. eNotes.com Chapter 34 Summary: "Josef: Just outside Havana Harbor1939" Aboard the MS St. Louis, the passengers give a hero's welcome to Officer Padronthe policeman who rescued Josef's father from the water. An elderly couple, Herr and Frau Rosenberg, welcome them into their home. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. eNotes Editorial. What is a conflict in the book Refugee by Alan Gratz? He is of average height with brown hair and brown eyes. The novels subtler point is that this extraordinariness itself is terrible. They board the ship St. Louis, based on the actual ship that brought Jewish refugees to Cuba and then to the United States but was denied entry by both.That ship had to return the refugees to Europe, where they were split among four countries, and when those countries . The Syrian Civil War is still ongoing as of 2021. 20% Mahmoud learns to shed his anonymity and turn more decisive as his raft flounders in the Mediterranean. Pam Muoz Ryan, author of Echo and Esperanza Rising. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Free trial is available to new customers only. REFUGEE braids three different stories of young refugees. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Once a beautiful, thriving city, Aleppo is now a bombed shell of its former self. Because of this, they all want to escape to a safer place. Josef's father is convinced there is a trap, so Josef and his mother go without him. All three families make their asylum-seeking journeys on boats through perilous waters. Further, children are made heroes in Refugee precisely because children should not, ideally, have to be heroes. A stunning, poignant novel about the plight of refugees Grade A. In Isabels journey, Ivn is claimed by sharks, which symbolize the life-taking maw of the ocean. Mahmoud Bishara's story begins in 2015, during the ongoing Syrian Civil War. Josef, his father, mother, and little sister Ruthie are all asleep when their home is invaded during Kristallnacht, the night when Nazi police and "Brownshirts" were directed to destroy Jewish shops, homes, and synagogues, and terrorize Jewish citizens all across Germany. Synopsis: Refugee is a historical fiction novel that features 3 stories in one ; Josef, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s, Isabel, a Cuban girl escaping Castro's regime in 1994, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy fleeing from the conflict in Syria in 2015. All three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean 1939, 10 days. (including. A gripping, visceral, and hold-your-breath intense story of three young refugees. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. Through the perils and forced courage of his protagonists, Gratz highlights the biggest tragedy of all refugee crises in history: the loss of childhood. These arent completely true stories, but these things do happen to real people, even today. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Josef Landau, from the book Refugee, is a 13 year old boy born into the life of World War 2. Usually, Im not interested in history, but I couldnt put this book down. Fidel Castro has taken over the country of Cuba and the citizens are sick of his dictatorship. Complete your free account to request a guide. Thus, the sea comes to represent death, chaos, and uncertainty at one level. However, the trouble begins when the ship docks in Havana harbor and the Cuban government does not allow the passengers to disembark. In the end, these three stories are connected. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. Isabel trades her trumpet to a fisherman for gasoline, paying her familys way onto Ivns familys boat. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs From the outset, Gratz places readers in the middle of the action and immediately demonstrates the cruelty of the Nazis against the Jews. Like Josef, Isabel too has to grow up overnight in the face of uncertainty and assume the mantle of the adult of the family. The boat the Castillos have cobbled together becomes the center of Isabels existence. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. What are some ways that the characters were helped by the kindness and compassion of others? Even amongst people who have lost everything, they still have empathy toward this man who showed the same courtesy to a fellow Jewish person. The book revolves around three main characters from three different eras: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and modern-day Syria. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. | Gratz accomplishes a feat that is nothing short of brilliantPoignant, respectful, and historically accurate while pulsating with emotional turmoil, adventure, and suspense. Josef Landau is a twelve-year-old boy living in Berlin. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Word Count: 1329. date the date you are citing the material. Josef Landau. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". The rest, like Josef and his mother, were largely sent to concentration camps after Germany invaded other European countries. Josefs father gets sent to a concentration camp. Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight"? Isabels best friend and neighbor, Ivn, is building a small boat with his father so that his family can flee to America. Teachers and parents! This Study Guide consists of approximately 70pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. In 1938, his home is raided by Nazi storm troopers, and his father is taken to the Dachau concentration camp. Instant PDF downloads. His mother, father, little brother Waleed, and baby sister Hana barely manage to escape the bombing of their apartment building. Young readers will finish this book and ask: What should we do? Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs The Landaus disembark in France, which gives them some months of respite. It carried 937 Jewish refugees who were seeking freedom from Nazi persecution in Germany. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. The second is the date of Also, there are parallels between the three stories, and at the end, all of the three stories are connected. The family is eventually pulled from the water by the Greek Coast Guard. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The elderly woman Mahmoud meets is Ruth, Josefs younger sister. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/refugee-by-alan-gratz, *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed). (He is Officer Padron from Josefs story.) Summary Josef is still outside the Havana Harbor, 21 days from home. Please wait while we process your payment. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! All storyboards and images are private and secure. At only 13, Josef takes on much of the family's responsibilities. The journey aboard the St. Louis from Hamburg to Havana is a sunny interlude in Josef and Ruths troubled childhood. Last Updated on June 29, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world, Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. Refine any search. On their way to Switzerland, the Landaus unfortunately run into German soldiers. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. SparkNotes PLUS Empathy and Social Responsibility. Already a member? You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. This is a must read for anyone, especially people who like history. The second date is today's Ruth promises to help Mahmoud find Hana. Refugee by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction novel written in 2017 that weaves together three compelling stories of families seeking sanctuary in other countries. Empathy and Social Responsibility. Josef's father grows anxious, and Josef fears the doctor will find his father mentally ill and turn the family away. Finally, the Bisharas reach Germany, where they are offered a place to stay by a kind older Jewish woman. Instant PDF downloads. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. They walk to the ship and their father races inside, convinced the authorities will try to stop them. The places where they live are in a horrifying state of turmoil. As Gratz observes in his authors note to the novel, the MS St. Louis was a real ship carrying 937 passengers, almost all of them Jews fleeing Nazi atrocities, that set sail for Cuba from Hamburg in 1939. for a customized plan. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? This section starts with Josefs perspective, somewhere on the Atlantic in 1939, 8 days from home (74). Faced with her father being sent to prison, Isabel and her family (her pregnant Mami, Papi, and grandfather Lito) decide to band together with Isabel's best friend Ivan and his family, the Castillos. Mahmoud hands his sister, Hana, to another passing raft of refugees, knowing that his mother cannot hold her and swim. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Once he is released, the family flees to Cuba. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Seor Castillo, who is passive for much of the action, pulls Isabel into the water at the end of the novel to ensure that she reaches the American coast. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Injustice and Cruelty vs. It gives the reader an unflinching look at the humanity, courage, and struggle of refugees seeking safety and freedom. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? They take a train to board the St. Louis, where it feels like paradise compared to the treatment they received the last couple of years. In exchange for Rachels diamonds, the soldiers offer her an impossible bargain: she can save just one of her children from being arrested. Order our Refugee (Alan Gratz) Study Guide, teaching or studying Refugee (Alan Gratz). Though Refugee is a novel, all three of its main storylines are based on actual historical events. Sometimes it can end up there. One example is when Josefs family falls apart and he has to be the leader by talking to other people and acting as the main adult of his family. Mahmoud and his traumatized younger brother, Waleed, have learned to survive the frequent bombings and the bullying by majority Sunnis by learning to be invisible. However, the family is forced to act when their neighborhood is bombed. Josefs fathers jump into the sea symbolizes his desire to annihilate himself. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. Already a member? School Library Journal Audiobooks - STARRED REVIEW. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The Landau's went through many hardships during the . Isabels boat, too, tips over, the sea claiming her familys food and water. Mahmoud's story is set in Syria in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. Heartrendingly, Josef notes that he and Ruthie never want to leave the St. Louis, the first place they have been treated as human beings in a long while. It only gets worse for them, but in the end, he learns a powerful life lesson: Its better to be visible than invisible, because even though the bad people can harm you, the good people can help you. As a narrative device, this has the effect of accentuating the perils of unusual transcontinental journeys, which the reader is habituated to consider in terms of air travel. Review: Refugee is a powerful novel about three very different children. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. eNotes.com, Inc. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The last date is today's Water becomes the agent of change in each of these cases, emphasizing the centrality of adapting to survival. A passing, overcrowded boat cannot accommodate all of them, but at Mahmouds insistence, a woman onboard agrees to take Hana. Refugee: Josef: On the Atlantic Ocean - 1939, 10 days Summary & Analysis Next Isabel: Straits of Florida - 1994, 1 day (2) Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Josef and some of the other children on the St. Louis take a tour of the ship 's bridge and engine room. His experiences with oppression in Germany, and then as a refugee, cause him to grow up far sooner than he should have to. -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Each story weaves actual events into the narrative to create a realistic picture of the struggle and tragedies that families in each of these situations have faced. Six months later, his mother receives a telegram that her husband has been released, but the family must leave Germany immediately. In Refugee, what is the climax of Mahmoud's story. The St. Louis was an actual ship that sailed from Hamburg to Cuba in May, 1939 under the command of Captain Gustav Schrder. Josefs story starts with Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass in 1938. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Mahmoud should not have to decide to give away his little sister to save her life, Josef should not have to slap his father to subdue him, and Isabel should not have to scramble to arrange gasoline for a boat to take her family away to possible safety. Josef, his sister Ruth, and his mother all travel to Hamburg to board a ship that will take them to Cuba. Instant PDF downloads. Though the three stories are historically discrete at first glance, they are linked by the fates of Ruth, Lito, and the Bisharas. A few of the crew, however, openly dislike the Jewish passengers, especially Otto Schiendick, who proudly states his Nazi allegiance. Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. For the last few years, there has been a war in his country between the Syrian government, rebels, the Soviets, the United States and several other factions. for a group? publication online or last modification online. That day in 1940 in France, her mother could not make the impossible choice before her. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for . Struggling with distance learning? You can view our. The refugees aboard the St. Louis are delivered to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. When the family finally gets to their promised boat, they find that it is merely a rubber raft. Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist. However, one day Castro announces that he wont enforce staying in the country anymore, and Isabels family is ready to leave in a small boat their friends made. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely. Isabel Fernandezis escaping Castro's Cuba in 1994. Isabel Fernandez is an eleven-year-old girl who lives just outside Havana in 1994. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Fatima holds little Hana over her head, while Mahmoud keeps Fatima afloat. Josef's father, along with thousands of other Jewish men, was arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp. When Officer Padron returns to the St. Louis, he is treated like a hero by the Jewish passengers. A large part of the novels narrative focuses on boats, which represent tenuous hope. This is how Mahmoud puts it: No one cares about us if we stay out of your way, but if we come near you were seen as a burden.