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Josef - Paranoid, Remembering, Friendly
Josef's Mother - Persistent, Looks Forward, Optimistic.
Josef's Dad - Aware, paranoid, protecting,

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Josef - This story commences with thrills that endanger Josef's family. He wakes up in the middle of the night to strange sounds. Suddenly, "shadows" violently pick him and his family up and tortured them, while they took his father away because of illegal reasons. After they leave, they threaten the rest of the family.
Isabel - The story starts with Isabel feeding a skinny calico cat which  reminds Isabel of herself, that then introduces her character traits. Afterwards, she describes the setting and conflicts. Then, Ivan, her friend shows up, and make small talk but then makes an excuse to leave, but deep inside, Isabel knows that Ivan and his
family are creating a boat to leave Cuba. Isabel feels worried for them, as it is extremely dangerous to leave Cuba. Finally, she mentions her dad and how he had been in prison for attempting to escape as well.
Mahmoud - This story starts with the narrator stating that Mahmoud was "invisible" because he was always hidden and was never seen or noticed. Additionally, his younger brother, Waleed, was also concealed. The narrator described how they completed day to day stuff while maintaining their unseen status in their harsh society. Mahmoud lives in Syria, where a severe war was taking place. Mahmoud experienced people being harmed just because of slight differences, such as religion. The chapter ends with Mahmoud lead Waleed another way home to escape any danger.

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Isabel - Most of the setting is revealed in the chapter titles (every chapter states where and when the chapter is taking place), however, on page 11, the narrator states, "a few years ago, in 1989", this allows me to infer that the story took place in 1992-1994. Additionally, a couples details of the place are divulged on the first chapter, with the narrator stating that Cuba was a communist country and had many farms based on sugar. Additionally, on following chapters the text states that there was august heat, smoke rose from apartment buildings, and a general store. Next, Isabel creates a plan to leave with her family, changing the setting of the story. For starters, when they were quickly setting up the boat, page 37 states "out of the sand and were lurching toward the sound
of the crashing waves".
Josef -

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Although the stories take place throughout different times in history, the location where all the characters demand their status as refugee is profoundly coincidental. To be specific, Josef travels from Germany to Cuba, Isabel travels from Cuba to Florida, and Mahmoud travels from Syria to Germany. How will this affect any events in the future of the novel? Will the characters in more modern times see the other characters' trails? Or will they see each other face to face, but one older than the other?
Also, the policeman who saved Josef's father was Isabel's grandfather? I question this because Isabel's newborn brother is named after her grandfather Mariano. However, Mariano was the name of the Cuban Policeman who saved Josef's father's life.
Post - Answer:
Yes, in fact, when Mahmoud reaches Germany, he is welcomed by Josef's sister, Ruthie. Ruthie was already a senior, because of the different timelines in the story. She tells the story of how her family had died and she had escaped. Then,  the novel ends with Mahmoud feeling safe and at home. However, Isabel never encountered any characters from other stories but her grandfather did.

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Scrawny - (p11)
Scraggly - (p11)
Inferior - (p19)
Staggered - (p20)
Truncheon -  (p21)
Flailed - (p23)
Pennants - (p25)
Laundered - (p26)
Kerchief - (p36)
Infidel - (p39)
Lull - (p41)
Diminutive - (p43)
Throng - (p48)
Sifted - (p50)
Burly - (p66)
Roiled - (p72)
Berating - (p78)
Respite - (p84)
Haphazard - (p87)
Transgression - (p94)
Flotilla - (p111)
Shambled - (p119)
Faze - (p127)
Fugue - (p132)
Odyssey - (p135)
Distraught - (p140)

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Isabel - The main conflict was escaping Cuba. This is because the government was communist and the country was poor. Additionally, whoever tried to leave was either sent to prison or killed. However, later in the book, Cuba's Dictator was personally urged to free the borders, in order to show that he was not a villainous dictator. Although this was a win for Isabel, it started the rest of her conflicts. To specify, they were being shot down as they tried to leave because they brought some policemen that isolated their duty. To add on, they then ran out of gas
Josef - The most important conflict was escaping from the Nazis and overall Germany. Afterwards, when Josef boarded the St. Louis, this became a smaller issue. The conflict then was to be accepted as refugee in a safe country. Unfortunately, they were neglected in Cuba and the U.S, obliging them to turn back to Europe. This complicated their safety as the Germans were near there. Then, it was decided that the jews would be split up into groups to be dropped off at a different country. Josef and his group were headed to France. For months, he believed to be safe, but eventually, the Nazis invaded France, putting them on the lam once again. The story is then slowed down on the day that they were caught, Josef had himself another conflict, sacrificing himself for Ruthie, his sister, or letting his sister perish. Josef had learned that age doesn't decide who is a man, but responsibility does. Therefore, he turned himself in, and resolved it.
Mahmoud -  The main conflict involved escaping the war around him (going to Germany).

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On page 24, Josef internally asks multiple tough questions regarding nazis, his threatening enemies.

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Isabel - It was a casual day when she suddenly heard a gun shot and a chaotic and dangerous protest was created. The protest was rioting against the government, however, the police were fighting back. Meanwhile, Isabel was stuck in the middle of all this, scared and screaming for her father and grandfather. She then saw her father about to get hit by a police, fortunately, Isabel got there just in time and rescued her dad.
Mahmoud - This second chapter described his setting, his everyday life, and his characteristics. Such as, he was "invisible" because of the scary and horrific war,
Josef - Josef was preparing to go to his father by train. After they met, they planned to leave by ship. He went with his family to the station with their suitcases. Josef was unusually confident and took off his Jew Armband, making him look like a normal kid. Then, he purchase candy and had a conversation with a german man. Unfortunately, his band fell off and a Youth Nazi caught him. He was going to turn him into the authorities.

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Isabel - Outgoing, Intelligent, Thoughtful
Señor Castillo - Grumpy, Fast Thinking

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Mahmoud - Concealed, Timid
Waleed - "Robot", "Invisible", Avoiding

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Mahmoud - It was a normal day for Mahmoud, when suddenly, he heard this unusual sound getting louder every second. Then, his apartment building was blown up by the rocket. Mahmoud's reaction was concealed as the chapter ended.
Isabel - Isabel intended to convince the Castillos, who were creating a boat to leave, to take Isabel's family with them. However, Señor Castillo denied it. Luckily, she persuaded him by promising gas to power the boat. She then traded a calico cat for gas from a stranger.
Josef - Luckily, the Nazi boy was insecure and let Josef go. Relieved, he went back to his family, when he then realized that his dad was finally there, after months of imprisonment in the concentration camps . They eagerly got on board.

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Josef -

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Mahmoud is a kid who lives in Syria and lives in an "invisible" way to escape the dangers of the war. He lives everyday, scared of the next. Suddenly, one day Mahmoud's apartment gets destroyed, and his father puts Mahmoud and his family in a car headed to Turkey, then, bullets are shot at it, obliging them to abandon the car. Later, they get their way to Turkey and get temporary Visas. Afterwards, They make it to the coast of Turkey next to Greece and try to take a boat to cross the Mediterranean, but are told to come back the next day. They find an abandoned mall to sleep in. Subsequently, Mahmoud and his family keep coming back to a smuggler but are repeatedly told to come back tomorrow. Finally, they return one night and board an inflatable raft. It is stormy, and the raft crashes into rocks and pops. The family all falls out into the water, and Mahmoud’s mother surrenders his sister Hana to a passing boat so she can stay afloat while they wait for help. Mahmoud and his mother struggle to survive in the Mediterranean but eventually the family is rescued by the Greek Coast Guard. They get to Lesbos and search for Hana, but do not find her. They go to Athens and decide to escape by crossing into Macedonia. Mahmoud crosses Macedonia, and takes a taxi to Serbia until they are held at gunpoint. They walk to Hungary and there the family is arrested and imprisoned at the border. Mahmoud walks out of the Hungarian prison with his family and other refugees, and marches to Austria. From Austria they finally get to Germany where they are given asylum. They stay in the home of an older Jewish German couple, and the woman turns out to be Ruthie Landau, Josef’s sister. She tells Mahmoud how Josef had offered himself to be taken, and she had survived the war. The novel ends with Mahmoud feeling at home.

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Isabel, living in Havana 1994, watches a riot unfold. She watches her father almost get hit, realizing her family has to leave Cuba immediately. Then, Isabel and her family decide they must leave Cuba that night. They persuade and join their neighbors on a homemade and unstable boat and push off from Cuba into the ocean towards Miami, with the police shooting after them. Then, she is still on the boat headed to Miami but the motor stops. The family tries to fix it, but soon they face a large tanker barreling towards them. Afterwards, Isabel and her family finally get the boat started, but unfortunately, Ivan’s father falls out. Isabel dives into save him, and brings him back, as it starts raining and the boat is filling with water. The next day, everything was better and Isabel and her companions accidentally land in the Bahamas, but are then forced to turn around. Her mother begins to go into early labor on the boat. Sadly, Ivan is attacked by a shark and dies. Next, Isabel and her family see the lights of Miami, but the boat starts to fall apart. Then, the Coast Guard finds them, while her mother goes into labor. Isabel is chased down by the Coast Guard but her grandfather jumps in to distract them, knowing he will be sent back to Cuba. Meanwhile, her mother gives birth as they paddle to shore. The finale of the novel is depressing as Isabel plays her trumpet in her new school, valuing everything and mourning Ivan's family's losses

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This story starts with Josef's family’s home is invaded in Berlin, Germany in 1938. It is the night of Kristallnacht and his father is arrested and sent to a concentration camp. After 6 months, he is allowed to leave but only if he leaves Germany immediately, so they purchase passage on a ship to Cuba. Josef and his family meet his father at the ship, but he is thin and very paranoid. The family boards the ship to Cuba and feels safe.Josef has his bar mitzvah. He also learns that the ship is moving as fast as possible to beat the other ships headed to Cuba. He and the other children of the ship take a tour, and hear the crew singing the Nazi anthem and discussing spilling Jewish blood. Josef attends a funeral with his father. The ship arrives outside Cuba but puts down anchor kilometers away. They ask the police when they will be let off but the police keep saying "mañana." After a few days, one of the stewards ransacks their cabin out of spite. Josef’s father jumps overboard but a police officer saves him. The officer comes on board and everyone thanks him but he still says they will leave mañana. On pages 216 - 269, the MS St. Louis is refused harbor in Cuba. They attempt to land in the U.S, but are turned away from the its government, and must to return to Europe. Josef helps a mutiny on board, but they are not allowed by the Captain. The Captain promises he will try to get them into England. Josef was not willing to go back to Europe, he was scared. Then, the family is said to be dropped off at France. Poland was invaded by Germany. Unfortunately, France was next. They lived for about 8 months without issues. When suddenly, the Nazis had invaded France. Josef was with his mother and sister, hiding in a rebellious spot of France. One night, they got caught, and they were going to be sent to the concentration camp. Josef's mother gave all her precious items to try to spare her children's lives. Sadly, the Nazis only let her save one, she had to decide. Josef's story mysteriously ended with that. However, it is later revealed in Mahmoud's story that Ruthie, Josef's sister was still alive at modern times, signifying that the mother chose Ruthie and sacrificed Josef and herself.

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When Mahmoud decides to walk to Austria and be visible, it shows contrast and contradictions, as he was used to being invisible in Syria all his life.

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On page 41, the soldiers in Mahmoud's car talk about their past experiences and losses from the war, this represents a memory moment.

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The whole scene of Isabel getting gas to leave Cuba is an Aha-Moment because she was trying to convince Señor Castillo to let her family on the homemade boat. Castillo didn't allow them and stated that he didn't even have gas. That moment right there was an Aha-Moment because Isabel realized that she could trade her kitten and trumpet for gas. Then, she convinced Señor Castillo as she had gas.

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This theme is shows in a vast proportion of the novel. For example, Josef sacrifices himself for Ruthie, his sister to live because of his love for her. Likewise, Isabel was filled with grief after the passing away of her best friend, and his family. Additionally, Isabel's family was left behind in Cuba, giving her more sadness to deal with.

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All the main characters needed courage and bravery to reach the title of refugee. However, not only the main characters had courage, other characters, who were indirectly affected at that time were brave to step up and make a change. For example, a lady in France had the audacity to take Ruthie in, after her being spared from the Nazis. Similarly, Ruthie was later then not being affected, as the war had ended, and she then had the determination to help someone who was suffering a similar fate, therefore, taking in Mahmoud and his family.