Mahmoud's Refugee Journey by Spencer Schwartz

NewsELA Article

brettgasparini — 2023-10-23 13:58:30 UTC

In 2011 the Syrian Civil War began between President Bashar al-Assad and Free Syrian Army. The Arab Spring was the name of the protest movement that lead to the torturing of 15 boys because of their graffiti. This affected many people, especially the protesters. Iran and Iraq supported Assad's Government, meanwhile Turkey, Qatar and Saudi strongly supported the anti-government rebels. The United States has bombed Islamic State targets since 2014. The graphic novel Refugee by Alan Gratz includes a story about a boy named Mahmoud who is a refugee from Syria. His goal is to try to make it to Germany with his family.

Novel

spencerschwartz — 2023-10-24 12:12:33 UTC

Life Jacket Graveyard

spencerschwartz — 2023-10-24 17:44:41 UTC

The lifejacket graveyard is a place where they bring items that have lost at sea or were left behind by refugees after they have gotten ashore the island. Even if the graveyard is far from tourist or residential centers on the island, it is not deserted.

Bashar al-Assad

brettgasparini — 2023-10-24 21:04:49 UTC

On July 10, 2000, Bashar al-Assad was given the role of president of Syria by his father Hafez al-Assad (the previous president). After the death of Bassel, Bashar joined politics allowing him to gain this position. He is responsible for the killing and torturing of 13 year old boys that protested at the Arab Spring. This was the cause of the Civil War between Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian Arab Republic. The graphic novel Refugee by Alan Gratz has a story about a boy named Mahmoud who is currently escaping Syria due to the Civil War happening. He and his family are fleeing to Germany, as shown in chapter 12.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

spencerschwartz — 2023-11-02 13:57:41 UTC

In 1983, a 26 year old man, Kevin Eastman and his friend Peter Laird created the famous tv show that we grew up watching, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The tv show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles takes place in New York City with four turtles that became ninjas that are hidden heros that live in the sewers. When Eastman created these drawing he knew this would be a hit since it cracked him and his friend up. Over the years Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grew more popular all over the globe. These characters and their story play a role in the graphic novel Refugee by Alan Gratz contains a story about a boy named Mahmoud who is a refugee from Syria. Him and his brother, Waleed, like the crime fighting hero the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and during their aventure they Mahmoud finds a toy that is from the series and gives to his brother for joy during the tough times they are going through due to the Syrian Civil War.

Foreign Currency

brettgasparini — 2023-11-08 23:11:58 UTC

On January 1st, 1999, euros had be invented. If you don't know what euros are then let me tell you. Euros are a currency used by many countries in Europe and some countries in the middle east. Euros were created to promote growth, stability, and economic integration in Europe and some middle east countries like Syria for example. The currency, euros, are used just like the same way money in the U.S is. Used to buy physical goods, and some goods that you cannot touch like insurance. Euros relate to the historical novel, Refugee by Alan Gratz. Euros make a encourance in this book. Mahmoud, a young boy who is a refugee, from Syria due to the Syrian Civil War, that is trying to make it to Germany with his family. Mahmoud encounters moments of when he and his family need euros to travel around and buy basic living supplies on their journey. As shown on page 247, Mahmoud and his family were in a dangerous situation of when they were in a taxi, and driver demanded 300 euros from them while having a pistol faced at all of them. These euros come in handy for Mahmoud's family and himself for not only transportation, but to also save there lives.