Refugee
Refugee by Alan Gratz is a powerful historical fiction novel that interweaves the harrowing journeys of three child refugees from different eras: Josef, a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939; Isabel, a Cuban girl escaping unrest in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy seeking safety from war in 2015. The book, lauded for its impactful storytelling and ability to humanize complex global crises, targets a middle-grade to young adult audience. It explores themes of survival, courage, family, and the search for home, presenting a raw and unflinching look at the refugee experience without shying away from intense and traumatic events. The narrative is generally considered appropriate for mature young readers, serving as a significant educational tool.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe book contains numerous intense and disturbing scenes of violence and its aftermath, central to the refugee experiences. While not graphically detailed with gore, the constant threat, loss of life, and physical harm depicted are significant.
Josef's storyline includes his father being beaten and dragged to a concentration camp by Nazi stormtroopers, and later recounting horrific experiences there. Mahmoud's family witnesses their apartment building destroyed by bombs in Aleppo, and encounters dead bodies while fleeing the war-torn city. Isabel's escape from Cuba involves police shooting at their raft, and her friend Iván dies from a shark attack, with the water around him becoming a 'dark red cloud' from his bloody leg.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe book is filled with high-intensity, life-threatening, and psychologically disturbing situations inherent to the refugee experience, including bombings, drownings, persecution, and the constant threat of death.
Josef's family faces the threat of concentration camps and experiences significant trauma, including his father's severe mental health decline after his release from Dachau. Isabel and her family endure a perilous journey across the ocean in a makeshift raft, encountering storms, a close encounter with a tanker, and the traumatic loss of a family friend to a shark attack. Mahmoud's family navigates bombed cities, encounters violent soldiers, experiences a harrowing capsizing of an overcrowded dinghy, and faces imprisonment in a detention center. A parent's attempted suicide is also noted.
Profanity
MediumThe use of profanity is infrequent and generally mild, including a few religious exclamations and some stronger, though not pervasive, words.
The Redeemed Reader review notes the use of 'one “hell,” two my God, one “pissed”.' Another review also confirms the 'Use of the word “hell.”' These instances are scattered and typically used in moments of heightened emotion or distress experienced by the characters.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumWhile not a central theme of juvenile rebellion, the book includes an instance of child-on-parent disrespect and significant acts of political rebellion by adult characters against oppressive governments, which are portrayed as necessary for survival.
One detailed content analysis mentions a scene where a 'child slaps parent across the face.' Furthermore, Isabel's father is involved in political rebellion against Fidel Castro's government by attempting to flee Cuba, an act that could lead to a 'life sentence' if caught, highlighting defiance against authority.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowComprehensive searches for LGBTQ+ content within Alan Gratz's "Refugee" novel, including specific keywords and author information, yielded no indication of LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or representation in the book's narrative. The book focuses on the universal struggles of refugees.
Extensive searches for "Refugee" combined with terms like lgbtq, gay, lesbian, transgender, queer representation, and LGBTQ characters, as well as searches for the author Alan Gratz's views on LGBTQ topics, did not reveal any specific LGBTQ+ content or characters within the actual storyline of the novel.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe book is devoid of explicit sexual content or graphic nudity. Romantic elements are minimal and incidental, not forming a significant part of the plot for the young protagonists.
Compass Book Ratings explicitly states 'Sex/Nudity: None.' While there is a brief mention of 'Luis and his girlfriend' in Isabel's narrative as they prepare to flee Cuba, this is a passing reference without any detailed romantic or sexual scenes. There is also a content warning for 'Catcalling' in one review, but it is not elaborated as a romantic or sexual scene within the book.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes present in the novel.
The book is a work of historical fiction grounded in real-world refugee crises and does not incorporate any fantastical or occult elements. Reviews and summaries uniformly confirm the absence of such content.
Substance Use
LowSubstance use is limited to brief, casual mentions of adult alcohol consumption, without any depiction of drug use, addiction, or explicit intoxication.
Compass Book Ratings states that 'Adults drink alcohol' in the book. Another content warning mentions 'Drinking' in passing. These references are incidental and do not focus on the act of drinking or its consequences, nor do they involve any of the child protagonists.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book does not contain any anti-Christian themes. It respectfully portrays the struggles of individuals from Jewish and Muslim backgrounds, focusing on universal human experiences rather than religious critique.
Christian review sites like Redeemed Reader and Christian Parent Reviews evaluate the book positively for its moral value and ability to foster empathy, without noting any anti-Christian content. The narrative's focus on historical and modern refugee crises transcends specific religious doctrines, instead highlighting shared humanity and the dire need for refuge, exemplified by characters like Josef (Jewish) and Mahmoud (Muslim).
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Age 12+ due to the book's intense and mature themes, including war, persecution, death, and psychological trauma, which can be disturbing for younger or more sensitive readers. While some sources suggest ages 9-12, the gravity of the historical events and personal losses necessitates a higher recommendation for a Christian parent's guide.
Additional Notes
Parents should be prepared for intense discussions regarding war, death, persecution, and trauma. The book can serve as a powerful educational tool to foster empathy and understanding of refugee experiences. The interwoven narratives, while compelling, may require parental guidance or discussion to ensure comprehension and emotional processing for younger readers. The book exists as a graphic novel adaptation, which may present visual content differently than the novel.
Related Reviews
Is Refugee right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required