Review: Refugee: The Graphic Novel

Refugee: The Graphic Novel

by Alan Gratz, art by Syd Fini

Graphix (imprint of Scholastic), 2025

Category: Middle Grade

Reviewer: Rachel Aronowitz

 

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Refugee, a new graphic novel version of an Sydney Taylor Book Award winning fictional middle grade book, recounts the story of three different children and their families, in three different historical time periods, all forced violently and dramatically into refugee status. The children show resilience, strength and courage, and play a big part in helping their families find a path to peace and safety. Whether they are Jews escaping the Nazis in World War II, Syrians fleeing Aleppo, or Cubans making the perilous journey to the US, all must face harrowing obstacles.

The graphic novel features rich character development and readers will sympathize and feel an emotional connection to the plight of the refugee families. The full color illustrations are riveting and lend context to the geographic areas and historical details that readers may not be familiar with. The story is based on true events and does an excellent job of highlighting the plight and intense trauma refugee families face. The book is fast paced and the alternating chapters will put the reader on the edge of their seat. While aimed at middle school readers, this graphic novel may be upsetting to young readers with its violent and mature scenarios. I would recommend this graphic novel for high school or to a younger audience with an interest in history. I also think the popular format will find a whole new audience for this excellent and important story.

The true story of 937 Jewish passengers unsuccessfully fleeing Germany to Cuba on the MS St. Louis, seeking to escape Nazi persecution in 1939, is detailed in the story of a fictional Jewish family aboard that ship. This story represents the only Jewish family in the book; we learn about the Bar Mitzvah of a 13 old boy, and other Hebrew words are included in the dialog. They are well explained and the story of the Jewish characters are well woven into the overall story. Readers with no background in Holocaust history or Jewish culture will not be left out in the cold. 

 

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Reviewer Rachel Aronowitz currently works as a librarian at the Springfield Public Library near Eugene, OR, and spends many delightful days each week working in the children’s room. Before that, she spent almost a decade working as a librarian in her hometown of San Francisco, CA. When not at work, she enjoys baking, playing music, gardening, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her husband and young daughter.