Paired Texts for the Novel Refugee by Alan Gratz

This paired-text approach to novel studies encourages critical thinking and analytical skills. Students examine different perspectives and narratives, ultimately enhancing their learning experience. Each paired text is a gateway to deeper understanding, drawing parallels between historical events, contemporary issues, and the universal human experience depicted in the novel “Refugee.” For example, the allegory of “The Terrible Things” resonates with the themes of empathy and resistance explored in the novel. Because readers can interpret an allegory differently, it is my favorite choice when selecting paired texts.

This story is an excellent introduction to the extended writing prompt about upstanders, bystanders, and oppressors that I use in my novel study for Refugee. I also assigned the reading of the short poem by Martin Niemoller: “First They Came for the Socialists…”

Allegories rely heavily on symbolism, where characters, objects, and events represent abstract ideas or concepts. When I teach a lesson about symbolism later in the novel study, I remind students of The Terrible Things.

Here are Four More Animated Short Films to Use as Paired Texts with the Novel Refugee

1. Mechanical

Mécanique – ESMA 2017 The adventures of a tiny Digger and her friend, the Bulldozer. Forced to work on an island ruled by a tyrannical crane, the two friends will do anything to escape. I like to use this film before we read the novel during the text preview lessons. I this four-minute movie to teach students how to write headlines. We use Headlines, Six-Word Memoirs, and Sketch Quotes as a daily reading response assignment when reading Refugee. 

When I teach my lesson about the inciting incident, this film is excellent to rewatch and use as an example. We identify the inciting incident from the film together as a class. Then, students go back into the Refugee text to identify the inciting incident for each character in the novel.

2. Bear Story

In Bear Story, an old bear displays his mechanical diorama on the street. Inside the bear’s diorama, we see a circus bear who wants to escape and return to his family. The director’s grandfather, exiled after imprisonment during the Chilean coup d’état, inspired this award-winning short film. I also like this film to illustrate using flashbacks, or memory moments, as a plot device.

Sometimes, events from the past are essential for understanding what’s happening now. A character did something in the past that affects the story today, or a secret needs explaining. Flashbacks are like adding missing puzzle pieces to the story. In the novel, Isabel’s grandfather says, “It’s happening again.” Then, he shares a memory about the USS St. Louis that is key to understanding the significance of the word Mañana in the text.

Lito realizes that Mañana will never be different unless he does something different. He must change to break the cycle of empty promises of mañana. So, he jumps overboard to distract the coast guard, knowing he will be captured and imprisoned. His selfless act allows the rest of his family to make it to their mañana in the US. Lito’s sacrifice changes the cycle of empty promises of tomorrow.

In my plot analysis lessons for Refugee, students learn about several plot devices, including foreshadowing, suspense, flashbacks, and symbolism.

3. Migrants

In Migrants, climate change forces two polar bears into exile. This story reminded me of Mahmoud’s journey in Refugee because the polar bears were met with violent intolerance when trying to find a new home. When I dug deeper into the background of this film, I learned about more connections to refugees.

_{We knew we wanted to make a short film about society and current issues. In 2018, there was a controversy about the “Aquarius” boat, which had rescued migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, but no country wanted to allow the ship to land at its ports. The story of the Aquarius touched us, and the event inspired the subject of our movie. So we made a story about the issue of migration, but with the global warming theme layered on top of it. Polar bears are our main characters, as they are one of the species most affected by climate change.}

From an interview with the student creators of Migrants (Zoé Devise, Hugo Caby, Antoine Dupriez, Aubin Kubiak, and Lucas Lermytte)

I learned much about refugee boats throughout history by reading this article from The Conversation: From the St Louis to the Aquarius: The History of Refugee Boats as Archipelagos of Misery. The article is a great teaching resource for a research project or compare-and-contrast assignment at the end of this novel.

4. Wind

Disney Pixar’s Wind is from their Sparkshorts collection. This eight-minute film is about a grandmother and her grandson trapped deep in an endless chasm. They scavenge the debris surrounding them to build a rocketship and realize their dream of escaping to a better life. I try to keep my short films to resources available on YouTube, but you can only watch Wind on Disney+. 

The story reminded me of the Cuban families building makeshift rafts. Students can connect the themes of sacrifice with all three character storylines in Refugee. It reminded me of Mahmoud’s conflicted feelings about giving Hana away. To learn more about this film, watch this video interview with the filmmakers: Pixar’s ‘Wind’ Behind the Scenes: A Tribute to Immigrant Sacrifices | Localish

Making the Connections Between Paired Texts and the Novel Refugee

I have created several resources to help students connect these animated short films to the novel Refugee. Through these lessons, students actively interact with the material by participating in group discussions using hexagonal thinking and Tic Tac Tell games, fostering deeper comprehension and retention. In addition to collaborative discussion activities, I created graphic organizer-style tasks that require less prep work.

Integrating paired texts into the novel study addresses Common Core standards such as RL.6.9, which focuses on comparing and contrasting texts across different forms and genres. Through thoughtful analysis and reflection, students develop the skills to navigate diverse texts and perspectives, preparing them for academic success and informed citizenship.

In summary, engaging with paired texts cultivates students’ analytical skills as they distinguish similarities and differences across different mediums. Students develop a deeper appreciation for storytelling techniques and literary elements by discussing symbolism in allegorical stories, examining plot devices like flashbacks and foreshadowing, and exploring thematic connections between short films and the novel Refugee.