The Refugees Level 31

The Refugees is a powerfully written and emotively illustrated story that explores the harrowing journey of two siblings forced to flee their home due to war. When their house is burned to the ground, a young boy and his sister become separated from their family and must undertake a perilous journey to reach safety in a refugee camp. Told in the first person, this story invites readers into the intimate thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, using vivid metaphors and similes to convey deep emotion. Expressions like œforlorn as a foghorn and œfurnace of anger create intense imagery and empathy. The book encourages students to connect with global issues such as displacement, resilience, and the human cost of conflict, while supporting sophisticated literacy development through its complex vocabulary and figurative language. It is ideal for supporting comprehension strategies including inference, problem-resolution analysis, and emotional insight. This rich text opens up thoughtful classroom discussion around identity, empathy, and global citizenship.

Educational Benefits:

• Enhances understanding of narrative voice and perspective through first-person storytelling
• Develops higher-order comprehension skills including inference and empathy
• Introduces figurative language such as simile and metaphor
• Encourages awareness of global issues such as war and displacement

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a diary entry from the sister's point of view
• Discuss real-world refugee stories and link to current events
• Explore figurative language used in the text and have students create their own
• Role-play scenes to explore decision-making and emotional responses

Safety & Information:

• Suitable for ages: 10+
• Book size: 210mm x 297mm
• Contains mature emotional themes (e.g. war, separation) - recommended teacher guidance
• Paperback, durable finish for frequent classroom use