Acknowledgments
I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the
following people:
Siobhán Parkinson and Gráinne Clear of Little
Island Books, for giving me the opportunity to write
Ghalib’s story in the first place, and for their insight, skilled editing, and hard work
Conor Hackett, for his ongoing enthusiasm
and advice
The refugees I met and spoke with in the Jungle
Camp in Calais, who live in terrible conditions with
great dignity, pride, and resourcefulness
Raneem Eprahim, for describing in wonderful
detail what life was like in prewar Syria, and Suzi
Button, for introducing me to Raneem
Sandra Cullen, for her valuable input, support
and friendship
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Discussion Guide
1. The civil war in Syria is a multifaceted conflict
involving government forces and rival rebel
groups (including ISIS). ISIS laid siege to the
northern Syrian city of Kobani in September
2014. The Kurdish People’s Protection Units,
a military group that consists mostly of Kurds,
recaptured the city in early 2015 but continued to
clash with ISIS fighters. During this time, US-led
airstrikes against ISIS destroyed much of Kobani.
How do these events affect Ghalib’s daily life?
2. When Hamza pressures Ghalib to go looting with
him, how does Ghalib respond? What can you
learn about their personalities from this exchange?
3. Why is Baba reluctant to leave Kobani despite his
wife’s plea? How do Baba’s and Dayah’s personalities
and values influence the decisions they make?
279
4. Ghalib does not consider himself brave for saving
Hamza’s life. Do you think Ghalib is brave?
What does bravery look like to you?
5. Ghalib and his family are Kurds, an ethnic
minority. Give an example of how their
background affects their decisions or their
treatment during the journey.
6. Why does Ghalib feel so connected to Safaa when
he first meets her? Why do you think Bushra is
less receptive to Safaa?
7. What choice does Ghalib face after he ends up
on the Turkish side of the border? If you were in
Ghalib’s position, what do you think you would
have done and why?
8. How does Ghalib’s relationship with Bushra
change throughout the family’s journey?
9. At the camp, Mohammad says that being afraid
and being angry is sometimes the same thing.
What do you think he means? What examples of
this do you see in the book?
10. Why do Ghalib’s parents decide to leave the
refugee camp? Why is Bushra worried about
going to Europe?
280
11. Before leaving Kobani, Ghalib insisted on
bringing his video games and other “luxuries.”
What does Ghalib pack later when his family
leaves the refugee camp? How and why has his
approach changed?
12. Consider the story of Alan’s birth and the story
of Dapir’s death. What do the two events have in
common? What might have been different if the
war in Syria had never happened?
13. What forms of discrimination do Ghalib’s family
face after they leave Kobani? How do their
experiences relate to the title of the book?
14. Compare the representation of the characters in
the book to portrayals of Middle Eastern refugees
in the media. How is it similar or different?
15. Who are the characters in Without Refuge named after? Why do you think the author made
this choice?
281
About the Author
Jane Mitchell is an award-winning author of
books for children and young people. Without
Refuge was endorsed by Amnesty International
Ireland for contributing to a better understanding
of human rights.
282
Photo by Frank Gavin Photography
Jane Mitchell is an award-winning
author of books for children and young
people. Without Refuge was endorsed
by Amnesty International Ireland for
contributing to a better understanding of
human rights.
Jacket design by Emily Harris
T CAROLRHODA BOOKS
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241 First Avenue North . Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.lernerbooks.com
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Document Outline
Cover
Front Flap
Title Page
Copyright Information
Photo Acknowledgments
Dedication
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What might happen to Ghalib next?
Glossary
Children of Syria
Acknowledgments
Discussion Guide
About the Author
Back Flap
Back Cover
Without Refuge Page 21