The best part of this book is that the thread that connects all three refugee stories are feelings of redemption despite the ugliness that forces people to become refugees. The three circumstances of the St. Louis from World War II, the Cuban Rafter Exodus, and the Aleppo refugees all show that resilience of those who are forced upon pain and struggle for survival. I applaud Alan Gratz to make this book applicable for middle grade and high school, and even for adults. These are events that need to be exposed to everyone, and he has done a wonderful job with his book doing just that.