Estimated time: 45 minutes

Think about and discuss these questions from your reading:

1. How would it feel to watch your father being dragged from your home like Josef?
2. Why do you think Isabel can't hear the clave?
3. Why are Ivan and his father building a boat when they could be severely punished just for trying to leave?
4. What method is Mahmoud using to survive the awful circumstances he is living in?
5. When Josef and his mom are reunited with his father, what has happened to him?
6. Why did Isabel sacrifice her trumpet for gas?
7. What traumas have Mahmoud's family faced before leaving and because they left Aleppo?

Freewriting

After pondering and discussing these questions with your teacher, choose one to complete a freewrite on. If you are unfamiliar with freewriting, here are a few tips:

• Keep your pencil moving. Don’t stop. Just brain dump onto your paper
• Have a set amount of time. Set a timer and write for the full amount of time.
• Ignore all grammar and spelling. Don’t let editing slow down the process. The goal is to get thoughts on paper. Spelling and grammar are not important in this instance.
• Pen and paper aren’t the only ways to freewrite. Feel free to type on the computer. Not only does this accomplish the task, but it builds typing skills.

Share your freewrite with us in the comments below.