Refugee 87

Refugee 87 is a Historical-Fiction novel by Ele Fountain to shed some light on the refugee crisis in Ethiopia around the world. It is published by Little Brown. The book was written during her stay in Ethiopia because it was what inspired her to write it.
Plot Summary
Refugee 87 stars a boy named 'Shif'. It begins inside an unknown country with a dictatorship in place, it's like a day like any other for Shif and his best friend, 'Bini'. They are at school as a normal day goes by and discuss what they want to do when they grow up and finish their military service for the country. They are both exceedingly smart as they skipped multiple grades and are already about to begin military school.
After a few days soldiers from the west of the town begin to show up around the school, scouting Shif and Bini as their fathers were against the government and they unknowingly 'traitors'. The mother lied to Shif, claiming the father merely died at work from a work accident.
Weeks go by after the story begins and Shif begins to notice the military spying on him, he runs away when one soldier confronts him. Shif runs away from the soldier and back home. Things begin to escalate when Bini doesn't arrive to school the next day, then when he arrives home his mother tells him he has to leave without his mother and sister since the government is after him. When they pack everything to leave the soldiers enter his home and search for evidence of them leaving, just as they find it he is sent onto a truck leading to a prison along with his best friend Bini found when the raid of Shif's house begun.
They are lacking of thirst as they are on the truck for a full day straight until they finally reach a prison used with cargo containers to imprison traitors. They are thrown inside the same cargo container along with 6 other prisoners that have been there for over a decade. The 6 prisoners explain to them both of the rules and how it works, as well as where they are as they are very confused and thirsty. they are forced to march in the desert as 1 of the prisoners silently explains an escape plan for him. After the march 1 prisoner also reveals that his father may be alive after all since he was sent to the same prison 14 years ago.
As soon as they launch it into action after discussing it inside the cargo container, he makes a run for it while the 6 prisoners make a distraction before promptly being gunned down by the guards. Shif escapes though without a trace of Bini as he loses him. He is forces to make it north towards the Mediterranean Sea to escape to Italy and wait for his family there.
He avoids soldiers searching the area for the escaped convict and he is able to sneak a row boat to the Mediterranean Sea after a few rough days without food nor water. He escapes with 3 other convicts who are seeking to also leave Africa with him.
Storms and starvation kill off 1 man and 1 injured as Shif struggles to survive the madness of the storm upon their row boat.
Shif finally makes it to Italy where he sees his mother and sister but was never able to find out where his father was, which is the falling action of the story.
Characters
Shif: The main character of the story, a very smart kid who was unlucky enough to have a father who opposed the government and wanted more pay. His best friend in 'Bini'. The story is focused mainly on him for the majority of the story. He has a little sister, who he finds very annoying, and of course a mother who cares for him
Bini: The main character's friend, is also very smart (maybe even smarter than Shif) and has the same fate as Shif as he attempts to stick alongside Shif's side as much as he can to support him. His mother's name isn't stated and he has no siblings.
Yonas: Is the character who helps out Shif and Bini escape the prison. He is old and has been in the prison for years for being a traitor, he is promptly shot down later in the story.
Lemlem: Is Shif's sister and plays a side role. Not much is known about her but she is whiny and young.
Theme
The theme of the story could be as followed:
War
There would be no need for military service in the country unless there was a mobilization for war of some sort, of course this is not the case for Shif as it is a trap for him to be sent to a prison.
Refugees
This plays a big role from the book saying the book is named Refugee 87. It also has Shif and Bini attempting to escape to Italy from their total death from imprisonment.
Writing Style
This takes a turn from showing how everything could be alright at 1 time and then take a 90* turn instantly.
Tone
The tone is more serious and is used to shed light on the attempts of how refugees have to get through all kinds of things just because of their government or war.
Point of View
The PoV is only 1st person and it is only focused on Shif.
Historical References
The story references to the refugees in the world and the crisis they are having in war. The events of war harm homes and they are forces to flee the country either because of enemy occupation, war, or a dictatorship taking power.

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