A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

In the epilogue, Destiny reinforces the idea that Tareq’s journey is one of millions. Explore the dangers and hardships refugees experience, including those who are only briefly mentioned, and analyze the extent that they contribute to your understanding of refugees.

• Why do many of the refugees flee their home country?
• How do refugees experience dangers on their journeys?
• What hardships do refugees face as they attempt to emigrate?
• Why is safety still a concern after refugees reach their destination?
• How do minor characters contribute to your understanding of refugee experiences?

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to reflect on Tareq and the other characters in the novel and how they contribute to different aspects of refugee experiences as a whole. Students should consider minor characters that provide unique aspects of these experiences based on their gender, their involvement with Daesh, their geographical location, or their home country.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from assistance with abstract thinking, it may be useful to collectively identify minor characters in the novel and catalog or discuss aspects of their individual experiences. Students can use the discussion to identify ways in which minor characters provide a new aspect of the refugee experience that is not the same as Tareq’s experience.