A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

Epigraph-Chapter 5

Reading Check

1. Helpers (Epigraph)

2. Destiny (Prologue)

3. Farrah (Part 1, Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. Tareq’s family members die in the rubble of his home. When the bodies are found, the rescue workers wave goodbye and Tareq knows he will never see them again. He calls Syria the land of permanent goodbyes because the upheaval in Syria has made it so individuals are not likely to meet again. (Part 1, Chapter 3)

2. Tareq and his family are forced to comply with fundamentalist practices. Susan is forced to wear a hijab, Fayed must throw out his cigarettes, and Tareq removes all photos and music from his phone. The Daesh-controlled territory is strict and exploitive and Tareq’s family is expected to adhere to strict guidelines. Fayed is also forced to pay a fake fine. (Various chapters)

Part 1, Chapters 6-10

Reading Check

1. Iraq (Part 1, Chapter 7)

2. The Cubs of Daesh (Part 1, Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Tareq wonders why Musa still has his mother while his own was killed. Tareq feels guilty for thinking this way, not wanting Musa to experience what he has experienced. He attempts to clear his mind of those thoughts, showing a strength of character and a desire to do the right thing. (Part 1, Chapter 6)

2. Daesh motivates people using fear and force. They use public executions to make an example of the person they are executing and to scare observers into subservience. The forced participation in the execution reveals that there may not be many who are willing to offer support for Daesh or its execution practices. (Part 1, Chapter 8)

3. Waleed wants to send Musa with Fayed because the children have been asked to join The Cubs of Daesh. Destiny discloses that Musa will not see his family members again, possibly pointing to the death of Musa’s family. (Part 1, Chapter 9)

Part 1, Chapters 11-14

Reading Check

1. 24 house (Part 1, Chapter 11)

2. Izmir (Part 1, Chapter 14)

Short Answer

1. Rami is opposed to the Assad regime and blames Daesh for what has happened to Syria. Rami states that he would rather deal with the Daesh than Assad. Tareq finds this strange because of the brutal nature of the Daesh, he also finds it contradictory when Rami states he does not believe women should have to wear hijabs, which are strictly enforced by the Daesh. Later it is revealed that the men in Rami’s family were murdered in the Hama massacre and his mother was raped. (Part 1, Chapter 12)

2. The refugees cannot find work because the Turkish government will not provide them with work permits. The refugees work on the black markets where they are severely underpaid and sometimes outright cheated. Because the work is illegal, there is no one to intervene on behalf of the refugees. (Various chapters)

Part 2, Chapters 15-16

Reading Check

1. The Greek Island of Lesbos (Part 2, Chapter 15)

2. Unknown/Agnostos (Part 2, Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Annis claims there are charitable organizations that raise millions of dollars but contribute little to the cause of the refugees. She also points out there are volunteers who spend more time taking selfies with refugees than helping. She calls this “war tourism.” (Part 2, Chapter 15)

2. Alexia, when compared to some of the “war tourists,” works hard around the refugees. She is not funded by a charitable organization, as her parents pay for her housing while she is abroad, and she visits the graves of the refugees who have died in their attempts to flee their home country. This evidence points to Alexia’s genuine care for the refugees. (Various chapters)

Part 3, Chapters 17-21

Reading Check

1. Jamila (Part 3, Chapter 19)

2. Turkey (Part 3, Chapter 20)

Short Answer

1. The girls from Afghanistan and Tareq have both experienced hardship in their journeys to flee their countries, but the girls have never experienced a time of peace, as Tareq has, because their country has been fighting nonstop for 40 years. Additionally, the girls are in more danger than Tareq because of the exploitation of women and girls. (Part 3, Chapter 18)

2. Destiny describes hunters as those who take advantage of others by being killers and rapists while helpers are those who aid individuals in their time of need such as nurses. Examples of these two types of people in the novel include hunters who exploit refugees by giving unfair wages and helpers like the men who jump out of the refugee boat to guide it to safety. (Various chapters)

Part 3, Chapters 22-25

Reading Check

1. Hypothermia (Part 3, Chapter 24)

2. Dr. Ismael Kassem (Part 3, Chapter 25)

3. Terry’s jacket (Part 3, Chapter 25)

Short Answer

1. Two Israeli women assist Alexia in helping the refugees reach Greece. Though there are tensions between the Israelis and Arabs, the women tell Alexia that the Syrian refugees are kind and grateful to them. The extension of kindness by both the Israeli and Syrian refugees, despite differences, illustrates that helpers can be found around the world. (Part 3, Chapter 22)

2. Alexia and the other volunteers are legally required to report orphans, but they choose not to report it to allow Dr. Kassem to take the child. This decision is driven by a desire to protect the child because refugee orphans are often targeted by human traffickers. (Part 3, Chapter 25)

Part 3, Chapters 26-29

Reading Check

1. Cigarettes (Part 3, Chapter 27)

2. Susan (Part 3, Chapter 29)

Short Answer

1. Tareq believes he is hated because he is a Syrian refugee. Hashem tells Tareq that though there are people who are scared, people all over the world care. This is related to Mr. Roger’s statement because Hashem attempts to redirect Tareq’s thoughts to helpers and not to focus on those who aren’t. (Various chapters)

2. Human traffickers pose as volunteers on the island to steal refugees from the camp. Children are particularly vulnerable. (Part 3, Chapter 29)

Part 3, Chapters 30-33, Epilogue

Reading Check

1. Mr. Rogers (Part 3, Chapter 32)

2. Salim (Part 3, Chapter 33)

Short Answer

1. Though Tareq has both good and bad experiences, when he looks for the “helpers” he realizes that there are both good and bad people in every country, just like his own. (Part 3, Chapter 32)

2. Alexia feels conflicted because she wishes she could have done more for the refugees. The statement indicates that every kindness, no matter how small, contributes to the greater good. (Part 3, Chapter 33)