The Journey by Francesca Sanna Read Aloud

Summary

In this moving story, a family is forced to flee their home due to the outbreak of war. The narrator recounts the journey they embark on, from their once peaceful life by the sea to a harrowing escape across borders. They face immense challenges, including dangerous crossings and frightening encounters, but the mother's unwavering strength keeps them going. Along the way, the children imagine fantastical tales to escape the harsh reality. Despite the hardships, they hold onto hope, dreaming of a safe place where they can start a new life and find peace once again.

Takeaways

• 🏡 A family used to live near the sea and enjoy summers at the beach, but things changed after war began.
• ⚔️ The war disrupted their lives, creating chaos and leading to the tragic loss of the father.
• 😟 The mother becomes increasingly worried, and they hear about others fleeing to a distant, safer country.
• 🌄 The family decides to leave for this faraway land with mountains, hoping for a better future.
• 👋 They pack everything, say goodbye to everyone, and leave their home secretly at night.
• 🧱 At the border, they encounter difficulties, including an angry guard preventing them from crossing.
• 🏞️ With the help of a stranger, the family secretly crosses the border despite the challenges.
• 🌊 The family boards a crowded ferry to cross the sea, facing fears of dangerous monsters and harsh weather.
• 🧚 They tell stories about a magical land with kind fairies that could bring peace to their lives.
• 🕊️ After many days of travel, they reach new lands and dream of finding a safe home to start their lives again.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story?

The central theme of the story is a family's journey to escape the chaos of war, seeking safety in a distant land while enduring hardships along the way.

Why did the family stop going to the beach, according to the narrator?

The family stopped going to the beach because their lives were drastically changed by the outbreak of war, which brought chaos and tragedy, including the loss of the narrator’s father.

How does the narrator describe the impact of the war on their family?

The narrator describes the impact of the war as devastating, bringing chaos to their lives and causing the death of their father. This event caused everything to become 'darker' and made their mother increasingly worried.

What prompts the family to leave their home?

The family decides to leave their home after one of the mother’s friends tells them that many people are fleeing to another country, a faraway place with high mountains, in search of safety.

How does the mother explain the journey to the children?

The mother tells the children that the journey will be a great adventure and shows them pictures of strange cities, forests, and animals to make the idea of leaving more appealing and less frightening.

What challenges do the family face during their journey?

The family faces several challenges during their journey, including climbing over an enormous wall at the border, dealing with guards trying to prevent them from crossing, and a treacherous sea crossing on a crowded ferry amid storms.

How do the children cope with the hardships of the sea journey?

The children cope with the hardships of the sea journey by telling each other stories about monsters beneath the boat and imagining kind fairies in the forests of the new land they are heading to.

What role does the mother play in the story?

The mother plays a protective and guiding role, leading her children through the dangers of the journey, remaining strong, and reassuring them even in the darkest moments. She is a source of hope and courage for her children.

How does the story end?

The story ends with the family reaching land after their perilous sea journey, still traveling toward safety. The narrator expresses hope that they will find a new home where they can be safe and start their lives anew.

What is the significance of the birds mentioned in the story?

The birds symbolize migration and hope. The narrator compares their family’s long and difficult journey to the birds' migration, hoping that, like the birds, they too will find a new home without borders and start fresh.