Reading Ghost’s Journey with your students? There are all kinds of resources here that you might find useful: classroom discussion questions and activities, book lists, author interviews, a book trailer… and even new photos of Ghost herself!
About the Book
When life in Indonesia becomes dangerous, Ghost and her dads are forced to leave their home and escape to Canada. Ghost’s Journey was inspired by the story of two gay refugees, Rainer and Eka, and their cat Ghost, with illustrations created from their photographs. All author royalties and partial publisher proceeds from this book will go support LGBTQ+ refugees, through Rainbow Refugee and Rainbow Railroad, and through Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program and BVOR Program .
Fun Extras:
Photo Gallery: see some pictures of Ghost today– and her new brother, Robert!
Learn how Robin’s involvement in refugee sponsorship and advocacy led to this book on All Lit Up and Cantastic Authorpalooza.
Read Robin’s interview with UNHCR Canada.
When the Covid 19 pandemic began, Robin and her family had to quarantine unexpectedly. Guess who helped them out? If you can’t watch the video, you can also read the story here.
Suggested Curriculum Connections
Social Studies
- Family structures and relationships
- Strong communities
- Respect for diversity
- Human Rights- home, safety, expression etc
- Rights and responsibilities of Canadians
- Rights of all global citizens to seek asylum and safety
- Canadian immigration and refugee policy
- Canada’s obligations to refugee resettlement under international law
- How immigration continues to shape Canadian society and identity
- How countries vary in their respect for human rights and freedoms, including LGBTQ+ rights
Language Arts
- Stories help us learn about ourselves and our families
- We all have stories to share
- Stories can be told and understood from different perspectives
- Stories help us make connections to others and to the world
Classroom Discussion Questions and Activities
GHOST’S JOURNEY: A REFUGEE STORY can be used to help students understand more about refugee experiences, LGBTQ+ families, and LGBTQ+ rights. Here are some discussion questions, activities and book lists to extend the learning for each of those topics. Some questions and activities are geared to younger students, others for upper elementary or even middle school. Hopefully some will be useful for your classroom- or perhaps they’ll spark other ideas!
A Note to Educators: Teachers sometimes worry that parents may raise objections when LGBTQ+ issues are discussed in the classroom. Having read the book yourself will allow you to address any concerns based in lack of knowledge or misunderstanding, and enable you to provide reassurance that the material is entirely age-appropriate. Having a clear rationale about why the topic is relevant to students is also helpful: learning about diversity works to combat prejudice, reduce bullying and create a safer and more inclusive school. Some students are LGBTQ+ themselves, others have parents who are– and all students need to see all kinds of families represented in the books they read. Policies supporting equity and inclusion exist at provincial and school-board levels as well as within individual schools, and you can draw on these policies to support a challenged book or presentation. When issues of equity and inclusion arise, progressive librarians and educators can play an important role in educating their colleagues and community as well as their students.
Ghost’s Journey is about a family who fled their home and came to Canada to seek asylum as refugees. Around the world, millions of people flee war and persecution. Many students in Canadian classrooms have had this experience. Books and discussion can validate their experiences—everyone deserves to see people like themselves in the books they read. Books and discussion can also counter stereotypes, raise awareness and create understanding and empathy. Everyone needs to have a safe home, a place where they can belong, and a place where their rights are protected.
Discussion Questions about Refugees:
• Why did Rainer, Eka and Ghost need to move to another country? How do you think they felt about leaving their home?
• Rainer and Eka came to Canada as refugees? What does the word “refugee” mean?
• People can become refugees for many different reasons. Can you name some of them?
• What does “seeking asylum” mean?
• The author of Ghost’s Journey was born in England and moved to Canada with her family when she was eight. This means that she is an immigrant. What is the difference between an immigrant and refugee?
• What countries do most refugees come from?
• Who helps refugees when they arrive in a new country?
• Why are some people prejudiced against refugees? How can we make our communities more supportive and welcoming to newcomers?
• Being a refugee is only one part of someone’s life. For example, Rainer is also a photographer, an activist, a video game fan, and an animal lover! It is also a temporary identity, not a fixed one: Rainer and Eka are no longer refugees; they are now permanent residents of Canada. After three years in Canada, newcomers can become Canadian citizens. What are some of the many ways you could describe yourself?
Activities to Learn About Refugees:
• Rainer, Eka and Ghost are from Indonesia. Can you find Indonesia on a map? It is made of many islands. Which one was Ghost was born on? Can you find it on your map?
• “The Ugandan refugees that we brought in 1972, the Vietnamese boat people, the Czechoslovakian refugees in the late 1960s have all contributed immeasurably to the wealth, to the prosperity and to the community here in Canada,” says Naheed Nenshi, mayor of Calgary. Today, refugees continue to give back to the countries where they resettle, making their new communities richer and stronger and more diverse. Refugees make Canada better! You can read some facts about how they contribute here.
• In Robin Stevenson’s hometown of Victoria, BC, one former refugee who is making the city better is city counsellor Sharmarke Dubow. He was only eight when he and his sister fled civil war in Somalia. Now, he is taking a lead in helping address issues like homelessness, affordable housing, small businesses, and supports for local seniors. You can read more about him here.
• Did you know Albert Einstein was a refugee? Throughout history, refugees have made important contributions to science, the arts, politics and more. Can you name some of them?
Picture Books to Extend the Conversation About Refugees:
- All Are Welcome Here, by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
- My Beautiful Birds, by Suzanne Del Rizzo
- Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey, by Margriet Ruurs, illus. Nazar Ali Badr
- Dreamers, by Yuyi Morales
- Luna and Pebble, by Wendy Meddour, illus. Daniel Egnéus
- My Two Blankets, by Irena Kobald, illus. Freya Blackwood
- The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. Rafael López
- What Is a Refugee, by Elise Gravel
- Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kukkush’s Incredible Journey, by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes, illus. Sue Cornelison
Ghost’s Journey is about a gay couple (and their cat, of course!) Talking about LGBTQ+ people in the classroom sends a very important message to young people: it says that diversity is something to celebrate, and that equality and human rights are of great importance. It teaches kids that there are many different types of families, and that all families are important. When kids and teens learn about different identities, embrace diversity and become allies in the fight for equality, bullying is reduced and schools—and communities—become safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.
Discussion Questions About LGBTQ+ People and Families:
• There lots of different ways to be a family! Who is Ghost’s Family? Do you think pets are part of a family? Why or why not?
• In Canada, two men can get married. But Indonesia, life is very hard for Ghost’s two dads. In the book, Rainer says that he and Eka were unsafe because they loved each other. What does he mean by this?
• What do you think the climate at your school is like for LGBTQ students, or students from LGBTQ families?
• Do you ever hear negative attitudes or comments about LGBTQ people? How do you think these comments affect students?
• What efforts do you see students and staff at your school making to combat homophobia and transphobia and to be more inclusive? (e.g. anti-bullying days, LGBTQ-inclusive books displayed, posters that celebrate diversity, homophobic remarks being challenged, gender-inclusive toilets)
Activities focused on LGBTQ+ People and Families:
• Create a display for your classroom or for the school hallway! Make posters and art work that celebrate diversity and supports LGBTQ+ rights. What messages do you want to convey with your poster or art piece?
Picture Books that Include LGBTQ+ Families
- A Plan for Pops, by Heather Smith, illus. Brooke Kerrigan
- Mom Marries Mum, by Ken Setterington, illus. Alice Priestly
- A Family is a Family is a Family, by Sara O’Leary, illus. Qin Leng
- Love Makes a Family, by Sophie Beer
- Stella Brings the Family, by Miriam B. Schiffer, illus. Holly Clifton-Brown
- The Family Book, by Todd Parr
- Prince and Knight, by Daniel Haack, illus. Stevie Lewis.
- Harriet Gets Carried Away, by Jessie Sima
- When Aidan Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Kaylani Juanita
- Pride Colors, by Robin Stevenson
Although there has been great progress towards LGBTQ equality over the past fifty years, same-sex relationships are illegal in over 70 countries. In many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ people are still fighting for the most basic of human rights: the right to be who they are without the risk of violence or imprisonment.
Discussion Questions about LGBTQ+ Rights and Activism:
• Former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, says, “It is an outrage that in our modern world, so many countries continue to criminalize people simply for loving another human being of the same sex…Laws rooted in nineteenth century prejudices are fueling twenty-first century hate.” What do you think this means? How can LGBTQ people and their allies work together to address human rights on an international level?
• Throughout history, many people have fought to make our world better and more fair for everyone. People fought to end slavery, and for the rights of Women and Black people to vote. What other social justice movements can you think of, in the past and today? (Robin’s book KID ACTIVISTS is a good resource for this!) Lots of things have changed because of those movements—people have made a great deal of progress—but there is still more work to do. What things do you think are unfair or still need to change today?
• How do people make our world better? What kinds of strategies to activists use to work for change?
Activities focussed on LGBTQ+ Rights and Activism:
• In Indonesia, LGBTQ+ people are not protected from discrimination and may experience harassment and violence, including from police. What rights and protections do LGBTQ+ people have where you live? If you don’t know, find out!
• There are nearly 200 countries in the world. Pick one and find out what life is like for LGBTQ+ people there. Are their rights protected? Are they protected from discrimination? Make a poster display of what you learned and/or present your findings to the class. This resource might be helpful for you.
• Robin Stevenson’s book PRIDE: THE CELEBRATION AND THE STRUGGLE includes stories of LGBTQ+ people fighting for freedom and equality in many countries around the world. Rainer and Eka’s story is one of them! Another story that is included is about LGBTQ+ refugees in Kenya: Read the section called “Celebrating Pride in a Refugee Camp” and watch a short video clip here. Why do you think it was so important for these refugees to celebrate Pride despite the dangers they faced?
• Make a list of issues you care about. They can be big global issues, like climate change, or local issues, like homelessness in your community. Pick one to focus on, and do one of the following activities: 1. Make a poster that you could take to a protest or put up in your community to convey a message and raise awareness; 2. Write to a municipal, provincial or federal politician to express your concern; 3. Make a short video trailer or website to educate people about the issue and encourage them to take action.
• Ghost’s Journey: A Refugee Story is raising money for Rainbow Refugee, Rainbow Railroad, and for LGBTQ+ refugees being sponsored through Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Learn more about these organizations and programs, and how they help LGBTQ+ refugees:
- Rainbow Refugee is a Vancouver based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (SOGIE) or HIV status. Rainbow Refugee supported Rainer and Eka at their refugee board hearing after they arrived in Canada! Read more here.
- Rainbow Railroad is a Toronto based organization that helps LGBTQ+ people facing persecution in their own countries to find a path to safety to start a new life. Rainbow Railroad gave Rainer and Eka advice when they were looking to find a way out of Indonesia! Read more here.
- Private Sponsorship and BVOR sponsorship allows groups of Canadians to sponsor refugees (individuals or families) to resettle in their communities. The group supports the refugee financially during their first year in Canada and provides them with practical support (finding housing, helping them set up a bank account, access medical care, enroll kids in school and so on.) Robin has been involved in refugee sponsorship since 2015 and has assisted more than a dozen people- kids and adults, some from Syria and from countries in sub-Saharan Africa- to resettle in her city of Victoria. Anyone can get involved in this enjoyable and rewarding volunteer work- an individual, a family, or even a school! Robin’s sponsorship groups have had members ranging in age from 11 to 81! Learn how it works here.
Picture Books to Extend the Learning About LGBTQ+ Rights Activism
- A is for Activist, by Innosanto Nagara
- Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, by Rob Saunders
- Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution, by Rob Saunders
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Saunders When You Look Out