The Huge Face of Fidel Castro (Situational Irony)
To lighten the mood among the Cuban refugees crossing the sea to Florida, Isabel's grandfather points out that they have another person on board with them. The others laugh when they realize he is referring to the Castro government propaganda sign Señor Castillo used to make the bottom of his boat strong. The sign is one of many seen throughout Cuba, and bears the slogan "FIGHT AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE AND WIN." In this instance of situational irony, the object that was supposed to strengthen the Cuban people's confidence in the Castro government has been used to strengthen a makeshift boat that Cubans use to flee the failing country.
Fake Life Preservers (Situational Irony)
Before making the crossing from Turkey to Greece in a smuggler's boat, Mahmoud's family purchases life jackets from a child who insists they'll need them. The child's grim prediction that the boat might capsize comes true. As Mahmoud treads water and looks around the turbulent water for his family members, he hears his father cursing the fake preservers as useless. In an instance of situational irony, the objects whose only purpose is to keep people afloat do no such thing.
Traveling 10,000 Miles to End Up in Belgium (Situational Irony)
Although the Jewish refugees aboard the MS St. Louis have applied for visas in advance, Cuban officials turn them away. On their journey back across the Atlantic, the refugees learn that several European countries and England have agreed to take them. The first stop is Belgium, where a man points out the situational irony of having traveled ten thousand miles on the St. Louis only to end up three hundred miles from Hamburg. While some people laugh at the absurdity of it, Josef worries about the refugees returning to be so close to the Nazis.
Ruthie Takes in Mahmoud's Family (Situational Irony)
Throughout the novel, Gratz juxtaposes the three refugee stories to show common themes and related scenarios. However, it isn't until the end of the novel that Gratz makes a direct connection between characters from the different storylines. Finally having found refuge in Berlin, Mahmoud's family is taken in by an elderly Ruthie, who explains that she survived the Holocaust because her brother volunteered to go to a concentration camp in her place. In this instance of situational irony, Josef's selfless act enables Ruthie to one day help a Syrian refugee family who has been displaced by war.
