Ask AI: what happened in chapter 37 in refugee

Certainly! *Refugee* by Alan Gratz follows three young refugees—Josef (from Nazi Germany, 1930s), Isabel (from Cuba, 1994), and Mahmoud (from Syria, 2015)—in alternating chapters. **Chapter 37 is told from Isabel's perspective (Cuba, 1994):** **Key events in Chapter 37:** - Isabel and her family, along with the others in the boat, are nearing Miami and the United States after their harrowing journey across the water from Cuba. - They spot a Coast Guard ship, and the tension rises because U.S. policy (the "wet foot, dry foot policy") means if they set foot on land, they'll be allowed to stay, but if caught at sea, they'll be sent back. - The boat is failing, the engine is dead, and they're drifting, desperate to reach shore before the Coast Guard intercepts them. - Isabel leads an effort to paddle the boat manually toward land to beat the Coast Guard. - Isabel uses a can tied to the boat and works furiously to row, and others join in, driven by fear and hope. - The chapter ends with the Coast Guard approaching, but Isabel and everyone else keep fighting to reach the shore. **Themes & Importance:** - The chapter highlights courage, teamwork, and the desperate hope for freedom. - It’s a critical juncture in Isabel’s story because what happens next determines whether her family gains asylum or is sent back to Cuba. If you need a more detailed summary or want information about a different character's chapter 37, let me know!