Presents five true stories of young refugees who have used boats to escape their hostile homelands from World War II to the present. Describes how Ruth and her family escape the Nazis aboard the "St. Louis"; Phu goes it alone to escape the war in Vietnam; José desperately sets out on a raft from Cuba; Najeeba tries to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan; and Mohamed, an orphan, is forced to flee his Ivory Coast home for safety. Includes information on where the refugees are today, photographs, a timeline, and resources for further information.