On May 10, 1940, the Nazi Army invaded Belgium, setting into motion the refugee story of Cary Fagan's father, Maurice. Maurice was only 12 at the time, and he and his family had no idea they would never again return to Brussels, the city of his birth. Instead, they would travel through France, Spain, and Portugal, running from war. Every time they thought they might be safe, Maurice would try to restart his studies--he was determined to become a lawyer, convinced it was the law could make us all equals. But every time, his schooling was interrupted, and the family would have to escape again. Eventually, they found passage on the Serpa Pinto: the Destiny Ship. They travelled all the way to Jamaica and ended up in a refugee camp, worlds away from anything they knew. But this is a story of resourcefulness and resilience! Determined to get an education, Maurice went around finding teachers among the refugees and with their help--plus his trusty Chambers's English Dictionary--Maurice eventually worked his way into a local boys' school, where he was finally able to sit for his exams and earn his diploma. The story ends with Maurice boarding a plane, heading for the University of Toronto--it's the final leg of a long journey and at last, he thinks, "my new life really was starting."
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