Author: Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed
Plot Summary: When relief workers bring used clothing to the refugee camp, everyone scrambles to grab whatever they can. Ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly, until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. As the girls go about their routines washing clothes in the river, waiting in long lines for water, and watching for their names to appear on the list to go to America the sandals remind them that friendship is what is most important.
Posted In: Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

Discussion Questions

• Why do people become refugees? Are countries that can provide safety obligated to allow in people escaping their homelands?
• Do countries have different obligations to their citizens than to other people around the world?
• Why do the girls decide to share the shoes?
• What makes Lina and Feroza friends?
• Can friendship help people to feel more at home when they have fled their homes? If so, how?
• Why are only boys in school in the refugee camp?
• Are Lina’s and Feroza’s experiences in the camp different than they would be if they were boys?
• Why does Feroza give Lina one shoe at the end of the story? Did Lina do the right thing in accepting the shoe?