When Stars Are Scattered
Ratings29
Average rating4.7
A National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl. Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.
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This is a story of waiting and wanting - not for mere desires, but for basic needs. It's a story that gives you hope and causes you deep empathy and possibly, shed some tears (I can't imagine not being affected). There were countless times where I wished I could teleport myself into the book to help, to share some food, to care. It's a book that'll help you to be grateful for all that you have and make you want to share with those that need it.
When Stars are Scattered is a beautiful story about the life of Omar Mohamed in a Somali refugee camp in Kenya. Readers learn very early that his life revolves around: taking care of his brother, survival, and... waiting. It is difficult for him to see the value of an education at the refugee camp when half his brain is always wishing he were somewhere else and the other half is still looking for his mother.
With the support of mentors and friends, Omar learns to trust in his community and that, even when you're not sure you will be somewhere a long time, it is worth it to invest in your own growth and relationships. Omar is remarkably self-aware and his friends are very insightful. This is a very honest about refugee camps, the struggles that women face, the struggles of those with disabilities in these camps, friendship, and the power of a community to find meaning in life.
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