When Stars are Scattered

Jamieson, Victoria and Omar Mohamed. When Stars are Scattered. 2020. 264p. ISBN 9780525553908. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Originally from Somalia, Omar and his younger brother Hassan witnessed their father's murder when civil war erupted. Forced to flee his village at four, Omar led his younger brother Hassan on a perilous trip across the Horn of Africa, eventually reaching safety in a refugee camp in Kenya. There, the siblings were assigned a foster mother who had lost her own children, and they spent every day trying to survive. Hassan does not speak, suffers from seizures, and can have difficult behaviors.

Now twelve, Omar gets the opportunity to go to school. He feels bad that he must leave his brother home every day, but for Omar school suddenly opens up plenty of opportunities to learn new information. Following a rigorous exam, Omar is one of the few children in elementary school in his area of the refugee camp to be promoted to middle school.

While pursuing his learning, Omar continues to hope that they will be reunited with his mother. A UN social worker places his and Hassan's names on a resettlement list, and, after finishing high school, Omar is finally allowed to immigrate to the United States with his brother. 

Based on a true story, When Stars are Scattered digs into the stereotypes that we have of refugees, explores their tenacity and desires for a better life, and makes the reader wonder that this could have been them under different circumstances. Beautifully illustrated, Omar and Hassan's story will resonate long after the book has been put away!