When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

yalitreader

Oct 3

Summary: Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have been living in a Somalian refugee camp for years. They have no one to depend on but themselves, and Omar is solely responsible for the wellbeing of Hassan, which is especially complicated due to Hassan's disability. However, when Omar gets the chance to receive an education, he must figure out his goals in life and how hard he is willing to work to get himself and his brother to a better future.

Review: I didn't know I needed this book. I didn't know how little I knew. I didn't realize my own ignorance. This book exists to portray the humanitarian crisis in Somalia and Kenya at Dadaab, and it does so excellently, without fault.

I also really loved the graphic novel approach that Mohamed chose to write the story with. To me, it humanized their story more. This feels gross to say -- like I wouldn't have been as invested if it were traditional prose. However, it's also true. I've started so many books that take place in various African countries, but it's so hard for me to connect with the stories or characters, and I end up not finishing the vast majority of them. This novel, however, was so different. The graphic novel format made it SO much more relatable, and I was pretty immediately hooked into the brothers' story.

The relationship between the brothers was also so genuine. I loved it. It was very sweet and tender, and it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. At first, I was frustrated for Omar, but I quickly realized how deep his love was for Hassan and how everything he did was in an effort to better the life of his brother. It was a beautiful message.

The subplot of the female refugees was also super interesting. Them having to work harder for their education, and even then, there is no guaranteed right to it. Maryam, the top student, was forced to give up her schooling so that she could be married off by her family to give them more money. It was heartbreaking to read about, and even though it wasn't the main part of the story, I found myself very invested in it. Mohamed could've easily ignored the entire thing because it didn't directly pertain to him, but he didn't, and I respect that.

At the very end of the story, Omar gave a quick little author's note, too. Honestly, I usually don't read those. However, with this book, I felt compelled to because I wanted to hear more of how their story has gone. It explained his life since immigrating as well as his charity efforts. It honestly got me inspired to look up volunteering in a refugee camp, not that I've followed through necessarily, but I did find the little authors note to be that compelling.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Recommended reader: Anyone who likes:

Nonfiction
Graphic novels
Refugees
Stories about family
Brothers
Education
Female empowerment
Refugee by Alan Gratz

Discussion Questions:

The UN is meant to help refugees in crises. Why are some people in Dadaab furious with the UN? Does Omar believe the UN is actually helpful? Why or why not? Why do you think the UN is unable to provide as much assistance as they should?
Describe the relationship between Omar and Hassan. What made them so close? Why are they still so close? Why does Omar feel so protective over Hassan? Does he NEED to feel this protective? Why or why not? How does Fatuma fit into their family dynamic?
How are female refugees treated differently from male refugees? Why do the girls not have the same educational opportunities as the boys? How does Omar feel about this injustice? Read the authors note at the back of the book. How have Omar's experiences with his friends Maryam and Nimo impacted his future work?
Why do refugees value school and education so much? Why was Omar reluctant to go to school in the first place? How is their perception of school different from most Americans' feelings on it? Why?
Who are Omar's most important friends in the refugee camp? How do these friendships help him throughout the story? Is there a clear line between friends and family, or are they the same for Omar? What theme could be learned from all of this?

Specifics of the book: