When Stars Are Scattered

It is difficult to imagine a more adverse childhood experience than growing up in a refugee camp.

In 2016 and 2017, I was privileged to spend some time working with children and families in a refugee camp in North France. The living conditions were very difficult, with regular food shortages, ill health, uncertainty, and ever-present danger. However,  I was continually amazed by the resilience, creativity, generosity, and humour shown by the children, even in the face of such difficulties.

When Stars Are Scattered is a beautiful children’s book that tells the true story of Omar and his brother Hassan as… show more.

This book deeply touched me. Through the eyes of a child, it portrays universal emotions of hope, family, and resilience amidst the refugee crisis.

I believe graphic novels possess a unique power to immerse readers in the characters' experiences and emotions. When a child reads When Stars Are Scattered, they step into… show more.

This is the remarkable story of two young Somalian boys who spent their whole childhood in a huge refugee camp in Kenya, living with hunger, poor conditions, lack of basic necessities, and very little hope for a better future. In spite of such dire conditions, in spite of moments of discouragement and sometimes despair, this book is full of hope and endurance and love: the love the boys feel for each other, the love and respect they show to their foster mother, and their friends and fellow refugees. 

The afterword, telling us what became of Omar and Hassan, is incredibly… show more.

For most of us, life in a refugee camp is impossible to imagine. But not for Omar Mohamed. He grew up at Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, with his younger brother Hassan. As young children, Omar and Hassan were forced to flee their home in Somalia when their father was killed in the civil war and they were separated from their mother. Omar shared his story with awarding-winning graphic novelist Victoria Jamieson and the results are extraordinary. Omar’s fears, his boredom, his frustration come alive on the page. And the love, support, ingenuity, and opportunities Omar experiences in the… show more.

Growing up, I loved comic books and I am amazed at how the world of graphic novels has exploded in recent years. At the start of every school year, I always add at least one graphic novel to my classroom library and this year I added When Stars are Scattered and it has become a popular pick among my students. In traveling with Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, I learned what it was like to live in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. This is a true story and based on Omar’s real-life experiences. 

Perfect for graphic novel fans, When Stars Are Scattered proves that collaborators are not limited by format. I like this book because it delves into the day-to-day life inside a refugee camp by a young man who actually lived inside one. This book moved me to tears in several places.