When Stars Are Scattered

Written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson · Written by Omar Mohamed · Illustrated by Iman Geddy

A refugee boy faces a choice: education or staying with his brother.

4.6 Goodreads · 33,965 ratings

264 pages· 27,175 words· Est. 5 hour read· GN530L

$13.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In a Kenyan refugee camp, Omar dreams of a better future. When offered a chance to attend school, he faces a heart-wrenching decision: pursue education or stay with his nonverbal brother, Hassan. Amidst hardship, Omar must navigate hope and sacrifice, striving to create a sense of family and belonging in a world of uncertainty. Will he seize the opportunity to change their lives, or will the bond with his brother hold him back? This poignant graphic novel explores resilience and the quest for a brighter tomorrow.

From the publisher

Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a 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.