When Stars Scattered: Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

 

When Stars Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

What's it About?

Omar and Hassan are growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Growing up in the camp they are faced with lack of food and mundane days. Faced with leaving his special needs brother Hassan alone while he attends school, Omar struggles to make the right decision. The decision could provide for better opportunities for them both but requires Omar to leave his only family alone so he can do it he's scared and unsure. Following their day-to-day experience of survival as they grow, Omar does everything in his power to survive and keep his family together no matter the cost. 

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When Stars are Scattered

Reaction:

When Stars are Scattered brings the life of Omar and Hassan, refugees in Kenya to life. The story of two brothers surviving the day-to-day life of living in a tent village with minimal food, healthcare, and security provides a mix of hope and heartbreak. Moving through this graphic novel one cannot help for begin to understand and feel for these boys as days roll into years and they grow from young boys to teenagers. 

Omar's resilience and perseverance are clearly understood and the graphics that go along with this story provide a great introduction to the world of refugee camps for young readers. While some of the images could be seen as light considering the topic it seems to lend to the innocence of their experience as children in the camp. There is an abundance of information that can be used as talking points throughout the novel that could lead to great conversation about the feelings, family life, and overall idea and experience that refugees are faced with. 

Jameison with Mohamad provides and important and eye-opening telling of the experience Omar Mohamad had surviving in a refugee camp as a boy with his brother, alone without any other family.  It provides a great window to a world that most readers, young and old, would have a hard time understanding. When Stars Are Scattered delicately balances this very serious topic with a story that captures the reader and takes them on a journey with Omar and his brother. 

360 words

For more about this graphic novel and about Victoria Jameison click here

You may also want to check out these resources provided on Jameison's site.

A Long Way Down: by Jason Reynolds

 

A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

New York Times Bestseller

Newbery Honor Book 

Coretta Scott King Award (Honor)

What's it About?

Will's brother has been killed. He now must do the only thing he knows should be done. Revenge. On his mission for this revenge, he takes a long trip down on an elevator where he's faced with his past and "the story" he thought he knew. Will he follow the rules? Will he continue the cycle? 

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Long Way Down

Reaction:

Getting started with this title took a minute. Long Way Down wasn't something I thought I initially could relate to enough to fully understand but Jason Reynolds does an excellent job of pulling readers into the emotion and tragedy of Will's story, a story of too many. From beginning to end Reynolds use of verse grabs the reader and sucks them into Will's elevator ride and tormented emotional journey.

Long Way Down takes readers (or listeners) on an incredible journey and dives into a world where the circle of violence is a way of life. I imagine it can be understood on many different levels depending on the reader (or listener). The palpable agony of what Will is facing and how he feels he must deal with the death of his brother is driven by the language and prose that Reynolds brings to the telling of this story. Surely this could be written narratively but it would not have the same effect on connecting readers to the confusion, haste, reaction, and feelings of the characters.

My hesitation in starting Long Way Down was quickly deterred when I couldn't stop flipping to the next page and seemed to move through this story faster than I could pick up everything it was trying to give me. In fact, I went back through it two more times, the last time with an audio version read by Reynolds, which is highly recommended. There is so much to unravel in this one and it did not disappoint. In fact, left me thinking for days after. 

327 words

For more about Jason Reynolds click here.

Full of Beans: by Jennifer L. Holm

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

(author of Newbury Award Winner Turtle in Paradise)

What's it About?

Beans Curry is forced to become the man of the house when his father leaves Key West to look for work in New Jersey. As Beans and his gang of friends navigate the struggles of the Great Depression they learn to do what has to be done to survive and keep their homes, even when those things make them question everything. When survival becomes keeping Key West their home can they come together and make it work?

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Full of Beans

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Jennifer  L. Holm dives into the lives of children living in Key West during The Great Depression and brings characters alive in her story of survival, and change, without diminishing the historical content included. This story of a young boy navigating the world around him as his father leaves to find work captures the reader's attention with vivid descriptions and details that most young readers can relate to. 

Full of Beans provides a great introduction to the struggle of people during The Great Depression and the sense of community that banded people together as they did what they could to get by day by day. Great for fans of historical fiction or to pique their interest in the genre, it provides an easy-to-read story and authentic historical accounts but avoids the feel of reading about history that could be dry for some young readers.

As a classroom read or just a casual book read for enjoyment Jennifer Holm captures the audience and provides an interesting story. Her account of Beans Curry, his family, and his community gives a great interpretation of life in Key West during The Great Depression. The Author's Note included in the book connects the reader to the New Deal and the factual connections of the time to events in the book allowing even young readers to begin to understand. 

310 words

For more books by Jennifer L. Holm click here.

You may also want to check out Turtle in Paradise about Beans Curry's cousin Turtle and her story in Key West.

The Wild Robot: by Peter Brown

 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

What's it About?

When a cargo ship carrying robots crashes into an island and leaves all of its robot cargo except for one destroyed, the lone survivor must figure out how to survive? Roz comes alive on an island full of wild animals and with a great amount of knowledge and understanding creates a connection to the world around her. The unlikely relationship between nature and technology develops into a story of friendship and love but is that enough to survive on a deserted island?

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The Wild Robot

Reaction:

Peter Brown does an incredible job with The Wild Robot. I had an admitted reluctance to start this book as I generally do not settle into fantasy fiction all that easily. This one surpassed my expectation on so many levels and is highly recommended as an introduction to fantasy fiction for young readers. 

Brown brings the characters in The Wild Robot alive magically and easily captures the audience with their human qualities. The story becomes tangible as Roz's story of survival transitions to a story of community and connection and love and back to the story of survival. The ideas of acceptance and understanding the importance of compassion for our neighbor does not go unnoticed in this book by Peter Brown.

The Wild Robot captured my imagination and kept me coming back for more. I couldn't wait to get back to it and see what was going to happen next. Each chapter brought me deeper and deeper into the life that Roz created and sustained on the deserted island that became her home.  

This fantasy fiction has the potential to reach readers of various age ranges, keeping everyone entertained and invested. As part of a series, this first book is sure to keep readers looking for the next book and wanting to continue their journey with Roz and her "family". 

313 words

For more information on Peter Brown click here

For more books by Peter Brown including others from the series click here