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 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.
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