When Stars are Scattered

Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. They have been there for seven years when the story opens, having fled Somalia together when Omar was four after their father was killed and their mother disappeared. Arriving at the camp, they are adopted by Fatumah, who does her best to take care of the boys. Hassan is prone to fits, and only ever says one word - 'Hooyo'. Omar spends most of his time looking after his brother and doing his chores, until he gets the chance to go to school.

The book covers a six-year period - from starting school to finishing - which sees Omar struggle with decisions, responsibilities, hunger, guilt, jealousy, hope, frustration and the monotonous uncertainty of life in a refugee camp, as he sees his brother struggle with health, and his friends achieve - and lose - their dreams of resettlement.

This collaborative graphic memoir is a powerful, heartbreaking and hopeful read, and is a fantastic book to use with classes talking about the refugee crisis - it offers a vital, compelling and personal insight into life in a refugee camp. The story is full of loving and caring people whom Omar is able to build a found family with.

Omar narrates his story with empathy, warmth and humility, and helps give a voice and a face to a crisis affecting millions of people around the world. As educators and literacy champions, we talk a lot about the power of books to build empathy in young readers, and When The Stars Are Scattered will do this in spades.

There is an interesting postscript to the story, told via an afterword, which brings the reader up to date with Omar and Hassan's story - I advise having a tissue close at hand when reading it!

This book will be adored by fans of graphic memoirs, real life tales and those who like feeling all the feels, as well as those who just enjoy a satisfying, emotional and well told story.

264 pages /  Reviewed by Dan Katz, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+