Life for most individuals is hard. Life for a young boy in a refugee camp, struggling to support himself and his brother, is nearly impossible. Imagine waking up with a constant pang of hunger and know that change is out of reach. That is the reality for Omar Mohamed, the main character of Victoria Jamieson’s new novel When Stars Are Scattered.
When Stars Are Scattered is a beautifully written graphic novel that deals with sensitive, real world issues. Inspired by the true story of Omar Mohamed himself, the book depicts his struggle to escape the refugee camp that has confined him and his brother for all their lives. In the camp, conditions are unimaginable, from the stale food to the lack of medical care. The novel opens with a flashback sequence of when Omar tells how he and his brother lost everything they had, from a roof over their head to their family.
The turning point of this novel surfaces a bit later, when Omar is offered the chance to go to school for the first time. Omar has never received any form of education and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Being able to receive an education means potentially lifting himself and his brother out of poverty and seeking a new life. The thing is, leaving for school would mean leaving his brother all alone with no one to truly support him. Jamieson has a magical way of executing a storyline that is both filled with humor and heartbreak. In the book, readers get an in-depth view of the trauma refugees go through and how significant of an impact those little beams of hope have.
There were two main aspects of the graphic novel that stood out to me. First was the overarching theme of staying hopeful and prioritizing family. Omar bore the brunt of the burden and persisted through the refugee camp, knowing that there are always brighter days ahead. When faced with hardships, Omar focused on the good and let shadows fall behind him. On the theme of prioritizing family, the sole reason why Omar even considered going to school was to benefit the life of his family in the long run. Despite the terrible conditions of camp, Omar embodied the idea of “family over all” and swore to take care of his brother. The second aspect of When Stars Were Scattered that was a shining point to me was the parts of African culture that remained integral through the plot. For instance, the novel says, “There’s Hagadera, which is named after the big trees. There’s Dagahaley…” (page 11). While African culture is clearly a major part of the novel, it is not extensive to the point where it posed as a distraction. Jamieson does a great job of balancing it out. This integral sense of African culture makes the reader feel more connected with Omar’s life experiences.
Personally, I would highly recommend this novel to all kids of ages 7-10 who are interested in a realistic fiction graphic novel. The pages were all filled with bright colors, bold speech bubbles, and a variety of facial expressions, which would keep younglings engaged at all times. More importantly, the entire story is centered around the life of a boy and his family, making the storyline quite personal to young readers. Finally, the author deals with many serious and real-world topics that are important for children to be introduced to from a young age.
In the past, Victoria Jamieson has written countless award-winning graphic novels, such as Roller Girl and All’s Faire in Middle School. However, this is definitely more towards the serious side, as it presents powerful themes such as war traumas, parental loss, and the power of perseverance. However, Jamieson still does a wonderful job of presenting them in a lively and welcoming manner.
All in all, When Stars Are Scattered is crafted with clear expertise and a hidden inspirational message. The tone of the author was compelling, engaging and inspiring. While reading the book, I found it was exceptionally edited and there were no editing errors. Moreover, the structure was cohesive and the word choice was easy to understand. I will definitely be re-reading this novel and I recommend you get your hands on this gem as soon as possible!
Image credit: Hugh Lunnon