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This is just a yes. Omar Mohamed first arrived in the US in my adopted hometown & graduated from the university where I work. Anyway, no book blurb will do this book justice. Must read & experience.

In a refugee camp, everything can change…and nothing can change. I‘m still here, so that hasn‘t changed.

My fourth graders watched a book trailer for this and were instantly intrigued. Many of them have read it already and are sharing the book with each other.

A story of two brothers who were separated from their mother during the war in Somalia. They are living in a refugee camp. The novel goes through their time in the refugee camp as they grow and have to make decisions.

A intriguing non fiction graphic novel

Read for:

#TheNerdDaily2022ReadingChallenge
#TheStoryGraphGenreChallenge2022
#PopSugarReadingChallenge2022

4/5

Amazing. Just amazing.

My progress on #ReadingAfrica2022: four countries, with post-apcocalyptic novel, a murder mystery, a kids' book, and a bail.

This was really thoughtful and well written: I appreciated that the audio was done using different voices which really made it come to life. The true story of young Omar Mohamed, who shares a bit at the end, caring for his disabled younger brother and seeking freedom from a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing war-torn Somalia.
#Booked2022 #Weather
#ReadingAfrica2022 #Somalia

“For me, the first years are lost.”
#FirstLineFridays

Read this with my son. Amazing graphic novel. Really pulls you in and puts thing into perspective. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2 hours 12 minutes for 264 pages read. #24hourreadathon

While ultimately hopeful, I feel like I‘ve been through the wringer.

I read this graphic novel in audio form after I saw it recommended because of the excellent full-cast recording. The book is the true story of 2 Somalian boys who lived in a Kenyan refugee camp for years. Omar, the eldest, feels responsible for his young, mute brother. They live w/their foster mother, struggle to go to school, get an interview w/the UN to be placed in a new country & to find peace when the world is completely out of their control.

Oh my heart! Please go read this so I‘m not the only one crying while reading a graphic novel. This one was SO good.

On my summer schedule of about 24-30 hours per week total for my two grad classes. That means, LOTS OF 10 minute reading breaks!! Today I got a Novel in verse book finished during lunch break, and two graphic novels done ✅ this one is a powerful biography of the realities of being a refugee.

Fantastic graphic novel about a young Somali boy growing up with his brother in a refugee camp. It‘s poignant, heartfelt, hopeful, crushing, and beautifully illustrated and written. I enthusiastically recommend it for adults and younger. Definitely read the real paper copy; the ebook version doesn‘t do the vivid colors justice. I am excited to gift this book to my nephew, who loves reading graphic novels.

29-30 May 2021
I have been slow to embrace graphic novels but this was wonderful. The narrative was reasonably simple but through the graphics the repetition, the boredom and the sheer vastness of the refugee camp came to life. Perfect for engaging middle grade readers. Interesting to end at the point the brothers headed to the US, before they were reunited with their mother.
I bought this for Polly, who loved it, but am pleased I read it also.

This children‘s graphic novel book is excellent! It‘s the true story of Omar, who lives pretty much his whole childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya. Omar was born in Somalia and has been raising his younger, non-verbal brother on his own with the help from an older refugee woman.

Thank you SO MUCH @Beatlefan129 !!! I‘m so excited to own this amazing book and YUM, these treats look delectable!! 😍🎉💖Happy Valentine‘s Day!! @candority #bookcupidswap

#WeNeedDiverseBooks announces award-winning books: https://apple.news/AekeK-ZElT3qtlxFJCGQryA

So many good books!

Omar and Hassan fled Somalia as very young boys. Separated from their mother, and knowing their father was dead, the boys arrived barely alive to the refugee camp Dadaab in Kenya.

Together Jamieson and Mohamed paint a picture of what life was like growing up in community, but without parents. Constantly in a space of waiting, but not giving up hope.

There are 71 million displaced people, and this is a story we need.

#graphicnovelmemoir

Thank you @LiteraryinLititz for sharing this beautiful & important graphic novel! It chronicles the childhood & young adulthood of the author, who grew up with his brother in a refugee camp in Kenya. He‘s such an inspiration & I‘m excited to check out his nonprofit!Lately I‘ve felt a lot of “woe is me” and this just put things into such stark perspective. Jamieson‘s artwork is evocative and really seems to honor Omar‘s journey. HIGHLY recommend!✨

#12Booksof2020 #sharethelove

Book six. This middle grade graphic novel nearly shook me out of my boots! I wasn‘t prepared for this real life refugee story told by Omar Mohamed. It was informative, brave and it tore at my heart. An excellent, well done read.

Thanks for the tag, @EadieB 🌸

Most recently the tagged book. Also some of John Boyne and Michael Morpurgo books.

Please consider yourself tagged!

#FridayFeelings @Cuilin

Amazing graphic novel about 2 Brothers living in a refugee camp in Africa. #middlegrade #graphicnovel

This is, hands down, the best graphic novel I‘ve read this year. Having worked in refugee resettlement, I read a lot of books both by and about refugees. This one, written by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed, is a true story about Omar‘s experience growing up a Somali refugee in a Kenyan refugee camp.

Most people don‘t realize refugees can spend years, even decades, living in refugee camps. It also tackles a bunch of social issues. A MUST READ.

I think this is the first time I cried reading a graphic novel. Inspired by the true story of Somali Omar Mohamed‘s life growing up as a refugee in Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, this is a powerful and enlightening read that gives us a glimpse of what it‘s like living in a refugee camp. The artwork is affecting and it‘s a wonderful read.. a story of survival and staying hopeful.

The graphic novel format is perfect for the telling of this powerful and important story of a refugee from Somalia. It brings a much needed intimacy and compassion to the crisis faced by many.

"???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???, ?? ??? ?? ???. ??? ????????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???'?? ???? ?????."⁣
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On the nominee list for the 2020 National Book Awards. Jamieson teamed up with Somali refugee Omar Mohamed to tell the story of his life growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Donate to Omar's charity: RefugeeStrong.org

I love Victoria Jamieson‘s storytelling, and in this graphic novel her material came from the life of her co-author, who fled from Somalia at age 4 and spent many years with his brother in a refugee camp in Kenya. It‘s an important story to be told and the format is accessible for young adults and adult-adults. I learned from my bookseller that Omar now lives in our town, coincidentally, so that made this book relevant to me in an unexpected way.

This was just a wonderful graphic memoir regarding Omar and his younger brother Hassan growing up in refugee camp in Kenya. He finds hope in school and possibility in resettlement, and struggles with the memory of his family‘s farm in Somalia and never knowing what happened to his mother. Excellent. #bbrc #middlegrade #characterwithadisability #thoughmaybeshouldvedonenonfictionforthis

I think we can all relate to this feeling.

Every school library should own this book! I recommend for 4th grade & up. The powerful story is based on Mohamed‘s real-life childhood growing up in a refugee camp. It tackles some seriously tough topics but the graphic novel format makes it more approachable. Reading & discussing as a class is optimal to help students understand the subject. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my heart. With tears in my eyes I finished this powerful graphic novel about Omar and his younger brother Hassan who are living in a refugee camp in Kenya. Based on Omar and Hassan lifein the camp it talks about the struggles that they forced and even when it got really bad they still loved each other and never gave up hope that they would one day find their mom. I am so glad that all their dreams were able to come true! I give this book 5 ⭐️‘s

"Even though [school is] loud, and crowded, and hot . . . I love it. It's like . . . my brain was starving, and now it's getting the food it needs" (52).⠀
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When Stars Are Scattered is a middle-grade graphic novel detailing the young life of Omar Mohamed. Mohamed escaped from violence in Somalia to a refugee camp in Kenya with his younger brother Hassan. ⬇️

Oh my heart ❤️ This is a beautifully done graphic novel that tells Omar‘s story of growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Victoria did a wonderful job of turning his story into a graphic novel. It‘s both heartbreaking and hopeful.

I loved both Roller Girl and All‘s Faire in Middle School so I‘m excited to read this.

Dang. This is one heck of a book. Strong storytelling, full of truth, compassion, and entirely relatable. Due out in April and definitely worth your time.