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When Stars Are Scattered
Last updated Friday, November 12, 2021
Author: Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Illustrator: Iman Geddy
Date of Publication: 2020
ISBN: 0525553916
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Nov. 2021
Synopsis:
Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future. . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.
Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.
| Note to readers: |
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This book is told from the point of view of a boy who is living in a refugee camp in Kenya. He and his brother, who is disabled, are from Somalia. Because of the civil war there, they have lost their father, their mother is missing and they fled with fellow villagers to Kenya. When the story begins, he has been living in the camp for many years.
You may need to discuss what a refugee camp is, why they exist.
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You can share this online map of the Horn of Africa:
https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/horn-of-africa.html
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Talk about what a refugee is and about refugee camps.
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Talk about the countries in the “Horn of Africa” (map included). This part of Africa has endured decades of war, civil strife and famine. South Sudan was created from Sudan in 2011 partly because of ongoing war. The conflicts continue in both countries creating an ongoing refugee problem. Somalia has been at war since 1991. It was soon after this that Omar and his brother were forced to flee. Currently, Somalia is experiencing a famine which has displaced another 120K people. Finally, there is a conflict in the Tirgay section of Ethiopia (near the border with Eritrea) which has caused a famine.
Vocabulary:
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Refugee: a person who is forced to leave their home to escape war, persecution, political upheaval, or natural disaster.
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Refugee camp: a facility built to provide protection and assistance to refugees. Such assistance may include housing, food, medical care and education for children. Unfortunately, they were intended to provide these services temporarily but many camps have been open for many years.
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U.N. (United Nations): international organization, headquartered in New York City, to promote peace, security and cooperation between nations. Established after World War II.
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UNHCR: United Nations High Commission for Refugees - established to support refugees worldwide.
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Major functions include:
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Provide protection for refugees
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Protect rights and well-being of refugees under international law
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Seek permanent solutions for refugees
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LOOK FOR THE UNHCR NAME ON THE TENTS IN THE CAMP PICTURES
Sometimes in news reports you will see a refugee camp and UNHCR will be printed on things like the bundles of cargo sent to support the camps. They contain food, medical supplies, teaching supplies and tents.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Some facts about refugees:
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There are more than 26 million refugees word wide; half of them (13 million) are under the age of 18. This is more than half the population of the state of California.
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About 2/3 (or 17 million) come from these countries:
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Syria: 6.6 million (10 years of civil war)
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Afghanistan: 2.7 million (again, war over the last 20 years)
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South Sudan: 2.3 million (war and famine)
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Somalia: 1 million (war and famine)
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Myanmar: 1 million (political unrest and persecution of minorities)
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Also: Venezuela and parts of Central America
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Dadaab Refugee Camp: This is the camp where Omar and his brother live. It was established in Kenya in 1991 (30 years ago) to assist the many thousands of refugees fleeing the on-going war in Somalia. There are currently more than 235,000 people registered at the camp. It is the largest camp in the world. Camps like these usually have no running water and very little if any electricity. The food supply is rationed and clothing is usually donated.
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Facts for after reading, but encourage them to finish the book:
Omar and his brother finally do make it to U.S.; to Arizona in fact. But it takes more than 15 years.
They are finally reunited with their mother but not until another nearly 10 years after they get to USA.
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| Craft ideas: |
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Normally at the November reading clubs we give an item with a college logo to each kid. This November have the kids create their own college logos based on the college logo you volunteer(s) share on something you are wearing or otherwise display on Zoom.
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If you family is planning a get-together for the Thanksgiving holiday make and decorate place cards with plain paper or colored construction paper. Place the paper on the table like you are going to write on in for an assignment (portrait style). Fold in half along top edge. Then fold in half again. This will create a tent like fold. Write the name of a person on it. Decorate with colored pencils, crayons or cut pieces of paper into shapes (like a turkey or pumpkin). Repeat for each of your family members.
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| Special activities: |
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As a group or individually, imagine you have been told by your principal and teacher that a new student is arriving soon in your class. He or she is a refugee who has been resettled in your neighborhood (either from Africa or Central America; whichever you choose) by an agency that helped them get here. The child is about you age, has had some education in the camp and can speak some English. The agency would like your help … they will provide you with a standard size backpack. They ask that you provide a list of things that can go in this backpack that will help the child feel welcome and get oriented to a new place. Think … What kinds of things could I use or want? Personal care products (toothbrush, toothpaste), school supplies, articles of clothing, books (like a Spanish to English dictionary), graphic novels, baseball cap for local sports team, and other items.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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