The Stars are Scattered (Group 7)


When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed 

Reviewed by M. Riddle, D. Shin, S. Silva, G. Solis, & A. Suastegui  

Review:



When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamison and Omar Mohamed is an unusual take on the young adult literature genre. Instead of a conventional book, you get what’s basically a somber story told through a large comic book. It brings the refugee experience to life through the eyes of a young Omar Mohamed himself as Omar and his mostly mute brother Hassan in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing a war-torn Somalia. The graphic novel format doesn’t take away the seriousness of the topic, but rather, it enhances it by literally showing the characters’ struggles while also making it easier to read, understand, and absorb for people through junior high to college. 

When Stars Are Scattered is a significant read for young adults and classrooms because it offers an emotionally truthful portrayal of displacement, perseverance, and the complex hope for a better future, all presented in a format that promotes empathy and accessibility. It teaches us what it’s like for some refugees to survive in camps that turn into what seems like a permanent home as they patiently await refuge in other countries like the USA. 

This is done by showing the tale of two brothers, Omar and Hassan. The book shows the struggles they endure together, such as food scarcity, poverty, the anxiety of when their mother might return, as well as the uncertainty of the resettlement process. Omar, in particular, struggles with issues that we take for granted: education, where he wonders if the pursuit of one is worth it when compared to having to take care of his disabled brother. Combined with the slow and ineffective system that takes forever to accept just one person into the arms of a safer country, and you learn of the struggles people overseas can struggle with. 

The visual storytelling adds a powerful emotional layer to the narrative. Jamieson’s artwork—expressive, colorful, and grounded in reality—captures the vast emptiness of the refugee camp, the vibrant hope in Omar’s eyes, and the emotional tension of uncertain futures. Moments of joy and despair are added with equal care, allowing readers to feel the weight of each scene. The illustrations of long lines at food distribution points or the hopeful glances during UN interviews communicate emotions that words alone might struggle to express.

Furthermore, the art serves as a bridge for readers who might not be familiar with life in a refugee camp. Through the visual format, students can better grasp the lived experiences of displaced children, offering a fuller, more immersive understanding than a traditional prose memoir might.

All in all, When Stars Are Scattered is a high-quality, emotional tale of two brothers just trying to survive and exist. No politics or force-fed messages are needed, since it’s just a story of a broken family trying to do what anyone would do if put into the same situation. Which is usually how it is for any immigrants and/or refugees. Overall the narrative paints the reality of those affected by regress camps and the events that cause them to occur.  

Biography:

Victoria Jamieson is a well-respected American author and illustrator, best known for her children’s books and graphic novels. She was born in Pennsylvania where she discovered her love for writing in elementary school, and her young passion effectively influenced her academic career, even after her move to Florida. She received her BFA in illustration from Rhodesia Island School and spent time working as a children’s book designer. Eventually, she became a freelance illustrator and author, settling in Pennsylvania with her husband and son. During this time, she received Newbery Honor awards for “Roller Girl” and “All’s Faire in Middle School”, as well as being a national award finalist for “When the Stars are Scattered”. Victoria is known for finding her inspiration through volunteering with communities and values creating compelling stories rather than just focusing on messages. 

    Omar Mohamed is a well-respected Somali American author who spent his childhood at the Dadaab camp after his father was killed and he was separated from his mother in Somalia. He is currently a resident in Pennsylvania, with his wife and five children, supporting his younger brother as well. Due to his childhood, Omar is dedicated to recognizing children in need, and runs a nonprofit organization that helps support students in Dadaab called “Refuge Strong”. He is a highly devoted author and was recognized for his work in “When Stars Are Scattered” as a finalist in the 2020 National Book Awards. Omar spoke in hopes of inspiring readers and helping people understand issues, emphasizing that he is eager to create another version of his book for adults to target a larger audience, giving a voice to the voiceless.

    Iman Geddy is an African American femme designer and illustrator who is Atlanta-based. Due to Iman's culturally inspired artwork, Islamic architecture & Eastern African colors, Iman won twenty different awards for their illustrations in “When Stars Are Scattered” in 2020-2021; ALSC Notable Children’s Books, CCBC Choices, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books, Charlotte Huck Award, Children’s Africana Book Awards, Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards, Junior Library Guild selections, Kid’s Book Choice Awards, Lasting Connections, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, Notable Books for a Global Society, Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, Odyssey Award, Publishers Weekly Best Books, Read for Empathy Collections, SLJ Best Books of the Year, Schneider Family Book Award, The Josette Frank Award, Walter Dean Myers’s Award for Outstanding Children’s literature. Iman Geddy has only had one publication, “When Stars Are Scattered”, however, they are in the process of illustrating an animated short film.

Instructional Resources:

1. Authors Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson discuss The Stars are Scattered: A forty-eight minute video interview by Politics and Prose in which author Omar Mohamed discusses what it was like to grow up in the Dadaab Refugee Camp. Also included in the video, author Victoria Jamieson shares how she met Omar and details the process they took to form both the text and images of the graphic novel. At the end of the video they answer some questions left by viewers. This video can be used to spark ideas or points to be incorporated into the class discussion(s) and it can help students get a sense of who the authors are. 

2. Life in Largest Refugee Camp (2011): A twenty-five minute video that presents what life is like within the largest refugee camp, Dadaab, through the use of interviews from refugees, visuals from inside the camp(s), and information regarding the history and living situations there. Instructors may assign this as a video to be viewed for homework prior to the class discussion or may incorporate it into the class discussion for When Stars are Scattered. 


3. Link to Refugee Strong organized by author Omar Mohamed: The website of Refugee Strong, a non-profit organization founded by co-author Omar Mohamed. The organization is dedicated to providing school supplies and menstruation kits and funding student scholarships. They accept volunteers and donations to help raise awareness towards their cause and services. This information will expose students to what Omar has done to give back to fellow refugees from Dadaab. 


4. Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson visit with Silicon Valley Reads: A forty-two minute video done by Silicon Valley Reads in which co-author Omar Mohamed discusses why he decided to share his story and shares moments from his childhood. Later on in the video, co-author Victoria Jamieson highlights how they went about creating the graphic novel and the steps they took to do so. They also share answers to questions that are asked by students. This will give students an insight into what the creation process of this graphic novel looks like. 


5. 15 Easy Ways to Teach When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson: A website detailing fifteen ways to teach and interpret When Stars are Scattered based on the five characteristics of graphic novels: perspective of frames, shapes, structure, angles, and layout A video of a recorded PowerPoint discussion that reviews the characteristics of a graphic novel is also included within the article. By using this article, teachers will be able to effectively teach their students how to go about reading a graphic novel. 


6. Penguin Middle School's Read, Write, Draw from Home with Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed: A twenty minute video in which author Omar Mohamed reads a chapter from When Stars are Scattered and author/illustrator Victoria Jamieson teaches us her techniques for the creation process of the graphic novel. The format of this video will encourage students to take reading, writing, and drawing into consideration for when they analyze and discuss the graphic novel in class. 


7. Ifo Town Market Tour: Refugee Abdirashid Abdullahi takes the viewers on a tour of the marketplace in Ifo, which is one of the camps that makes up Dadaab. This is located in the same area that Omar Mohamed spent around fifteen years of his life. So, this will help students be able to further visualize the surroundings of where Omar grew up. 


8. Example Lesson Plan for The Stars are Scattered: A sample lesson plan that is designed for 8th graders and will give educators ideas for how to incorporate the graphic novel into class discussions. The lesson plan features a class discussion, a graphic novel alternate ending activity, and critical thinking essay questions. 


9. Educator's Guide to When Stars are Scattered: A pdf version of an educator’s guide that outlines a six to eight week unit on When Stars are Scattered. It features some prior readings, additional resources, rows of questions in a table for each chapter, and a final project/assessment for the students. By using this as an example, educators will be able to create their own units for this graphic novel that will reflect both the common core standards and the student’s comprehension of the narrative.  


10. 6 people who have sheltered in Dadaab refugee camps due to drought and flooding: A website that contains a collection of six interviews from six Somali families that detail why they had to make the grueling trip to Dadaab in 2024. The main reason that is given for this sudden influx of people to Dadaab is the flooding that has occurred after years of drought in Somalia. Students will be able to understand the struggles surrounding the journeys these families had to make and will be able to picture their experiences. 


11. Radio Dadaab: A twenty-five minute video in which twenty-five-year-old refugee Fardowsa Serat explains what her job as a journalist trainee at the local radio station, Radio Gargaar, is like. They provide nutrition programs, education programs, emotional support, and music for the refugees. As the refugees are unable to leave Dadaab due to strict regulations and a lack of citizenships, Fardowsa wants to provide them with information about what is going on in other parts of the world via the radio. This video will help students and even educators see the efforts that refugees make to keep themselves informed. It also raises awareness to the fact that the refugees will not be silenced by oppressive governments and peoples as they continue to share their voices via radios.


Instructional Activity:

Preview:

Overview: Students will understand the experiences and challenges faced by the refugees, as depicted in the graphic novel, “When The Stars Are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. Students will also explore themes of resilience, hope, and community, while developing awareness and critical thinking skills.

California Common Core Standards:

Common Core outcomes:

  1. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

  2. CCS.ELA-Litracy.RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text

  3. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings, analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone

 Resources and Preparation:

Instructional Plan:

  1. Introduction: Introduce the book “When the Stars Are Scattered” and its authors, highlighting Omar Mohamed’s personal experience as a refugee. 

  • Begin with a brief discussion about the refugees and their global impact. Use a map to show regions affected by conflict and displacement. 

  1. Reading and Class Discussion (30 minutes): Assign students to read selected chapters that highlight key moments in Omar’s journey. 

  • Engage in a class discussion focusing on Omar’s experiences and challenges, and the role of community in his life. 

  • Encourage students to cite specific examples from the text. 

  1. Character Analysis Group Work: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a character from the book. 

  • Ask groups to analyze their character’s development, motivations, and relationships using evidence from the text. 

  • Have each group present their findings to the class.

  1. Vocabulary and Language Group Work: Identify key vocabulary and phrases used in the book that convey emotion and tone. 

  • Discuss the impact of these words on the reader’s understanding of the refugee experience.

  1. Writing Activity: Prompt students to write a short essay reflecting on what they learned about refugees from the book. 

  • Encourage them to use textual evidence to support their claims. 

  • Provide guidance on structuring their writing with a clear argument and supporting details.

  1. Conclusion: Wrap up the lesson with a reflection session where students share their thoughts on the importance of understanding refugee stories. 

  • Discuss ways in which students can contribute positively to their communities, inspired by the themes of the book.

Bibliography:

Common Core State Standards Initiative. “English Language Arts Standards.” Www.thecorestandards.org, 2021, www.thecorestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/.


Conway, Colleen. “A Conversation about Life in a Refugee Camp.…” Prezi, 11 Dec. 2020, https://prezi.com/p/5n_dqghfwlkz/when-stars-are-scattered-lesson-plan/. 


Eagleton, Ian. “When Stars Are Scattered: An Interview with Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed.” The Reading Realm, 24 Aug. 2020, thereadingrealm.co.uk/2020/08/24/when-stars-are-scattered-an-interview-with-victoria-jamieson-and-omar-mohamed/.  


Ferguson, Celeste. “An Educator’s Guide to When Stars are Scattered.” Squarespace/Penguin School and Library Marketing, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66326058a696687540f8733c/t/664caed8a7a65e053d07af16/1716301530839/WhenStarsAreScattered_EducatorGuide.pdf, PDF file, Accessed 3 May 2025. 


Ferreira, Lucia. “Victoria Jamieson.” National Book Foundation, 5 Oct. 2020, www.nationalbook.org/people/victoria-jamieson/. 


Ferreira, Lucia. “Omar Mohamed.” National Book Foundation, 5 Oct. 2020, www.nationalbook.org/people/omar-mohamed/#fullBio.  


“15 Easy Ways to Teach When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson.” Teacher For Inclusion, 3 Sept. 2022, https://teacher-for-inclusion.com/2021/12/29/teach-when-stars-are-scattered-by-victoria-jamieson/. Accessed 3 May 2025. 


Geddy, Iman, and Francis Mead. “Iman Geddy, Francis Mead, Author at Ms. Magazine.” Ms. Magazine, 2020, msmagazine.com/author/igeddy/.  


Geddy, Iman. Omar looking up at the night sky in Dadaab. “Iman Geddy Is a Graphic Designer, Illustrator + Comic Book Colorist / Colour.” Iman Geddy Is a Graphic Designer, Illustrator + Comic Book Colorist, https://www.imangeddy.com/colour. Accessed 8 May 2025. 


Hawkins, Ramah. “Ifo Town Market.” YouTube, uploaded by DadaabStories, 19 March 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFHjS6vuFI0.


“Home | Refugee Strong.” Refugeestrong, https://www.refugeestrong.org/. Accessed 3 May 2025. 


Jamieson, Victoria, and Omar Mohamed. Middle School Author Visit: When Stars are Scattered, Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed. YouTube, uploaded by Silicon Valley Reads, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaEWoabFNuM.  


Jamieson, Victoria. “Penguinrandomhouse.” Image: When Stars Are Scattered - Penguin Random House , 2020, images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/tif/9780525553915. 


Jamieson, Victoria, and Omar Mohamed. Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, When Stars are Scattered. YouTube, uploaded by Politics and Prose, 20 Apr. 2020, https://youtu.be/A1bcLh-p1EM?si=PJ5VT8GUQCbNs4J5. 


Jamieson, Victoria, et al. When Stars Are Scattered. Playaway Products, LLC, 2023. 


Lee, Kyra. “Book Awards & Distinctions for Iman Geddy.” Author Book Awards, 2020, library.teachingbooks.net/authorBookAwards.cgi?id=36605. 


“Life Inside The World’s Largest Refugee Camp (2011).” YouTube, uploaded by Journeyman Pictures, 2 Aug. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctZ80Dlch2E. 


“Meet Somali families.…” Amnesty International, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2024/11/dadaab-refugee-camp-a-sanctuary-for-people-displaced-by-climate-change/. 


“Radio Dadaab.” YouTube, uploaded by Environmental Justice, 19 Nov. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m310-IpCeM&t=5s.


“Read, Write, Draw from Home | Omar Mohamed & Victoria Jamieson for When Stars Are Scattered.” YouTube, uploaded by Penguin Middle School, 13 May 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH__-9WGcRA.  


Tanner, Tiffany, et al. “Iman Geddy.” Children’s Book Illustrator, 2020, booroo.com/creatives/iman-geddy.

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