When Stars Are Scattered

Apologies for the blurry photos. :/

One book was recommended to me more than any others last year. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed is a graphic novel that tells the story of brothers in a refugee camp in Kenya. The story is based on Omar's own life in a refugee camp. He and his brother left Somalia after he witnessed his father being shot. His neighbor took him and his brother on a long journey. It lasted long enough that the neighbor died along the way and both boys ended up being hospitalized.

While reading this book, the story oscillated between a normal life for two young boys to moments of complete heart break. They want to play soccer. So they play with a plastic bag that gets blown up and tied. Omar goes to school to learn alongside his peers. And has to do all his own chores and take care of his brother because they have no parents. 

Let me tell you, if there's a book to help you gain a little perspective, this is it. I was thinking how cold I was in my old drafty house, wishing for our tiny cozy apartment back in Boston. Then I read this part.

This was such a powerful moment.

"I bet some other kid in America is asleep right now in their clean, soft, comfortable bed. While I'm sleeping in the dirt." Sure, it's been tough with a month of migraines and a toddler who is struggling with some health issues. But every night I go to sleep in a clean, soft, comfortable bed.

I think this book would be so powerful to give to students or your own teenage/pre-teen children. What an amazing perspective. It might also open some hearts to struggles of other students in the class. I'm so glad this book was recommended and I'm passing that suggestion along to you.

Wow.