When Stars Are Scattered

By: Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed

Narrated by: full cast, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, JD Jackson, Omar Mohamed, Robin Miles, Ifrah Mansour, Bahni Turpin, Hakeemshady Mohamed, Sadeeq Ali

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Josette Frank Award winner

National Book Award Finalist

An Odyssey Honor audiobook and National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel—adapted for audio—is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.

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—now adapted for audio—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 best-selling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story. This audiobook is performed by a full cast and includes music and special effects.

Cast of Narrators:

Faysal Ahmed as Omar

Barkhad Abdi as Jeri

Robin Miles as Fatuma

Ifrah Mansour as Nimo and Munira

Bahni Turpin as Maryam and Ladan

Hakeemshady Mohamed as Tall Salan

Sadeeq Ali as Tall Ali

Dominic Hoffman as Michael

Christine Avila as Susana Martinez

JD Jackson as Hassan and Jeri’s Dad

Filsan Said as Nimo’s Mom, Sadiya, and Little Nimo

Dion Graham as David

Samba Schutte as Abdikarim and The Man who Finds Hassan

Hana Robleh as Mama

Abdi Iftin as Abdikarim’s Dad and Salat

Susan Duerden as The Reporter

and Steve West as The Cameraman

with Omar Mohamed reading his Author's Note

and Victoria Jamieson reading her Author's Note

©2020 Victoria Jamieson (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic reviews

A New York Times Bestseller

National Book Award Finalist

Schneider Family Book Award, Middle School Honor

YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens

YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Nominee

Walter Award Winner (Younger Readers)

Amazon Best Children’s Book of 2020

New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book

TIME Best Book of the Year

School Library Journal Best Book of 2020

Kirkus Best Children’s Book of 2020

NYPL Best Book for Kids

NPR's Book Concierge Pick

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist

Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book

2021 ALSC Notable Children’s Books List

2021 Children’s Africana Book Award Honor Book

2021 Josette Frank Award Winner

2021 Notable Books for a Global Society List

2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Winner

YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

★ "Jamieson's characteristically endearing art, warmly colored by Geddy, perfectly complements Omar's story, conjuring memorable and sympathetic characters who will stay with readers long after they close the book . . . This engaging, heartwarming story does everything one can ask of a book, and then some.”—Kirkus, starred review

★ "With this sensitive and poignant tale, Jamieson and Mohamed express the power of the human spirit to persevere."—School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Tragedy is certainly present throughout the story, yet Mohamed and Jamieson’s focus on deep familial love and education works to subvert many refugee stereotypes."—Horn Book, starred review

Life lessons

This is a great book. The school district I work for uses it with 7th graders. What a wonderful way for them to learn about the world and the reasons some of the people that move to the USA need to come here.

This book has a valuable lesson.

This was such a fun book to read! It’s detail was perfection. I had the physical book and was able to read along! I loved his historic story. It shows us how people in poverty have to live. We shouldn’t be rude to them. We should treat them how we want to be treated

When Stars Are Scattered

This was a beautifully told story of perseverance and brotherly love while also proving eye opening account of what life is like as refugee. Powerful and
moving.

I Couln't Stop Listening

This audiobook is the best! Bought for my 4 year old to listen to on a road trip, but my husband and I found it to more moving and entertaining then she. I teared up a lot. His story makes you realize how good we have it. Listening to the afterword to gain resources to help is a must.

5 Stars for When Stars are Scattered

Enjoyed this book. It was enlightening and eye opening to how others live in this world that many people take for granted.

Wonderful, Eye opening story - loved this book

My kids enjoyed this as much as I did. Wonderfully written and performed- five stars all around!!
Was very eye opening for my children and me -- will devulge deeper into this subject and how to help.
Highly recommend this book

Deeply moving

A beautiful story that introduced my children to the lives of refugees and opened all our hearts. The audio production was fantastic. Immediately after finishing we donated to Omar’s nonprofit Refugee Strong.

Informative . Very interesting !

Excellent voice talent. Deep appreciation for Refugees everywhere.




I recommend this book for any book club.

Terrific!

I have used this book with my 5th-grade class when we study Africa. It is such an amazing, heartfelt book. It brings a new perspective for my students to understand life outside of their world. The kids applaud at the end. I hear from parents of children that are not huge readers, how impactful this book is to their child. Omar is such an inspiration.

We read it as a 6th grade English class

It was the best novel that I have even done with my students. They were ALL engaged in reading the entire time.