When Stars Are Scattered

When Stars Are Scattered

Based on the true story of Omar and his brother Hassan, When Stars Are Scattered tells the story of two brothers growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya while waiting for the possibility of a different future. Hassan has developmental disabilities, Omar carries increasing responsibility for their daily life, and both face years of uncertainty while holding onto hope.

Written in graphic novel format with expressive illustrations and approachable text, this book offers students a child’s-eye view of refugee life, poverty, education, family responsibility, and displacement through a deeply personal story rather than statistics or historical summaries.

The graphic novel format makes challenging subject matter more approachable for many readers, particularly preteens, reluctant readers, and students who connect more easily with visual storytelling.

As readers follow Omar through questions about responsibility, faith, loss, education, and belonging, the story naturally creates opportunities for conversations about resilience, family, and what daily life looks like for children growing up in circumstances very different from their own.

Parents should know that while the content remains appropriate for middle-grade readers, the book addresses difficult topics, including parental separation, forced marriage, suicide, developmental disabilities, Islamic practices, and misconceptions about life in America. These topics are handled thoughtfully but may benefit from family discussion.

Parents appreciate that this is the kind of book children finish and immediately want to talk about.