When Stars Are Scattered

Nonfiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2020

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Introduction and Chapters 1-3

Part 1, Chapters 4-7

Part 2, Introduction and Chapters 8-11

Part 2, Chapters 12-14

Part 3, Introduction and Chapters 15-17

Afterword and Authors’ Notes

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Key Figures

Omar Mohamed

Young Omar is the protagonist of the narrative. His story represents the real life of Omar Mohamed, co-author of When Stars Are Scattered. Omar is approximately 11 when the story opens; throughout the story, readers see him at 13 and 17 as well, along with an important backstory flashback to age 4. Born in Somalia, a country in Africa, Omar lived with his parents and younger brother Hassan in a small village called Mareerey when he was small: “I remember my dad used to take me out to the fields with him while he worked. My mother would bring him lunch and we’d all eat together under a tree” (178). When a civil war in Somalia begins, his father is killed. His mother becomes separated from Omar, and the two small brothers are forced to flee with village neighbors and make the long trek to Kenya, an African country to the west of Somalia. Omar and Hassan must recover from the journey in a hospital when they arrive at Dadaab, the large refugee camp. When they recover their health, they are placed with a guardian, Fatuma, in the part of the camp called Ifo.

Throughout each part of the book, Omar demonstrates an inherent and pressing obligation to supervise his brother Hassan. This request was the last thing his mother said before they were separated, and Omar takes it very seriously. He collects the water, does the chores, and plays with Hassan every day, always looking through crowds of refugees in adjacent blocks of the camp for their mother. His life changes when he begins school; Omar is an intelligent and hardworking student who zooms to the top of the class and passes his exams to get into middle and high school. He is full of gratitude to Fatuma and friend Maryam for helping to supervise Hassan so he can attend school and to friends Jeri and Nimo for inspiring him to study.

Omar feels increasingly frustrated as he grows older with the long waits inherent to camp life, the hunger and boredom, and especially the uncertain future there for him—or worse, the possibility of not much future. Few jobs exist as a refugee, though Omar would like to work as a UN social worker helping others. His frustration piques when an acquaintance, Abdikarim, and his family members are tapped for resettlement in America. Omar becomes impatient and hopeless by turns. When Omar receives the chance to interview with the UN as a potential for resettlement at age 13, he must describe the tragic loss of his parents and the difficult circumstances by which he and Hassan arrived at Dadaab. When there is no further communication from the UN, his disappointment eats away at him; he becomes cruel to Hassan and others and bitter over his circumstances. His friend Maryam reminds him that many are treated unfairly, and others have even fewer prospects than him. Omar finds resilience and maturity despite the disappointment of his first interview; he continues with school and tends to his family for another four years in Dadaab.

By the time the UN reaches out to Omar for a second interview, he is a young man, mature and focused. He has grown strong emotionally and mentally; with this coming-of-age, he maintains a calmer demeanor, now keeping his focus on school and family even as his excitement increases for the chance to leave Dadaab. When that chance comes to fruition, he is appreciative and grateful to Fatuma, Susana, and others who helped to make it happen, and he courageously leaves the camp for America, inspired to take advantage of the weighty gift of a better future for himself and Hassan.

As an adult in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Omar co-authored When Stars Are Scattered for publication in 2020. He worked closely with graphic novelist Victoria Jamieson to convey the story of his childhood in Dadaab and his process toward resettlement. He now helps other refugees worldwide and in Dadaab through his work as a resettlement case manager and as the founder of Refugee Strong, an organization of volunteers who gather and send needed supplies to those living as refugees.

Hassan Mohamed

Hassan is Omar’s brother, younger by a few years. When the men with guns force the villagers of Mareerey to flee, the story’s images show that Hassan is too small to run; a neighbor carries him. He is, however, old enough to walk; he walks much of the journey to Dadaab despite his youth and size. He is malnourished, ill, and dehydrated on arrival. Later, doctors at Dadaab think Hassan’s inability to learn speech and language and his problems with sleep and temperament may have resulted from his illness.

As a child and young adult, Hassan is loving and helpful. He enjoys spending time with Omar and looks forward to playtime and chores with him. At first, he is impatient when Omar must spend time at school and studying, but once Fatuma obtains Brownie, the first goat, Hassan focuses his time on tending to Brownie (and, by implication, other goats later). Hassan is gentle, welcoming, and loving with animals and people; as both a young child and a teen, he is pictured in the book’s images as happily greeting friends and strangers alike and almost always smiling. As a teen, Hassan helps Maryam care for her children. He is heartbroken at the loss of the baby goat and cannot process Fatuma’s grief over its death; Hassan runs away to try to escape the pain. He attends the interviews at the UN with Omar and is there when Omar opens the letter inviting them to resettle in America.

After arriving in the US, Hassan receives helpful medical treatment for his seizures and sleep problems and takes classes at an adult care center. According to the Afterword, Hassan lives with Omar and Omar’s wife Sarura and their children in Lancaster, PA as a grown adult. He was able to visit his mother in Dadaab in 2017.

Fatuma

Fatuma is an older woman in Dadaab whose four sons died in the war. She welcomes Omar and Hassan as her legal wards. She is generous and giving; though her friends tell her she does not have to follow through with keeping Hassan once it is apparent that his tantrums and seizures are caused by complex medical and emotional problems, Fatuma will not hear of it. She demonstrates continued devotion to the brothers throughout their entire time in Dadaab. She keeps her own tent near Omar and Hassan’s, but the three function as a family, sharing food rations and chores.

Initially, Fatuma does not think school is important, but soon she reconsiders. She encourages Omar to attend school and tries to tend to Hassan so that Omar can go. She is upbeat and positive, and she teaches Omar to trust in God’s plan for him. Her notable words about the camp being like God’s waiting room stay with Omar as he grows; he learns patience, faith, and hope from Fatuma despite the hopeless surroundings. Fatuma does not go to America with the brothers but stays in Dadaab. The Afterword indicates that Fatuma showed a photo of Omar and Hassan to their mother when she arrived. Fatuma is a strong mentor and parent figure whose instruction and care remain steady throughout the book.

Maryam Farah and Nimo

Victoria Jamieson mentions in her Author’s Note that Omar’s friends Maryam and Nimo are invented characters based on “Omar’s memories and [her] own research” (262). In an interview with School Library Journal, Jamieson says Maryam and Nimo are very similar to friends Mr. Mohamed knew in Dadaab. The girls are similar in their passionate interest and work ethic for school; Omar is surprised to see them studying all the time, even in the water line. They are also similar in their dreams to go to Canada and begin new lives in appealing careers. Maryam is first in the class out of the girls. She demonstrates a quiet intelligence and wisdom compared to Nimo’s more brash and mouthy displays when they are young.

Ironically, Maryam cannot finish her education because she is expected to marry; soon, she has her own children. She serves as both Mentor and Ally to Omar by persuading him to finish his education and helping him with Hassan so that he can do so. Nimo must go to Canada without Maryam when her family is offered resettlement. The girls’ characters symbolize the strength and hope of women refugees to secure better futures for themselves. Maryam represents the difficulty and challenges many young women in the world face regarding traditional expectations for roles, marriage, and gender stereotyping. Nimo also represents the reality that one’s future cannot necessarily be controlled; not only did Nimo leave Maryam behind, but she also was surprised to see poor conditions in America.

Jeri

Jeri is Omar’s best friend throughout the story. Author Jamieson reveals in this School Library Journal interview that Mr. Mohamed knew several boys by that nickname in the camp and suggests that Jeri is a composite of several friends. Jeri assists Omar when Omar starts school, sticks up for Omar against local bully Tall Ali, and offers Omar a lantern to study by when his chores and responsibilities push study time to after dark. Omar is a good friend to Jeri in return. They daydream about America, and Omar worries when Jeri says his family might soon go. Ironically, it is Omar who gets the chance to go to America, and though the Jeri is initially envious and silent on the matter, he soon shows that friendship is stronger than envy; he offers his lantern again, this time to guide Omar, Hassan, and Fatuma on the long walk to the UN office for the interview. Jeri grows throughout the book to accept Omar’s luck and blessings; the images show him weeping in sadness at losing his friend when the time comes to say goodbye. Jeri is, therefore, a dynamic Ally for whom Omar is deeply grateful. =

Susana Martinez

Character Susana is based on real-life Susana, a United Nations social worker whom Omar and Hassan meet in Dadaab. Susana was always sure to check on the brothers on her repeat trips to the camp and to help them as they grew older. In the story, she is inspired by Omar’s desire to help other refugees in his life. She helps him prepare the many forms for meeting the goals for resettlement. Susana is a static figure and an Ally in the story.