When Stars Are Scattered

By: Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed

Narrated by: Faysal Ahmed, Barkhad Abdi, Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, Robin Miles, Ifrah Mansour, Bahni Turpin, Hakeemshady Mohamed, Sadeeq Ali, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, JD Jackson, Various

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 Bestselling 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

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

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.

Beautiful Story

I appreciate the ensemble of voices that brought this story to life. Thank you for sharing this narrative of a life that seems so distant, yet the experience is so intertwined in our collective human experience.

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.