When Stars Are Scattered

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed illustrates the life of Omar and his brother Hassan who grow up in one of the largest refugee camps in the world, Dadaab, after fleeing from the Somalian civil war. Omar is eventually presented with the idea to seek an education, to which he is hesitant to leave his younger brother all alone. Through Omar's journey and experiences, he learns the importance of community and determination in going after his dreams to resettle in America and work for the United Nations. 

Common Core State Standard:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g. through examples or anecdotes).

During reading:

• Cover vocabulary terms as they arise in the story:

  • Seizure: a sudden, uncontrollable burst of electrical activity in the brain which can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and consciousness

  • Mosque: a Muslim place of worship

  • Spigot: a small faucet in the ground to collect drinking water from

  • Distribution: sharing something out to other people

  • Ration: a set supply of food

  • Buufis: Somalian word meaning an intense longing to be resettled

  • Resettlement: the relocation of people to a different place

• Example discussion questions to drive comprehension:

  • How is the idea of resettlement illustrated in the story through Omar's perspective?

  • What does going to America mean to Omar? What does America symbolize for him and his family?

  • In chapter 10, how are the American TV crew represented in the story? How are their characters compared to Omar and the refugees at the camp? 

  • How do the illustrations between part 2 (pages 114-115) and part 3 (220-221) depict what is happening in the story? Why did the authors choose to illustrate the Dadaab refugee camp this way?

  • What are the significance of stars in the story? How do these different experiences with the stars connect to one another?

    • How do the gifts that Omar receives from his friends at Dadaab (the sand and the poem) relate to the motif of stars addressed throughout the story?

    • Why is Omar watching the stars in the last page of the book? What is the significance of this final illustration? (page 257)

After reading: 

• Students will be given the task of constructing a fictional short story that serves as a sequel to this book, featuring a new plot and at least one new character.

  • Questions to consider in creating the sequel:

    • What characters do you want to include in this sequel?

      • What new character will you add into the story? What part would they serve in the story's plot?

    • What is the main setting of the sequel?

    • How much time has passed?

      • Does the sequel pick up right where the original story ended? Or does the sequel take place years in the future?