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When Stars Are Scattered

Author	Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Audio read by	Faysal Ahmed, Barkhad Abdi, Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, Robin Miles, Ifrah Mansour, Bahni Turpin, Hakeemshady Mohamed, Sadeeq Ali, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, and JD Jackson
Illustrator	Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy
Language	English
Genre	Memoir, Graphic novel
Publisher	Dial Press
Publication date	April 14, 2020
Media type	Hardcover, paperback, audiobook
Pages	264
ISBN	9780525553908

When Stars Are Scattered is a nonfiction young adult graphic novel written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy, and published April 14, 2020, by Dial Books.

Alongside other honors, the book won the Walter Dean Myers Award for Young Readers and Bank Street Children's Book Committee's Josette Frank Award.

Plot

When Stars Are Scattered follows co-author Mohamed and his younger brother, Hassan, who was born in Somalia and fled to a refugee camp in Kenya when they were toddlers. Although an older woman adopted the brothers, they never stopped searching for their mother. While at the camp, one day, a man came up to Mohamed, telling him that he should go to school, but Mohamed refused, so that he could take care of his brother, Hassan.

Reception

Reviews

When Stars Are Scattered was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist, The Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Writing for School Library Journal, Steven Engelfried said, "The writing is intriguing and easy to understand. The graphics are beautiful and really bring the characters to the page. Omar’s story is important, relevant, and relatable."

Kirkus Reviews wrote, "This engaging, heartwarming story does everything one can ask of a book, and then some."

The audiobook, which has 12 narrators, received a starred review from Booklist, who said, the audiobook "offers listeners an experience of perfection in its storytelling, format shifting, and performance."

When Stars Are Scattered was named one of the best books of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, the New York Public Library, The New York Times, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Awards and honors

Both the book and audiobook editions of When Stars Are Scattered are Junior Library Guild selections.

References

1. ^ "2021 Walter Awards". We Need Diverse Books. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
2. ^ Hare, Peter. "Past Winners". Bank Street College of Education. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
3. Hayes, Summer (2020-03-15). "When Stars Are Scattered". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
4. Gall, Patrick (2020-04-21). "Review of When Stars Are Scattered". The Horn Book. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
5. ^ "When Stars Are Scattered". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
6. "Children's Book Review: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. Dial, $20.99 (264p) ISBN 978-0-525-55390-8". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
7. Salva Cryz, Darla (2020-02-01). "When Stars Are Scattered". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
8. ^ Engelfried, Steven (2021-01-13). "Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed". Heavy Medal. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
9. Goldsmith, Francisca (2020-06-01). "When Stars Are Scattered". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
10. "Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2020". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
11. "Best Books for Kids 2021". The New York Public Library. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
12. "The 25 Best Children's Books of 2020". The New York Times. 2020-12-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
13. NPR. "Best Books 2021: Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
14. "Best Books 2020: Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
15. Daz, Mahnaz; Maluck, Thomas; Perez, Alea; Thompson, Steve (2020-11-23). "Best Graphic Novels 2020 | SLJ Best Books". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
16. "When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
17. "When Stars Are Scattered (Audiobook) by Victoria Jamieson". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
18. "Booklist Editors' Choice: Youth Audio, 2020". Booklist. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
19. "Charlotte Huck Award". Bookshop. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
20. "When Stars Are Scattered". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
21. "Jane Addams Children's Book Award 2020 Finalists". Jane Addams Peace Association. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
22. "2020 National Book Awards Finalists Announced". National Book Foundation. 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
23. Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2021-03-30). "ALSC names 2021 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
24. Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2021-02-17). "ALSC announces 2021 Notable Children's Recordings". American Library Association. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
25. "CABA 2021". Center for African Studies | Howard University. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
26. SLJ Staff (2021-07-28). "Gene Luen Yang Wins Three Eisner Awards". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
27. "NBGS Lists". Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
28. "Winners of the Judy Lopez Memorial Awards" (PDF). Judy Lopez Award. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
29. ^ Morales, Macey (2021-01-25). "ALA announces 2021 Youth Media Awards". American Library Association. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
30. Lam, Anna (2021-01-06). "YALSA names 2021 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". News and Press Center. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
31. "2021 Nonfiction Award Nominations". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
32. "2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
33. "2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2022-02-02.

• Dial Press books
• 2020 graphic novels
• 2020 non-fiction books
• Novels set in Kenya
• Graphic novels set in Africa