This is the true story of how Omar Mohamed and his younger brother Hassan spent their childhood as refugees at the Dadaab camp in Kenya* separated from their mother and longing to return to their home in Somalia. Life is difficult in Dadaab. The many long years of waiting without enough resources along with thousands of other refugees wears the residents down and dashes their hopes and dreams for the future.
Responsible for a little brother with medical issues and for providing food, water, shelter and entertainment for them both under the tired and watchful eye of an elderly foster mother residing in the tent next door, Omar is torn between caring for his brother and creating a better life for them both by going to school. An education in Dadaab is not guaranteed but with the help of a sincere social worker Omar enrolls. Balancing school and everyday life in the camp is not easy. After hearing the hard truth from the smartest girl in class who is forced to leave school to marry an older man in order to help her family, Omar realizes that he has a gift and that he should not waste it.
When Stars are Scattered is a story of love and kindness, resiliency, and the power of education as told to the Newbery Honor-Winning creator of Roller Girl.
*Dadaab is the same camp where U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) spent four years as a child.