Scan barcode
rballenger's review against another edition
5.0
Type of read: Commuter (listened to and from work)
What made me pick it up: I saw this on my GoodReads timeline, reviewed by one of the authors I follow.
Overall rating: I am so happy I listened to this as an audiobook! It was less of a read and more of a performance. What a wonderful weaving storyline with characters that tugged at your heart. This was a fairly quick listen that I truly enjoyed. I would absolutely recommend When Stars Are Scattered for everyone's TBR list.
What made me pick it up: I saw this on my GoodReads timeline, reviewed by one of the authors I follow.
Overall rating: I am so happy I listened to this as an audiobook! It was less of a read and more of a performance. What a wonderful weaving storyline with characters that tugged at your heart. This was a fairly quick listen that I truly enjoyed. I would absolutely recommend When Stars Are Scattered for everyone's TBR list.
ankita_buckbeak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
roseleaf24's review against another edition
5.0
This graphic novel is there perfect way to present this memoir of growing up in a refugee camp to a middle grade audience. Omar's story is heartbreaking and hopeful, and I'm not doing enough.
mehsi's review
4.0
A quite nice graphic novel about the life in a refugee camp. It is about Omar and his brother Hassan. About going to school (learning English and studying hard to get in school), deciding on a future, trying to find food, trying to take care of his brother Hassan who cannot speak and has other difficulties, trying to be a kid and later grown-up in a refugee camp. It just broke my heart. I knew about refugee camps, I know how things go there, but every time I read a book or see a documentary about it my heart just keeps breaking. Those poor people, those poor families, stuck in a camp without much chance of ever leaving. Only the lucky may leave. :(
I think it was horrendous that Omar had to wait YEARS for his second interview, what the hell UN? That is not how you treat people, especially not kids. Poor Omar broke so much in that time afterwards.
The ending brought tears to my eyes, and then there were some extra written parts about the ending, something from Omar, and the writer/illustrator. I loved that those last parts were added they gave the book some more depth.
I think it was horrendous that Omar had to wait YEARS for his second interview, what the hell UN? That is not how you treat people, especially not kids. Poor Omar broke so much in that time afterwards.
The ending brought tears to my eyes, and then there were some extra written parts about the ending, something from Omar, and the writer/illustrator. I loved that those last parts were added they gave the book some more depth.
joanna_banana's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
We saw this featured at KRL and I’ve enjoyed graphic novel memoirs and my daughter recognized the style from Roller Girl. I’m glad we picked it up! It is sweet and sad, really focusing on love, family, and faith in the face of the horrible violence and war that create refugees. I’m glad they decided to write it as a middle grade graphic novel, my daughter tore through it. So many important reminders and commentary tucked within the story. Would highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Grief, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Animal death, and Suicide
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
mtyler3707's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
I thought I was going to quickly skim this book for some children’s book activities I’m planning but was quickly captivated by this memoir. It is a perfect balance of presenting the truth of really hard things and accepting things as how they are in order to survive and love forward. The story of Omar and Hassan is beautifully told and I feel builds empathy for what it means to grow up in a refugee camp.