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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSOmar and his little brother Hassan have lived for seven years in Ifo, part of the huge Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, after fleeing the war in Somalia. Their father died in Somalia, and no one knows where their mother is. An old woman named Fatuma looks after them, and camp life means hunger, long water lines and a lot of boredom. Hassan can't talk and only ever says one word, but he greets every neighbor and hands out fruit to the goats, and Omar plays soccer with his best friend Jeri using a ball made of plastic bags. Omar has never gone to school, because caring for Hassan is his job. Then a tall community leader named Salan tells him he is smart and should use his gift, and Omar has to decide whether he can leave his brother behind every day. At school he grows closer to Nimo, whom he has known all his life, and her quiet friend Maryam, two girls with big plans, and he starts to dream about a future beyond the camp, even though the chance of being resettled is about as small as finding one tossed grain of sand.
Free Battle of the Books questions for When Stars Are Scattered
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about When Stars Are Scattered. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy feel a tiny bit happy while walking away from his wailing little brother?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
On his first day of school, Omar promises Hassan he'll come back, but Hassan wails as Fatuma holds him. Even so, Omar admits a tiny part of him felt happy, and he wonders what is wrong with him.
- First half
In what book does a friend show up with a lamp because a boy has notes but no light?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Omar wants to study for exams at night, but it is completely dark and he has no light. Then Jeri walks up with a lamp and says, "I've got a lamp, and you've got the notes. Together, right?"
- First half
In what book does a shirt-biting goat become a boy's "sworn enemy"?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Two years later, the family has a goat named Brownie, a gift to Fatuma from a friend who was resettled to Sweden. Omar complains that Brownie hates him and bites his shirt, but her milk means they can sometimes buy things like shoes and clothes.
- Second half
In what book does a boy feel extra shabby beside a social worker's clean clothes and nice shoes?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
After her talk to the class, Michael introduces Omar to Susana Martinez, a UN social worker who came all the way from Spain. Omar wants to be a social worker too, but next to her his dream suddenly seems kind of silly.
- Second half
In what book does a grumpy boy snap, "I don't have a bed! That's part of the problem!"?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Omar wakes up grumpy from sleeping in the dirt, and Fatuma teases that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Later that day, in the middle of pre-algebra, he learns his name is on the list for an interview.
- Near the end
In what book does a girl beg a friend's forgiveness because her family was chosen instead of his?
✓ Answer
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Nimo's family is being resettled to Canada, and Omar has been avoiding her. She runs after him, saying she is sorry it is her and not him or Maryam, but he turns his back on her.
