Jamieson retold and drew the story of Omar Mohamed, a Somalian refugee, who, after fleeing from Somalia around age four, spent his childhood and young adult years in a refugee camp. The story doesn't dwell on the privations and struggles of the refugees, although they are included in the story. Daily life, including the lack of food and basically everything, is explained in simple terms. The effects of hopelessness, boredom, and the emotional and physical wounds of the refugees is also shown in the many different ways people react. Mohamed, speaking through Jamieson, gently explains to readers where he and other refugees are coming from and how their circumstances affect every part of their lives.
The story focuses on Omar, first as a young boy. He accepts his life as it is, doesn't think much about what came before, and doesn't really expect a future. His main thoughts are for his brother Hassan, who doesn't speak and is disabled, and the daily struggle for survival. With the encouragement of community leaders, his friends and his foster mother, Omar begins to attend school. There are many setbacks along the way, the excitement and despair of hoping to be called for resettlement, and most of all, the endless waiting. As he grows older, Omar gets a rare chance to be interviewed for the possibility of resettlement and must relieve his traumatic journey to the refugee camp and the ever-present pain of his absent mother.
Along the way, we see Omar's friends on the path of their own struggles. Maryam, the quiet, smart girl who hopes to apply for a scholarship is married off before she can compete in the exams she studied so hard for. Omar's best friend, Jeri, has an abusive father and is mocked by him and other refugees due to his limp. The story ends with a note of both hope and sorrow, as Omar and his brother Hassan are selected for resettlement but have to leave their foster mother, friends, and the family they have created in the refugee camp behind.
Afterwords tell more about Omar's story; he now works as a social worker with refugees and is married with a family, which includes his brother Hassan. After more than twenty years, they were reunited with their mother; however, due to even stricter immigration laws enacted in the US she is still in the refugee camp and they are unable to bring her to the US to join her family. An afterword from Omar talks about his life, the people who helped him, and how he now is able to give back to the community through his work and a nonprofit organization, Refugee Strong. Victoria Jamieson talks about how she came to write this story and worked with Omar to keep it realistic and true to his experiences.
This is not so graphic that it will be inappropriate for the average middle grade reader; it's honest but does not portray graphic violence. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to readers who are looking for more Raina Telgemier-type stories, but I hope that those who go looking for them will discover this very different memoir and reflect upon their own privilege or see themselves in another's story and find hope.
Verdict: Definitely purchase - where you shelve will depend on your community. I have a small collection of contemporary autobiography/inspirational stories in the 922s where I think it will be a good fit. If school resumes, I hope to talk some teachers into using it for a book club.
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