Victoria Jamieson

Oh, I have been WAITING for this with bated breath! New graphic novel from Victoria Jamieson, author of Roller Girl! Featuring class pets including a guinea pig! Obviously funny! Happily, it did not disappoint.

GW, otherwise known as George Washington, is determined to break out of prison, i.e. second grade, where he's being held as the class pet. But first he needs a plan...an invention...and his best buddies, Barry and Biter. He's got the invention, he's got the smarts, he's got the...pals? show more Uh-oh. Barry and Biter (her name is Sunflower now) have been brainwashed! But they won't desert the Furry Fiends, even when they meet their greatest challenge yet - the villainous Harriet the mouse and her minions!

The art is perfect; light and funny and skillfully detailed, Jamieson's style shines through in the glimpses of kids and she expands to include the exuberant animals of her earlier picture books.

Both adults and children will find this funny from Sunflower's "conversion" to the running gag of the disappearing mice and will be waiting eagerly for more adventures of the Furry Fiends.

Verdict: Hand to fans of Guinea PI, fans of funny comics, and everyone who thinks hamsters are furry little geniuses. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781627791052; Published 2016 by Henry Holt; Purchased for the library show less

I loved this GN, When Stars Are Scattered, by a Somalian refugee and the author of Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson. It's based on Omar's own experiences in a "temporary" refugee camp and Kenya, and the hopes of all there to relocate to a better situation in Canada, the U.S. or other countries. Omar is persistent and kind (especially to his functionally disabled brother Hassam), and there is a sunniness to him and the story despite the difficult conditions.

It's one of those good reminders. We show more may have frustrating political and social issues, but most of us have food to eat, a roof over our head, and chances to better ourselves that others in the world don't. show less

Omar and his younger brother Hassan have lived in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya for most of their young lives. Forced to leave their mother back in Somalia, they have struggled to survive in this camp, dealing with food shortages and crushing loneliness. Omar pursues his education, with the help of his friend Maryam as a ticket out of this dismal life. This incredible graphic novel is based on a true story, and it is beautifully crafted and both heart-breaking and hopeful. Well deserving show more of the Newbery Award.

“Those who are lost
look to the stars to
lead them home.

The flag of Somalia. Our home
has one star, one background.

But we are not one star. We are millions. Not one background, but millions.

To the untrained eye, the night sky is a scattering of stars, a chaos of light and dark across the universe.

And yet, the stars are not lost.
They form patterns. Constellations. If you know how to look, there are stories woven into the very essense of stars.

Be like a star. Shine your light. Shine your story. For stories will lead us home.” show less

I′m always pleased to see a graphic novel receive recognition on the award circuit, and this young adult memoir is well-deserving of being a National Book Award finalist. Omar Mohamed was about five years old when his Somali village was attacked. His father was attacked while tending his fields, and his mother sent him and his younger brother, Hassan, running to hide at the neighbors. As the violence spread, everyone in the village fled, and the two boys were swept along. They eventually show more make it to Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. There they spend the rest of their childhood, waiting year after year for their mother to find them or to be relocated abroad.

Life in the camp is tough, especially for young Omar. His brother doesn′t speak and has seizures, so Omar must watch him while also getting water every day, rations every other week, and firewood for the woman in a nearby tent who cooks for them. When a man befriends Omar and offers to help him start school (fifth grade, so Omar can be with age peers), his world suddenly has possibilities and hope.

When Stars are Scattered is the story of brothers, friendship, war, the kindness of strangers, and the transformative power of education. The artwork is spot-on, and the bold outlines and color convey a childlike simplicity that is appealing, while the story itself deals with complex emotions and difficult issues such as child marriage and the world′s response to the refugee crisis. I highly recommend this book, even if you aren′t sure about graphic novels. show less