By SK

Omar has lived in a Dadaab, a Somalian refugee camp, for most of his life, and he can hardly remember a time before he lived in the A3 block, in the tent he shares with his little brother Hassan across the road from their guardian, Fatuma, making meals out of the scant rations and waiting for the day when he, Hassan and Fatuma will be selected to leave for America, where everyone is rich. Where he won’t have to sleep on the ground anymore. Where he can get medicine for Hassan, who barely speaks and used to get terrifying seizures. Where his life can really start. 

When you live in a refugee camp, you spend a lot of time waiting. But that doesn’t mean Omar isn’t busy–he gathers water, plays soccer with his friends, tells stories to Hassan, and studies with his friends Jeri, Maryam, and Nimo. And he’s never stopped looking for his mother, who he hasn’t seen since fighting broke out in his village when he was a little boy. 

As he grows up, Omar experiences danger, disappointment, and the fear that he’ll never leave Dadaab. Yet he also learns that in a world where he sometimes feels powerless, the loyalty and love that connect him with Hassan and Fatuma, his friends, and his community have a power of their own. 

I don’t usually read graphic novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one, a story of growing up that is both universal and powerfully unique. The bright, evocative, emotional artwork is gorgeous, and the writing is crisp and concise, creating a vibrant, compelling, sometimes heartbreaking story about childhood in a refugee camp, based on coauthor Mohamed’s own life. (In fact, I realized partway through reading it that I was experiencing the same feeling of total immersion in a story, oblivious to anything around me, that I usually only get when reading standout books in prose!) The characters are deftly woven and immensely believable, and it’s a fast, satisfying, and deeply important read. At once a powerful personal story and an ode to the resilience and courage of the millions of people living in refugee camps today, I would highly recommend When the Stars Are Scattered to readers ages nine and up, especially for books groups and discussions. 

By Piranha T.

In a futuristic version of Earth, water has become an enemy. After the Melting, the world was swallowed by oceans, destroying towns and cities, humans and animals. Even rainwater is no longer fit to drink. There is nothing left but Ark.

Ark, the city John Noa built out of nothing when waves overcame the land.

Ark, where grim-faced gavvers pace the streets, searching for the Desecrators who would destroy the fragile peace, where everything is rationed, even the very words people speak.

Ark, where Letta, the last wordsmith’s apprentice, writes out cards containing Ark’s language, List—a language of only five hundred words.

Letta was born in Ark after the Melting, and has always been called one of the lucky ones. She’s not quite sure if she can believe that. Long ago, her parents set out on a voyage to find other lands which had survived the Melting. They’ve never returned. Still, no matter how much she loves speaking the old tongue to the wordsmith without List’s restrictions—a language with all the now-forbidden words, like hope and dream and music—she believes John Noa will only do what is best for the people. After all, he was the one who saved them all.

But one day, a wounded boy stumbles into Letta’s home, and changes her life forever. His name is Marlo, and he is a Desecrator, but he isn’t the mindless villain she’s always believed the Desecrators to be. Instead, he’s interesting, and funny—and his explanations of Ark make much more sense than what Letta has always believed.

Then horrible news reaches Letta, and she is called upon to take up newfound power in Ark. Yet Marlo’s words make her question everything as she struggles to navigate the turmoil as the Desecrators make themselves known and dark plans begun unfolding around her. For Ark is the center of a scheme which could destroy all of humanity—and Letta must uncover dangerous secrets and choose a side before it’s too late to reverse the damage which will be done.

I don’t often read dystopian novels, but The List intrigued me, in part because of the thread of words and wordsmiths. It completely blew me away. Letta and the supporting characters are excellent and feel very real. This is an amazing, engaging, well-plotted book which I couldn’t put down. The villain was nefarious and I understood why he had to be stopped, but his reasoning, if twisted, still made a certain degree of sense, which made this book even more powerful. Overall, The List is a thought-provoking and absorbing read--I highly recommend it to readers ages eleven and up. 

By Piranha T.

​Seventh grader Zoey Albro has never had it easy. On top of homework, she has to take care of her three younger siblings every day after school while her mom works at the pizza parlor. But she can’t really complain. At least right now, her mom has a steady job, and Lenny seems like one of her mom’s better boyfriends. The trailer they live in with him is clean, and even if it’s impossible to get a moment of peace from her siblings to do normal things like finishing homework or hanging out with friends, it’s a lot better than the other places Zoey has lived.

If she were an octopus, Zoey often tells herself, everything would be easier. They’re her favorite animal, and she knows all about them: how they have special muscles to change the texture of their skin, their ability to get into smaller places than other animals…they can even camouflage themselves with their environment. Sure, when they’re nervous, they turn bright red, but not even an octopus can be perfect.

But she isn’t an octopus, and she can’t camouflage herself when she doesn’t want to be seen. Her social studies teacher, Ms. Rochambeau, is always nagging at her to hand in homework, but now she has another focus. She wants Zoey to join debate team—which she knows will be full of all the kids who hand in their homework and don’t have to worry about what they’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow morning. It’s the last place Zoey, even with her octopus camouflage, could ever blend in.

Yet it’s at debate team that Zoey begins to find an unexpected place. It’s from what she’s learned at debate team that she begins to question the world around her. And it’s because of debate team that she might just find the courage to stand up and raise her voice.

Because not even an octopus should blend in forever.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus was an eye-opening, deep, and moving read. There is so much in this book I didn’t expect, beyond the themes of class and social judgement. It discusses everything from gun rights to what it means to be a kid struggling in a world where it feels like nothing is open to you. Zoey is such a strong character, full of determination and grit while still being held back by the people and the world surrounding her. She is extremely realistic, and sees the world in such a different, powerful way than most other characters in middle-grade novels, and I loved reading this story through her eyes. The supporting cast is also very realistic—particularly the first time I read this, at the same age as Zoey, this book rang true to me. Overall, I highly recommend The Benefits of Being an Octopus to readers who love thought-provoking books ages nine and up.