Review Detail

Roller Girl author Victoria Jamieson has teamed up with Mohamed, a Somalian refugee, to tell a story inspired by Mohamed’s life. Cared for by kind Fatuma, an older woman who also lost her family, Omar and his little brother Hassan have lived in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya since they were small. Omar was only four years old when his home became a refugee camp. The boys’ father was killed and they became separated from their mother while fleeing civil war. Little brother Hassan, is mostly nonverbal and can be difficult to handle. The only word Hassan he has ever spoken is Hooyo. The afterward explains the meaning of this word. Life in the camp is boring and Omar describes it as... “it felt like all you ever did was wait.”
The residents have established a school for the children such as it is. Art class consists of making elephants our of mud. Yet, Omar and his friends realize that they can increase their families’ painfully slim chances at being chosen for resettlement in America or Canada by attending school.

I didn’t realize the book was based on real people and real circumstances until I read the afterword. The author’s notes go into greater detail about Mohamed’s life, how the two met and decided to collaborate, which elements of the story are fictitious, and how to help other refugees through an organization Omar established.

This story reminded me in a very vivid way, the plight of many children in this world of unrest.

Excellent!