This was really hard to get through. Heart-achingly written, beautifully illustrated, this memoir took my heart and broke it into a thousand little pieces. Omar and Hassan's story is something so foreign to me, having grown up in a middle class family in the safety and luxury of the United States. It's so very important that stories like this are given to young children here, so that we can have perspective on the world and see the power we have by simply living in America to reach out and help those who need it.

I highly recommend this book. I've never known much about what life might be like in a refugee camp, and this graphic novel painted the picture clearly and vividly. I also recommend checking out refugeestrong.org, the nonprofit organization Omar Mohamed founded. They have a breakdown of how much a donation will give a child, and it's pretty stunning just how little money it takes to make a big difference.