Book Review: Outcasts United by Warren St. John

At the high school where I teach, we host a school-wide book club called GR@SP. Our school librarian, with teacher and administration input, chooses five books each year to spotlight. In the past, we have also had an author of one of the books come in as guest speakers to our Creative Writing and other English classes; the past two years we hosted Jay Asher (author of Thirteen Reasons Why and The Future of Us) and Chris Crutcher (author of Anger Management, Whale Talk, and Deadline).

This year, we have another five books up for the picking. Before leaving for what is turning out to be an extremely long winter break (we have had school cancelled two days now for cold weather), our librarian loaded up our library’s thirty Nooks with the five books and more, and offered them to staff. AWESOME.

My first book in 2014, therefore, is the only non-fiction book for GR@SP this year: Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town by Warren St John.

Published in 2012, this work follows the story of Coach Luma Mufleh and her creation of a free soccer club for recent refugee immigrants in Clarkston, Georgia. The version of the book we are reading for GR@SP is an abridged-by-author version, which makes it a little bit shorter and more high school friendly.

You might like this book because: Coach Luma is basically a rockstar. She demonstrates tough love and high expectations for her players; as a teacher, I love seeing this type of attitude toward students who might traditionally be seen as “high risk” and “low achievers.” She will not give up on them, but she will also not do all the work for these kids. It’s also amazing to hear the stories of these young men who have been through so much in their short lives- it really puts some perspective into those “first world problems” we complain about so much and the type of luxuries we take for granted on a regular basis.

You might not like this book because: At times, I found it a little choppy. In non-fiction books, I always like the author to be somewhat engaged or a part of the story. While St. John uses the first person (“I asked Jeremiah what he thought about…”), he never explains who he is or why he became interested in Coach Luma and her program in the first place. I personally found that a little strange.

(Sort of) Similar Titles I've Read: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, and In a Single Bound by Sarah Reinersten

I would recommend this book to: any soccer fans, readers interested in refugee immigration, fans of investigative non-fiction, and my dear friend Kirsten.

Overall, Outcasts United is a feel good story and I always love one of those, especially when it’s true! Coach Luma and her team definitely experience ups, downs, frustrations, and victories, but in the end, it isn’t really about soccer, but about an opportunity to succeed, overcome tragedy and obstacles, and become a better human being. And isn’t that what we all want?

Have you read Outcasts United? What did you think?