This young people's version of the adult bestseller is a complex and inspirational story about the the Fugees, a youth soccer team made up of refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach. Clarkston, Georgia, was a typical southern town until it became a refugee resettlement center. The author explores how the community changed with the influx of refugees and how a single individual made a difference in the lives of so many.

“In this young adult adaptation of Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference, St. John presents the remarkable, inspiring story of a persevering female coach, a soccer team of refugee boys, and the Georgia town that is their home. . . . St. John delivers a vivid, cohesive story about hope and determination. . . . Respecting cultural differences, building a global community, and the importance of getting involved are powerful, motivating messages that will resonate with teen readers, not just soccer fans.” –School Library Journal (starred review)

“Exciting youth soccer action blends with politics in this story of refugee kids from across the world, including Kosovo, Mozambique, Liberia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Sudan, who find home in the small town of Clarkston, Georgia. . . . the account is filled with fast kicks, scrimmages, dribbles, crosses, corners, shots, and misses on the field that will grab kids, as will the harrowing stories of what the families fled from and their continuing struggle.” –Booklist

 
WINNER 2013 - Christopher Award

 
WARREN ST. JOHN is a reporter for The New York Times and author of the bestseller Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer. Prior to the Times, he was on staff at The New York Observer, Wired, and The New Yorker.