Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team

A youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, led by their formidable female coach Luma Mufleh, inspired an entire community here in the United States. This moving account is based on the adult bestseller, "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference."

Luma Mufleh, a young Jordanian woman educated in the United States, was working as a coach for private youth soccer teams in Atlanta when she stumbled upon Clarkston, Georgia, one day. There, she was amazed and delighted to see young boys, black and brown and white, some barefoot, playing soccer on every flat surface they could find. Inspired by this sight, Luma decided to quit her job, move to Clarkston, and start a soccer team that would soon defy the odds.

The team, known as the Fugees, faced numerous challenges. Locating a practice field, acquiring minimal funding for uniforms and equipment, and garnering zero fans on the sidelines were just a few of the obstacles they encountered. However, the Fugees practiced hard and demonstrated a team spirit that drew admiration from referees and competitors alike.

Outcasts United explores how the community of Clarkston changed with the influx of refugees and how the dedication of Lumah Mufleh and the entire Fugees soccer team inspired the entire community. Praise for Outcasts United, the young people's edition, has been overwhelmingly positive, with Kirkus Reviews describing it as "an uplifting underdog story" and School Library Journal praising its "motivating messages that will resonate with teen readers."

The adult version of Outcasts United has also received critical acclaim, with Library Journal describing it as a "wonderful, poignant book" that is "highly recommended," and Kirkus Reviews lauding it as "richly detailed, uplifting ... educational and enriching." Shelf Awareness praised the book as "inspiring...richly detailed...Deeply satisfying...a bighearted book."

Through the inspiring story of the Fugees and their coach, Outcasts United sheds light on the challenges faced by refugees in the United States and the power of community, dedication, and perseverance to overcome adversity. The book serves as a testament to the transformative impact that a single individual can have on a community, and the profound ways in which sports can bring people together and foster understanding.

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