“Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference,”
by Warren St. John
“Outcasts United” (Spiegel & Grau, $15) is the nonfiction account of a woman’s quest to improve the lives of refugee children and teens in her area. Along the way, she inadvertently helps change an entire community. The book by New York Times reporter Warren St. John is a tale of self-discovery, resilience and social change.
Since the early 1990s, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has designated Clarkston, Ga., as a refugee relocation community. A steady stream of refugees has led to societal changes that make the Southern town itself a prominent character. Luma Mufleh, a Jordanian-born citizen, winds up in Clarkston and decides to start a soccer team and tutoring service to help refugee boys with resettlement issues. Luma is a strict but dynamic coach, and many of the young players thrive under her guidance.
This national bestseller has been the featured book for more than 40 university and college reading programs, including MSU’s Common Reader program in 2012-13. St. John visited campus in October 2012 to speak at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
For updates on the players and Luma’s newest venture, a refugee school, visit the Fugees Family website.