Finalized Reading Guide!

Today I finalized my reading guide, as well as watched a TedTalk recommended to me by Mrs. Morris-Long entitled, "The Danger of a Single Story." I will (as promised) talk about the book first. Outcasts United is the story of a group of refugees from a mixture of different countries living in Clarkston, Georgia. For many refugee agencies in Georgia Clarkston is sort of where people go "fresh off the boat". It acts as a transition space for some, but a permanent home for others. The story is set in 2009. Luma (who the story is based around) is not a refugee, she went to Smith College, but after graduating couldn't really find a job where she felt a fit. She bounced around but eventually ended up in Georgia because of a college friend. She'd played soccer growing up and really wanted to coach a team of girls, because her coach had made such an impact on her life. Eventually Luma started having experiences with the refugee community, and decided to quit her job and start coaching a team of refugee boys for free. Outcasts follows many singular stories of individual refugees, but it also focuses on broader themes such as community and the other. A good chunk of the book is devoted to the narration of soccer games, however the reader can see characters grow in these games. I think the Fugees (their team name) should matter to us because in a way, we are all fugees. We all, at times, don't feel we belong, feel awkward, or don't know how to act around a new group of people. I think these questions can hopefully guide incoming Freshman to think more deeply about the broader implications of this book in their lives. I had a lot of fun coming up with these questions because I got to play "teacher" for a few days and put myself in the position of a student (which I am) simultaneously. Moving forward, I will be helping Mrs. Morris-Long craft assemblies for the freshman around refugees and SING.

Why you’re reading this book:

The purpose of this book is to get you (the student) thinking about how your life connects with the lives of those you’re about to go serve in the metro-Atlanta region. Often times, you may find it difficult to connect or find common ground with those that have had different upbringings than your own. However, there are common themes that run through everyone’s life. Whether it is strife with your parents, resilience in the face of adversity, the pressure to fit in, a new (scary) place, or simply the desire to help others. We can all take lessons from “Outcasts United”.

Reading/Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of the major themes you picked up on as you read? How do these themes connect to your own life?

2. Luma changes the course of her life in order to serve the refugee boys in her community. She helps build community amongst people who would otherwise be enemies. What is the meaning of service and volunteering in your life?

3. Surely you have a vision of YOUR Atlanta and it’s probably much different than the one portrayed in this book. Can you identify some of the cultural differences?

i.) How do you think we can support assimilating newcomers while still respecting their cultural difference?

      4.) At times, we all may feel out of place or like we don’t belong somewhere. How did this

book affect your understanding of what it means to be “the other”?  

      5.) You, too are new to a community just like the refugees in Clarkston. With this diversity

comes many different opinions, backgrounds, and experiences. In high school, you will

often be assigned group-work. Discuss one strategy used by the Luma and the Fugees

to build more productive teams that you can apply to your own life.   

6.) Discuss the role of stereotypes in the book, and (maybe) how your understanding
changed as you continued to read. Provide specific examples.