Story of immigrant soccer team uplifting

OUTCASTS UNITED. By Warren St. John. Spiegel & Grau. 307 pages. $24.95.

"Outcasts United" tells the story of the Fugees. Not the hip-hop group. These Fugees are soccer players. The name is short for "refugees," and the boys in the program come from war-torn corners of Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

It is the story of Luma Mufleh, the Smith College-educated Jordanian woman who coaches them. And it's the story of Clarkston, Ga., a small town in the shadow of Atlanta. Since the 1990s, Clarkston has grown from a typical Southern town to one of the most diverse locales in the country.

Warren St. John weaves these stories together as he follows the Fugees through a season of soccer. The story of immigrants struggling to adjust to life in the United States is certainly not a new one. What is remarkable about this story is the number of cultures and religions involved. Through the grueling practices, victories and defeats, the boys move beyond their differences to forge a bond. They develop a sense of accomplishment and belonging.

"Outcasts United" is not a happily ever-after tale. There are failures as well as successes on the field and off. Mufleh, though hardworking and tenacious, is not a saint, nor is she a miracle worker.

It is, however, an uplifting story of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of individuals to make a difference.