Very uplifting and heartfelt. The book was will researched and well written. Lewiston, Maine is about as different from Somalia as you can get, and the cultural shock and fear from the citizens was overwhelming, but, as in other stories, sports provides a kind of bridge between different populations of people.

A riveting story that combines the world's game with the perseverance of Somali refugees. I will definitely be passing this one on to my soccer friends.

One Goal is one great book!

Lewiston, Maine, population 36,000 (96% of whom were white) agreed in 2001 to accept 7,000 African refugee (primarily Somalian) immigrants. Lewiston, which had been losing population for decades, and was somewhat looked down upon as a poor hard-scrabble town by other towns nearby, was virtually changed overnight.

Amy Bass does an excellent job of giving us the sociological background of the town, the impact to and reactions of the town of the influx of African immigrants, the racism that reared it's ugly head, an interesting look into the Somalian culture, the Islamic tenets, and wonderful insider views of the characters, the halls of the high school, and the soccer field.

Human nature has many conflicting inclinations; two of which are the desire to help others, and the want/need to feel "better than" someone else. The Somalian influx to Lewiston, brought out both. Townspeople who were all for the immigrants coming, suddenly weren't sure that they liked the changes in their town. Anger grew among many. Meanwhile, the Somalian families were trying to learn a new language, acclimate to the vast differences in America versus where they had come from, while honoring their own culture and beliefs.

One Goal focuses primarily on the high-school soccer team, the impact the immigrants had on the team, and the team's ultimate impact on the town. For the male immigrants, soccer was life. They had played it every day since childhood, for hours on end. It was more than a sport to them - it was a way to communicate, to vent, to escape, to think things through, to focus - they could not imagine life without soccer. Their playing abilities on the field were like nothing anyone had ever seen before. For the white athletes, soccer was a sport, a game. Coach Mike McGraw, taught them that playing soccer is one thing, playing as a team, with no thought to your own glory is another, playing as a brotherhood takes it even further. Coach Mike McGraw made that happen. With his down-to-earth ways, his strict but fair rules, his interest in his players as individuals, his recognizing the need to learn more about and respect the Somalian culture and Islamic religion, and incorporate that into the team, he molded and melded the team bit by bit.

During a break in practice he noticed the white players were resting on one end of the practice field, the black players on another. Yelling at them to gather in the center of the field and sit, he mixed up all up until he was satisfied with the reconfiguration. "Now they are speckled, he thought. Perfect." He then told them that they were to always be a team, on the field and off, acknowledging each other, spending time together, building relationships and respect. "We can teach the town" he told them, and they believed him. Always encouraging, playing off strengths and reducing each player's weaknesses, and unafraid to take someone to task, Coach McGraw consistently stressed that the only way they would win was together, as one team with one goal, the state championship.

The team began to win game after game, shutting out team after team. As the wins increased, the town became more interested in soccer and proud of their team. They began to see how the players and their families interacted, and were more open-minded as a result.

This is a wonderful, inspiring read. I think Mike McGraw is a hero, and a testament to how one person can change thousands of lives. Please don't miss this read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amy Bass takes us into the classroom, the community, and the soccer field to explore all aspects of the town, and how the young men were able to achieve their successes.
The author does an excellent job doling out equal parts history, drama, and sociological study of the town of Lewiston. A reader can easily empathize with the plight of the immigrant families as they strive for their version of The American Dream.
I was constantly impressed by the coach's drive and passion for his sport and his players. This is a great book for readers looking to be inspired by the actions of a single community in the national conversation of immigration, education, and sport.

***** I give this Book a Five Star Review. I would recommend this Book. Thanks NetGalley.