• Age: 10 to 13
• Grade: 4
• Reading age: 8 to 9

Two years after his birth parents disappeared from their home in Nigeria, newly adopted Ozzie moves to Canada. At his new school, Ozzie and the other Nigerian kids compete for time on the soccer field with a team of Syrian refugees — led by Victor. But then they are asked to combine their teams to challenge the division champions. A school soccer program for all the students is on the line. Can Ozzie and Victor unite to make two groups of resilient refugees into one team?

Team Fugee is one of four new books that offer readers insight into the experiences of refugee youth as they adjust to life in North America.

DIRK McLEAN is the author of children's picture books, the Lorimer Sports Stories novel Not Out, and Team Fugee. He has also written radio drama and stage plays which have toured southern Ontario elementary schools. Dirk was born in Trinidad & Tobago and now lives in Toronto.

Dirk McLean's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens - Canadian Children's Book Centre

"This was such a great book and my class was so excited about this book and told their friends and family about it!"

NetGalley

"Soccer United stands apart for discussing the modern refugee crisis and the difficulties of resettlement for middle school readers."

School Library Journal

"In addition to soccer and family, this slim volume touches on many topics, including physical disabilities, literacy challenges, adoption, orphans, civil war, racial profiling, and Black Canadian history ... good for a novel study for a group of reluctant readers."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials