Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Outcasts United, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Refugees, Discrimination, and Resilience
Community and Teamwork vs. Division
Leadership and Respect
Discipline, Dedication, and Success
Summary
Analysis
The Under Thirteens arrive for a 9 a.m. game against the Blue Springs Liberty Fire—a team (and a supporting crowd) made up of completely white faces, the boys notice. The Fugees are groggy due to the early start time, and when the game starts, Blue Springs quickly take the lead on an easy shot. The Blue Springs boys also get away with a couple of rough plays that go unnoticed by the referee.
The opening for this chapter, in which the boys note the racial uniformity of their opponents, is in direct contrast with the end of the previous chapter, which celebrates the diversity of the Fugees players and the fact that they are still able to find commonality with one another.
Themes
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Luma tells her players that they’re playing “lazy soccer” and allowing the other team to push them around. When play resumes, just two minutes into the half, Josiah scores after dribbling past three defenders. A few minutes later, Mohammed Mohammed is called on a foul and Blue Springs is given a penalty kick. It sails into the top corner, and Eldin doesn’t stand a chance. The score is 2-1, Blue Springs.
Luma pushes her team to work harder, knowing that they have been slacking in the first half. The second half of the game becomes a test to see whether her team will give up when they are trailing, or whether they will strive to come from behind.
Themes
Luma then moves Bien up to center midfielder, and no one seems to notice at first. Bien controls the ball and passes it to Idwar Dikori, who scores—but the boys are called offsides and the goal doesn’t count. Minutes later, Qendrim and Bien work the ball towards the goal. Bien looks like he’s going to pass back to Qendrim, but instead, he takes a shot, surprising everyone. He scores: 2-2.
The Under Thirteens do prove themselves to be worthy of Luma’s challenge. Even when the referee’s calls are against them, they don’t get frustrated—instead working together to score and tie the game up.
Themes
The Blue Springs coach then calls out for his players to mark Bien. The next few minutes are “frantic,” with both teams playing hard and the Blue Springs team covering Bien. With five minutes left in the game, Bien receives the ball, and while he is being set upon, he passes it out to Idwar, who is able to score. The Fugees are finally winning.
Despite the fact that Bien is Luma’s secret weapon, he also knows when it’s best to let his teammates take the ball when he is targeted by the other team. This can be placed in direct contrast with Mandela in the next chapter, who knows he is one of the more talented players and refuses to pass the ball.
Themes
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Blue Springs don’t give up: they send a long pass down the field and a Blue Springs forward hurls toward the goal, passing the defenders. He has a clear shot on goal, but then Robin Dikori, the youngest player and Idwar’s younger brother, streaks back between the player and the goal and kicks the ball clear. The referee then blows his whistle to end the game. Luma is thrilled—her team played as a unit and came from behind to win the game. The boys are excited, too, breaking into song and dancing together.
St. John shows throughout the book that Luma’s coaching methods are very tough. But she also knows when to reward her team for solid gameplay because they have done what she has asked. The Under Thirteens are able to use teamwork and discipline to take the lead away from Blue Springs, and their celebration is completely justified.
Themes
