Monday, May 11, 2015 - 12:02

Outcasts has been selected as the One Book, One Community read for the University of Arkansas this fall, and will be read by incoming freshman as well as the wider Fayetteville community. 

“In several ways this is a perfect choice for One Book, One Community,” said selection committee co-chair Kevin Fitzpatrick. “It’s about a community coming together to deal with change and conflict. Every community in this country faces these kinds of issues."

“The book is well-written, the story is compelling and the message is very important,” added David Jolliffe, co-chair of the committee. “Outcasts United raises so many important issues that citizens, young and old, in the U.S. should consider:  the responsibility to relocate refugees from the world's danger zones, the attitudes that develop in response to the resulting diversity, and the strength newcomers show as they strive to assimilate into a new culture”

Outcasts has been selected at over a hundred colleges, universities and high schools as a common read for students. For a partial list of those schools as well as resources for teachers and common reading administrators, visit the Resources page of this site.

 

Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 13:44

In early March we switched servers, and apparently there was a gap in our email forwarding. Senders would not have been notified that their emails did not go through, and we never saw them. So if you're smarting over the lack of a response, try again; things are running smoothly now. Apologies.

Monday, March 5, 2012 - 17:11

Over 40 colleges and universities have selected Outcasts as a common read for incoming freshmen. Along the way, many have come up with creative ways to supplement discussions about the book with other activities that explore themes of community and belonging. 

A selection of those ideas, along with some general ideas about making freshman reading programs successful, is available now on the Resources for Teachers page, along with a reading guide for college students. Have a look.

Friday, November 4, 2011 - 02:00

The folks at C-SPAN dropped into Birmingham, Alabama recently as part of their series on locals authors in American cities. Here's a link to a discussion we did about Outcasts. 

Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 17:07

"Outcasts United" was one of four finalists for the inaugural Pen/ESPN Award for Literary Sportswriting. The judges (Susan Orlean, Robert Lipsyte and Tim O'Brien) called the book "open-hearted, warmly written, and sharply observed," and wrote that the book offers "a fresh new way of looking at an America in transition." 

For more information on this year's PEN Literary Awards, visit the awards page on the PEN American Center's web site.