Sooley by John Grisham
Samuel Sooleymon, 17, is a refugee from South Sudan, a war-torn nation where one-third of the population is made up of villagers. His passion is basketball, and he is an amazing player thanks to his incredible leap and quickness. A coach who is leading a young team in the United States has taken note of him, which could lead to his big break. Samuel’s life will alter drastically if he wins the competition. The longest of long shots, though. His natural talent is untrained. There are hundreds of players who are more well-known than him. Also, he will first have to part ways with his family.
Sooley by John Grisham
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Samuel receives heartbreaking news from home just as American prosperity beckons. Sooley, as he is known to his classmates, is forced to make difficult decisions about his future because he is torn between his ideal and the nightmare playing out thousands of miles away. In just twelve months, this humble, committed child must accomplish what no other athlete has ever done in the history of his chosen sport.
Young Samuel Sooleymon, from South Sudan, lives in a small community with his family amid relative poverty. Despite his struggles, Samuel is a positive 17-year-old who loves to play basketball and has the seemingly unattainable aim of becoming a professional player. Although he is already over six feet tall, quick, nimble, and has a great vertical jump, his ball handling and shooting are both subpar.
Opportunity strikes when Samuel is given the chance to fly to America with a squad of other gifted ball players to determine whether they have the potential to remain in the country and compete at the collegiate level. Samuel’s coach has faith in him, so as a favour, the coach at North Carolina Central University in Durham (a legitimate institution) provides him a scholarship with the intention of redshirting him for the season so he can adjust to life in the United States.
The setup gives off the impression of being your normal “feel good” sports underdog defies the odds kind of story, and it is that up to a point. Early on, Samuel’s family is devastated by civil war back home, and the contrast between their wretched circumstances in a depressing refugee camp and Samuel’s life of safety and affluence in a U.S. college is startling and unsettling.
The story develops, as Samuel (nicknamed “Sooley” by his peers) keeps working hard to polish his game and bulk up with weights as he naturally grows larger. This is happening while the Central basketball team struggles. When the coach decides to start his freshman, magic happens and the team’s season is saved. The team is led by Sooley all the way to the NCAAs.
