Amy Bass Libri

The narrative explores the contentious aftermath of W. E. B. Du Bois's death, focusing on efforts to establish a memorial park in his hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. While many, including notable figures like Harry Belafonte and Sydney Poitier, supported this tribute, it sparked fierce opposition from local groups, particularly the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Critics vehemently denounced Du Bois as a traitor, citing his communist affiliations and critiques of American society, which led to a deep divide within the community over his legacy.

In the tradition of Friday Night Lights and Outcasts United, ONE GOAL tells the inspiring story of the soccer team in a town bristling with racial tension that united Somali refugees and multi-generation Mainers in their quest for state--and ultimately national--glory. When thousands of Somali refugees resettled in Lewiston, Maine, a struggling, overwhelmingly white town, longtime residents grew uneasy. Then the mayor wrote a letter asking Somalis to stop coming, which became a national story. While scandal threatened to subsume the town, its high school's soccer coach integrated Somali kids onto his team, and their passion began to heal old wounds. Taking readers behind the tumult of this controversial team--and onto the pitch where the teammates vied to become state champions and achieved a vital sense of understanding--ONE GOAL is a timely story about overcoming the prejudices that divide us.