Out of Nowhere (337 Pages)

I just finished reading Maria Padian's wonderful new book. WOW! It's a great read, and I learned so much that I didn't know. I learned right along with Tom Bouchard, the main character. Tom is a terrific high school senior. He's third in his class, academically, he's captain of the soccer team, and he's dating a good looking but stupid girl who is as dumb as a doorknob, and totally self centered. So, two out of three aren't so bad. The story centers around the soccer team and and a small group of Somali refugees who are suddenly students at Tom's school. The school is located in a small town in Maine, and there is some tension in town about the onslaught of Somali families who have suddenly arrived in town.  One of these is a young man named Saeed, the most remarkable soccer player the school has ever had. His joining the soccer team gives the team its first winning season. But in the midst of all of this, Tom's best friend, Donny, convinces Tom to do a prank on the rival school. Tom knows better, but goes along with Donny. He gets in real trouble and with the help of his coach and his principal, is saved except for needing to repaint the rock that was the center of the prank. He also needs to serve 100 hours of community service. This is a story with SO many "lessons" that it makes every middle and high school kid want to read it and talk about it.