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11th out of 26 books
—
2 voters
The Boys from Little Mexico: A Season Chasing the American Dream
by
Steve Wilson
The all Hispanic boys' soccer team from Woodburn High has made the playoffs for nineteen straight years. As they prepare to make it twenty, the boys are determined that this will be the season they beat the wealthy suburban schools around them and finally win the Oregon state championship. Their spirited drive gives a rare sense of hope and unity to a bluecollar farming co...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
June 1st 2010
by Beacon Press
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The Boys from Little Mexico is one of those rare gems of literary non-fiction that exhibits beautiful writing and a compelling narrative while promoting true understanding among people and groups who might not otherwise come into contact with each other. It's about so much more than sports; it is about the meaning of sports for the players and coaches we meet while reading it. Some of these boys knew that a soccer scholarship was their only shot at a four-year college education; others acknowled...more
A good read about the almost-exclusively-Latino Woodburn High School soccer team. It follows the team through the 2005 season. Does well to address issues in the areas imigration and education.
I hoped to gain some insight into the mind of the coach at the time (a notoriously hard coach for us referees to get along with), but it failed to do that form me. Rather, Wilson portrays us as racist, corrupt, incompetent, or so eager not to appear biased toward one team that we go and subconciously favor...more
I hoped to gain some insight into the mind of the coach at the time (a notoriously hard coach for us referees to get along with), but it failed to do that form me. Rather, Wilson portrays us as racist, corrupt, incompetent, or so eager not to appear biased toward one team that we go and subconciously favor...more
Those who enjoyed H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights will enjoy this book for the same reasons. In it, the author follows a high school sports team, the sport of choice being soccer instead of football. He chronicles the ambition, stuggles, foibles, triumphs of the players and coaches, revealing what part sports play in the lives of young people. While this book lacks the character depth and hard-hitting cultural relevance that Bissinger's conveys, it does these boys' lives meaningful to the r...more
This book is one part sports novel, one part sociological novel.
Where Wilson does well is describing the boys' feelings, and those of their coach, Mike Flannigan as they attempt to win an Oregon State Soccer Championship. What also works well is the descriptions of the Oregon towns of the Willamette Valley and how their makeup has changed just within the last 20 years. The fact that Oregon, in general, is a mostly White state that has, despite its generally liberal leanings, interesting viewpoin...more
Where Wilson does well is describing the boys' feelings, and those of their coach, Mike Flannigan as they attempt to win an Oregon State Soccer Championship. What also works well is the descriptions of the Oregon towns of the Willamette Valley and how their makeup has changed just within the last 20 years. The fact that Oregon, in general, is a mostly White state that has, despite its generally liberal leanings, interesting viewpoin...more
I'm a FirstReads winner! Can't wait for it to arrive!
8/8. I won this a few weeks ago but still waiting for it to arrive, hopefully, it will be soon! 8/22. It's still not here! 9/8. It arrived yesterday!
The "Boys from Little Mexico" is a non-fiction book about an all-Hispanic boys' soccer team from Oregon that has made the playoffs for 19 straight years. As they prepare to make it 20, the team is determined that this will be the season that they finally win the Oregon state championship.
In 2005...more
8/8. I won this a few weeks ago but still waiting for it to arrive, hopefully, it will be soon! 8/22. It's still not here! 9/8. It arrived yesterday!
The "Boys from Little Mexico" is a non-fiction book about an all-Hispanic boys' soccer team from Oregon that has made the playoffs for 19 straight years. As they prepare to make it 20, the team is determined that this will be the season that they finally win the Oregon state championship.
In 2005...more
Steve Wilson follows the varsity soccer team from Woodburn High School (Oregon) through one season. The Woodburn team has played in the state championship for twenty years and is now made up of Hispanic immigrants and sons of immigrants. It is a very telling look at the struggles faced by Hispanics in the US-language, education, jobs, prejudice, immigration status and the part that soccer plays.
Wilson has done a great thing, tailing these kids around, detailing their experiences and the class struggles they must endure.
Sadly, the book was not what I expected, which was to focus on sports and build from the talk about the team to the players. Even though the games get a fair amount of attention, they feel secondary to Wilson's thoughts about the immigration battles.
It's a good book for people interested in sociology, not so much for sports fans.
Sadly, the book was not what I expected, which was to focus on sports and build from the talk about the team to the players. Even though the games get a fair amount of attention, they feel secondary to Wilson's thoughts about the immigration battles.
It's a good book for people interested in sociology, not so much for sports fans.
This is a really interesting book about a high school soccer team, but it is about much more than that. It touches on not just the hopes and dreams of young men, but a particular group of young men, mainly poor immigrants from Mexico. Up in Oregon, of all places, there is a town where scores of immigrants have settled and built lives, sometimes permanently and in many cases, transitory. As yu'd expect, the soccer program is generally very competitive although the stae championship has continued...more
If I knew anything about soccer I might have enjoyed it more; however, I read it to learn more about the challenges that poor minority students face, particularly the children of illegal immigrants. It was interesting.
Excellent book. See my full review on my blog: http://aztexan.net/2010/07/book-revie...
Very excited to have won a First Reads copy of this book. Looking forward to reading it!
“The Boys from Little Mexico” is an intimate look at the all Hispanic Woodburn High School soccer team during their 2005 season and their quest for a state championship that had long eluded them. Along the way we get to know members of the team and their challenges and struggles on and off the pitch. This is more than just a book about futbol Steve Wilson sheds light on the US education system and puts a huma...more
“The Boys from Little Mexico” is an intimate look at the all Hispanic Woodburn High School soccer team during their 2005 season and their quest for a state championship that had long eluded them. Along the way we get to know members of the team and their challenges and struggles on and off the pitch. This is more than just a book about futbol Steve Wilson sheds light on the US education system and puts a huma...more
Looking forward to reading this book I just won from GoodReads!
I guess I'm just not that into soccer and the play by play daily life of an up and coming Hispanic soccer team, the Woodburn High Bulldogs, trying for the Oregon state championship of 2005. The Boys From Little Mexico by Steve Wilson did not hold my attention and, sadly, I did not finish the book. High praises for the quality of writing and the intent of the author, and I'm certain this book will be highly popular and an inspiration for other high school soccer teams of mixed ethnicity who strug...more
Goodreads win - July 1, 2010
I enjoyed this book because it told a lot from the perspective of the players and not just the coaches. It showed that many people have good hearts and while winning is good, success in all aspects of life is important. (view spoiler)
I did however feel that it was a bit racist against both whites and minorities, especially towards the beginning.
I enjoyed this book because it told a lot from the perspective of the players and not just the coaches. It showed that many people have good hearts and while winning is good, success in all aspects of life is important. (view spoiler)
I did however feel that it was a bit racist against both whites and minorities, especially towards the beginning.
This book appealed to me on many personal levels. I am married to a man from Mexico, he coaches or children’s soccer teams; soccer and coaching strategies are the main topic of conversation in our house during certain seasons. I had high expectations going into this story and the author did not disappoint me. I think the author did a good job at illuminating disparities and prejudice that sometimes goes unseen. He also made the sport of soccer accessible to readers. An enjoyable book.
Won this on Goodreads Jul1 and had given up hope of receiving it. As soon as I removed it from my list, it arrived. Go figure. It's back on my to read list.
it was good if you like soccer but it talks about the history of latin american and how they came to oregon.
An interesting look into small town sports and small ton bigotry. I really enjoyed the book.
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I appreciate the review, which is, I think, based on an early uncorrected galley. I think the review is pretty fair and I do hope that a reade...more
May 10, 2010 02:50pm