A Home on the Field: How One Championship Team Inspires Hope for the Revival of Small Town America

by Paul Cuadros

A Home on the Field is about faith, loyalty, and trust. It is a parable in the tradition of Stand and Deliver and Hoosiers—a story of one team and their accidental coach who became certain heroes to the whole community.

For the past ten years, Siler City, North Carolina, has been at the front lines of immigration in the interior portion of the United States. Like a number of small Southern towns, workers come from traditional Latino enclaves across the United States, as well as from Latin American countries, to work in what is considered the home of industrial-scale poultry processing. At enormous risk, these people have come with the hope of a better life and a chance to realize their portion of the American Dream.

But it isn't always easy. Assimilation into the South is fraught with struggles, and in no place is this more poignant than in the schools. When Paul Cuadros packed his bags and moved south to study the impact of the burgeoning Latino community, he encountered a culture clash between the long-time residents and the newcomers that eventually boiled over into an anti-immigrant rally featuring former Klansman David Duke.

It became Paul's goal to show the growing numbers of Latino youth that their lives could be more than the cutting line at the poultry plants, that finishing high school and heading to college could be a reality. He needed to find something that the boys could commit to passionately, knowing that devotion to something bigger than them would be the key to helping the boys find where they fit in the world. The answer was soccer.

But Siler City, like so many other small rural communities, was a football town, and long-time residents saw soccer as a foreign sport and yet another accommodation to the newcomers. After an uphill battle, the Jets soccer team at Jordan-Matthews High School was born. Suffering setbacks and heartbreak, the majority Latino team, in only three seasons and against all odds, emerged poised to win the state championship.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Soccer, Sociology, The United States Of America

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Hailey Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely wrecked me.

Three days a week I walk down the hallway that is home to the large wooden-framed photograph of the 2004 NC Soccer State Champions: Los Jets. The picture hanging in that wooden frame has always been special, but now after reading this book that picture takes on a whole new meaning for me. It’s no longer just a picture with random faces of boys who worked hard to win a game - it’s a photo of resilient Latino boys that, thanks to the journalistic work of Paul Caudros, have a name and a story that will be told forever. It’s a community of brothers who, after being outcasted, marginalized, and prejudiced against, came together in unity to show their town and this country that they are more than the color of their skin.

On the surface, this book is a beautiful and touching account of the story of the soccer team that outweighed all odds to win the state championship. But even deeper than that, this book is a raw and honest account of the deep resilience engrained into every fiber of the Latino community: in Siler City, in North Carolina, in this country, around the world. And even deeper than that, this book is the story of Jordan Matthews High School - the school that I get to intern at and call my home for the year. This is the story that is soaked into the very halls that I get to walk through, three days a week. This is the story of a community coming together to taste the rich beauty of diverse cultures converging into one community. This is the story of Los Jets.

The story that Paul Caudros shares here is a story that fights for other stories to be told. This story fights for the voices of those whose voices have been falling through the cracks. This story resembles the stories of many of the Latino students that walk through not only the halls of Jordan Matthews, but schools all around this country.

Here’s to Los Jets - those who have gone before and those who are still to come. Getting to know these students is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever been given.

I have so much more that I could say but I will leave this review with a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

“But it is his eyes that draw your attention. They are happy but weary. You can see the dust from the desert in them, you can tell the light fingers of the crossing have touched his face. All these kids bear that caress. It is a transformative event. For some it leaves only fading scars, but for others, that touch runs to the bone.”

“Their Rubicon had been the desert and they’d all lived to tell about it. It showed in each of their faces. They all knew what a hard day’s work was, had been tested in hardship, experienced terrible prejudice, and faced an uncertain future. But all that faded away when they strapped their boots on and ran onto the pitch. If there was one place they could really feel at home, it was here — between two goals on a dusty field.”

“Today we play for all the players before us and who could not be here. For those veterans who can only watch now. We play for our fathers who taught us this beautiful game. We play for ourselves and for the big picture at the school. We play for all the other Latino teams that couldn’t make it this far. But today, we will play in our hearts for nuestra gente — for our people. We are Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Peruvian, and American. Today, we will play for everyone in our community. And we will all be champions!”

“But watching the townsfolk turn out and wave, honk their horns, clap their hands, and pump their fists in the air, I knew that the team has transcended the prejudices on all sides and brought the community to root for one team. I knew then that these kids were no longer Latino kids in the eyes of the waving people. They were Jets. We were all on the same team.”

[Spencer Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in Spanish and learned countless new vocabulary words, especially soccer terminology. This was assigned reading in Dr. Boomershine’s SPN490 service learning course in 2017. I did not read it then. Probably worth reading but only in Spanish, and research the other topics (latino immigration/soccer/KKK in NC) elsewhere.

The author is kind of precious about some of the ideas about race relations, and how the team helped unify Siler City. That has aged about as well and as rapidly as milk in the hot sun. He also completely omitted any mention of the women’s soccer team, save a couple of paragraphs in the epilogue.

[hannah rosenberger]

Considering I know nothing about soccer and generally don’t enjoy nonfiction, I enjoyed this a lot more than I was anticipating — the story of the Jets is the stuff sports movie magic is made of, but the way it was layered with the realities of immigration and race in rural North Carolina was very well-done!

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me. On the surface it's the story of a small southern town and their Mexican-American high school students coming together on the field.
But it's really the study of how immigration affects America, especially Mexican-Americans and their assimilation. Do you know the difference between a Hispanic and a Latino/Latina? Did you know the contribution rates of 2nd generation Mexican-Americans? I didn't, but this book showed me shades of grades and entirely new facets in an argument that I once saw as "Send them home" or "Let them stay".
The sports action is solid, but for anyone who has ever coached a high school sport there is much more resonance in the small conversations with colleagues, friends, but mostly between coach and players. It's authentic.
This was recommended to me and what started as a, "Yeah, I'll read it..." turned into a, "Wow, this changes how I see things!"
Cuadros does a great job, and even when his biases sneak through (which is impossible to prevent considering his heritage and devotion to these boys) the reader gives him a pass.
He's earned it; this is a hell of a book on a lot of levels.

[C.I. DeMann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets 5 stars for story, and 3 stars for writing. I loved the story he was telling and the way it was laid out. I even liked the way he *tried* to tell it. But he desperately needed an editor to smooth out the writing, to tighten things up, and to fix small errors. Hard to believe that there wasn't an editor, since I believe this is from a reputable publishing house, so I'll have to assume the editor just sucks at their job. Either way, the story really is outstanding.

[Mr. Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the story within the novel "A Home on the Field" is a critical and timely one that all global citizens need to be aware of, the writing is very flat and forced. If the author wrote it more like a story and less like a newspaper article it would have flowed more freely and been easier to get into. The book tells the story of a small town in North Carolina grappling with an influx of Hispanic community members. The story paints the picture of turbulence and great difficulty the outsiders were forced to endure in order to live in the community despite being brought their by the major companies in the area as hired workers. Within the story is woven another layer about the author organizing a soccer team at the local high school and the issues surrounding that whole situation. The story is bittersweet and has a positive ending. I would recommend this book to those looking for a fact-filled story about middle America and the ever changing cultural landscape; however, be aware that the writing is difficult to get through at times because of the way the author went about crafting the story.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone in North Carolina should read this book. It's a true story about a soccer team that won a state championship. It takes place right down the road in Siler City, and it answered several of my questions about immigration. One of my former teachers is in it.

[Harriett Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from the inspiring soccer and immigration story featuring a few characters I met during my El Pueblo days, I also appreciated the descriptions of the games themselves. It's a challenge to reflect the moves and plays coming together across a long soccer field with written words alone. How did Cuadros remember without the benefit of having cell phone recordings? I would have thought having to coach at the same time as trying to remember or take notes to use later would be impossible. As Caudros reiterates, though, it's a players' game and once the whistle blows the coach can't be as involved as he might like. He offered insight and wisdom about the players l, the game and the community in a way that was a joy to read (especially during my daughter's biggest soccer tournament of the year).

[Layton Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, A Home on the Field was an interesting book and really hooked me in with the point of it. The book has 2 fascinating points. The book is about the story of a small town Latino soccer team and their struggles, as well as the conflict of the immigration debate that was going on at the time. A lot of people did not think they belonged there even though they were there legally. This makes you think about what they had to go through with all the heckling. This book is a real page-turner and I think you should read it.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spanish vs “Americans”. But really, the story is the same for any ethnic group coming into this country. Of course, as an example, there can be an issue for one “foreign group” to pluck the chickens. But the “white” group who may be against still wants fried chicken cheaply. This take is about Hispanics, but the story could be the same about Jews or the Irish as 2 other people samples. Paradoxes😕

[Ron Garcia-Fogarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul wrote a great book about immigration and soccer in North Carolina. We covered this book in our last book group gathering, and had Paul there in person to talk about it and share what has happened aince he wrote this very engaging and well written book. As an immigrant and soccer player myself, I truly enjoyed it!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read. I enjoyed this book for the soccer story....not so much for the political part. Living in the same general area, I recognized many of the teams that were mentioned in the book as well as my current city of residence which added to my enjoyment of the book.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the parts that weren't about the sport and games.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great way to talk about immigration in rural america from a very empathetic viewpoint. Sometimes the writing got dense and hard to follow but very heartwrenching and overall enjoyable.

[Seth Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This summer, I read the book, A Home on the Field, by Paul Cuadros. This book became increasingly more interesting. Initially, I expected this book to be long and boring, but it turned out to be a fascinating and fun book to read. The book is a true story about a Latino man named Paul Cuadros. Life, as a journalist, was good for Paul, but he felt something was missing. He remembered how great it was when he played on a soccer team when he was young and Paul wanted others to feel the same way he did. Life in Siler City, NC was hard for some Mexican immigrants. Most of them worked at the local chicken processing plants because it was the only job that employed them. So, Paul decided to start a soccer team at the Jordan-Matthews High School because it did not have a team. At first, the Principal told Paul that he could not have a soccer team because there were no fields to play on and there were not enough players. After more than three meetings with the Principal, he finally allowed Paul to start a soccer team. Paul worked hard to get kids to sign up. He hung up flyers at school and finally got some people to sign up. Despite some unlucky losses and player injuries over the first few seasons, the team persevered. For example Enrique is one player who suffered from an injury. The injury was in his knee. He was lucky because he was born in the United States, so he qualified for Medicaid. Other Immigrants on his team could not get this sort of care because they were not US citizens. The first season, they won most of their games and leading up to the finals they lost. The second season they made it to the championship match, but lost again. In the third season the Jets (Jordan-Matthews team name) got a new field that had new nets with new lines. The old field was slanted and narrow which was hard for the players. Paul worked the team hard in the third season. After their hard work and tough games, they made it to the finals and took the gold.

This book’s weakness was the beginning. I like books that have a story that really pops out at you and makes you want to keep reading. I thought this book lacked that. A Home on the Field had many strengths. One of these strengths was the climax. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for the results of the games. Another strength was that this book had a joyful ending. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about soccer or who wants to learn more about Mexican immigration, or anyone who just wants to read an exciting story.

[Lupi_19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A home on the Field is a really good nonfiction book. I believe the purpose of this book is to inform people and let people become aware of how Hispanic immigration is shaping this state and the country, and the the type of difficulties they have to go through because of discrimination. The author does a really good job of achieving this purpose by the story he tells in the book. Overall the book has no weaknesses because although it was nonfiction, it was very entertaining. The strength was it achieved its purpose really well and sent a strong message of encouragement through the towns soccer team. The quote a liked was "Duke had spent two hours bashing the very workers who had brought him his fried chicken. He didn’t even realize the full extent of his hypocrisy. … If they were sincere about recuding illegal immigration, they could take a stand and refuse to buy these products. They could stop eating fried chicken, bacon, hamburgers, steaks, lettuce, turkey, hot dogs, tomatoes, grapes, wine; and stop purchasing other products like furniture and textiles; and deny themselves services like landscaping and construction. But I suspect that, like Duke, most would simply help themselves to a nice plate of chicken (Cuadros, 55-56)". I recommend this book to others because it was recommended to me and I really enjoyed it. I feel it's a really good book that helps people open thier eyes and see reality.

[Trey Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books plot is about a small town, Siler City North Carolina. As Paul is prompted with many chicken processing work offers he declines. More and more Latino families are moving into this city with there children. He came to find about the slow immigration to this country. When he got hear he pleaded to the principle to let the latino kids go to school here, he did not like the idea but he agreed. Then paul asked if they could make a soccer team for them but he thinking it was to much to ask, after he let them have education he declined. Then a new principle came and agreed to the idea. Paul helped them learn loyalty and discipline, besides kicking some butt. They have three great seasons. They come together as a team and totally new and better people.

I like how he describes the community of the Latinos, how they struggle in America. He describes how hard it is move into a totally new country, how to fit in with new people. I really liked this book I don’t have anything bad to say about it. I think he did a great job writing it and describing it. I do recommend this book for a good read. Mostly for people who like soccer or just a good story. This book taught me so much in every way it taught me that first impressions are not everything there is more to a person then what comes off that you have to learn who they are to judge them.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always fun and a bit amazing to read a book set in an area with which I am very familiar. I recognized most of the towns and venues in this book and am familiar with the political issues involving hispanics that Cuadros addresses in Siler City and in rural North Carolina. I am also very sympathetic to the situation of hispanics in rural North Carolina. I think it is a story that needs to be told and I appreciated the history and discussion. However, the book was overall a disappointment.

I am not knowledgeable about soccer and there are long 2-3 page passages of specific soccer plays that I wanted to skip but felt I had to plow through. He also seems to place himself squarely in the role of hero and takes a lot of credit for the success of his students and team - perhaps rightly, but since he is telling the story, it came across as suspect. I also found his agenda a bit heavy handed - his constant iteration of how this student was not able to realize his dream because of his immigrant status grew stale and did not incite me to action. A good effort, but needed a good editor.

HOWEVER, my husband who worked extensively with Hispanics in ESL absolutely loved this book. He would like it to be required reading.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story of Latino teens overcoming racism and poverty in rural North Carolina. In the book, Paul Cuadros describes his first three years coaching the fledgling soccer program at Jordan Matthews High School in Siler City, a small town facing a huge influx of Hispanic immigrants. It wasn't a very difficult or profound novel, but it was a fun read. I actually learned a lot about the Latino way of life--family comes before everything, including school; Latinos are often targets of muggings because they tend to carry lots of cash; and so on and so forth--that I don't think I would have learned otherwise. However, if you don't like soccer, some parts of the book might be kind of boring to you. The descriptions of the soccer matches are kept pretty short and to the point, and there aren't soccer terms being tossed around everywhere, but soccer does figure into a large part of the plot. However, I personally am not a sports fan, and it didn't bother me all that much, so don't let the fact that it's about soccer turn you away from such a great book.

What I especially liked was the photos in the middle of the book and the descriptions of what has happened to all the kids since then at the very end. I like putting faces to these kids, and it makes it so much more real.

[Cesar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has probably been the best book that I have read because there were so many things that I could relate too in this book which also made it a lot more enjoyable to read. This book is about a guy named Paul who is an investigative reporter from Chicago and decides to move to North Carolina to write about the impacts of Latinos moving to many rural areas in the south and how they try to earn a living from what they have and how hard they try to find jobs. Paul then sees some kids playing soccer on some dirt fields and he then realizes that he wants to get involved in the community and tries to get a soccer team started at the local high school. He gets rejected multiple times because they always told him that football and all the other sports were more important than soccer and that they were “real sports” and that no one wanted to allow the soccer team to use their field for practices or games. This book even talks about the team playing Elkin which is a soccer team in our conference so that was also cool. There was a player called Enrique in the book who I related the most too because we played the same position and it seemed like he was pretty good leading the team with goals and that's how I was.

[Marten Wennik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, the required summer reading book for Cardigan Mountain School grades 7-9 for 2013, was a interesting read. The first 7 chapters are a bit bland, but they do outline and introduce the writer, the town, the challenges and the reason Cuadros got involved. After these chapters, however, the book begins to pick up the pace and locked me in as a reader.

I was amazed, despite what I expected for roadblocks thrown up, at how the community dragged it's feet, enlisted the help of national organizations & celebrity (David Duke!!!), but then seemed to change it's mind. The story of the three seasons, too, becomes more engaging and exciting after the first season. Most of all I enjoyed the stories of the kids and the author's work with them on the field and off. Their commitment and efforts seem to mirror so many other stories out there. Perhaps this is the humbling message; despite their Mexican (et. al.) background, these kids are...kids and just want to play, be a part of a team, and be recognized for their efforts.

A touching story I recommend for all readers.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REPORT
this is a really inspirering book because it could make you laugh and if you are sensitive maybe even cry. Paul was the write and character in the book. Paul came to silver city and created a soccer team called " los jets " In the second day of practice 16 players came and some were not eligible to join because they had dropped out of school. others had found it to hot to practice so they stayed home insted.
work was everything for them if they had a job then they were not considerd lazy and were a somebody. it didnt really matter what kind of job you had the important thing was in to earn money.After two weeks of hard practices that focused on teamwork they went to the cascarita as a reward.they got their uniforms and started playin soccer. if you want to red this book you should check it out or borrow y it from some one how has it. i advise any body to read it and give it a shot all it takes is ganas!

[David Orphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel-good real-life story about he first three years if Jordan-Mathews High School Soccer team. From anti-immigrant rallies to state champions, this book has the same feel as Remember the Titans with a wonderful // about a small town learning to get along with their new neighbors.

With all of the uproar over the current waves of child-immigrants coming into The USA from Central America, folks might be well served to have a reminder that so called illegal immigrants are also human beings.

Perhaps even more so, they are Americans in the purest sense. Like the author notes, American are born all over the globe, because America is an idea even more than it is a nation. America is where one goes to build a new life and be free.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

[Tomherndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some other reviews on this listing. I agree with many of them. I regret not spending more time IN Siler City/Jordan Matthews when I worked there.

While the book/author focuses on the Latino immigration, similar issues exist for both empowered and refugee immigrants from Asia; the students of the educated Indian families and the various ethnic groups escaping Burma and the Vietnam region. While on opposite ends of the economic spectrum, some similar issues arise for a feeling of belonging and place within the schools. Cary is due for high school cricket teams. And the kids started a Seepak Tekraw club in our school.

Consider the plight of immigrants portrayed in Eastwood's Grand Torino.

[toria · Rating 3 out of 5]

was this engaging? yes. did this feel like i was being rage baited by weird assimilationist and vaguely sexist comments every three paragraphs? also yes.

cuadros struggles to be both an ethnographer and journalist, and doesn’t really do either successfully. also was increasingly frustrated by his ego and clear self-obsession. it felt like we got little to no time with the boys, which is what i wanted the most of. not whatever those weird blanket statements based on stereotypes and his upbringing were. a great many one liners that left me feeling ill or scratching my head. whole thing felt weirdly targeted toward white americans but yall didn’t hear that from me.

this still gets three stars because i learned a few new things and it was a quick, easy read.

[Seth Farber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the fact that this story has been told, though I didn't find myself all that engaged by how Cuadros went about telling it. He is a capable writer, and the stretches of straightforward narrative are at times incredibly poignant. However, his attempts at social commentary tend to miss the mark, seeming more likely to distract from his students' story than to help readers understand it more fully. Still, in his best moments, Cuadros is simply introducing us to a group of kids whose exploits and struggles make for a compelling tale. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book, especially for high school students, as a starting point for conversation about immigration.

[Sticherus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book-- but I didn't like the writing style, and I really had to force myself to pay attention. I'm also not a fan of soccer. Or any sports at all, honestly. I only read this book because my U.S. History teacher assigned it.

Looking beyond that, though, I did like the parts that focused on the effects of immigration and the social issues/changes that Siler City experienced. I'm from a small town in North Carolina myself (about an hour's drive away from Siler City), and it felt pretty cool reading about a setting that I could relate to.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read A Home on the Field, I discovered that many of the characters in the story I was able to relate to the way they lived life or grew up in the U.S. For example,both David and Enrique were two undocumented students who were very talented soccer players and also had a dream of going to college.They never lost focus of their goals in life and went on to become really successful in life. Reading A Home in the Field made me want to push myself to higher expectations and higher goals in overall life.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from a friend and had never heard of it when I started. I gave it 4 instead of 3 stars because I read it so fast, which means I must have liked it, right? I liked the soccer story part, because I coach and see a lot of similarities between his team and my own - except for the whole winning part. I like the immigration parts because it helps me to understand my students some. The only thing about which I was not a huge fan was the complete bias of the author. I even agree with his viewpoint most of the time, but the way that it is written just drove me a little bit nuts.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inspiring story of a young Latino journalist (the author) who moves to Siler City, NC, site of infamous anti-immigrant fervor around the turn of the millennium. Cuadros starts a soccer team at the local high school in order to get Latino boys involved in their community (for the benefit of both).

The book represents rather ordinary writing, but the subject matter is important and Siler City is near my home, so I still enjoyed it. The long sequences of soccer play-by-play were probably unnecessary.