Play Book Tag discussion

In the small village of Lotta, located in South Sudan, Samuel Sooleymon is easily the best basketball player. At age 17 and already 6' 2" Sooley has a vertical jump that astounds those who have seen him play. Unfortunately Sooley's passion for the game outweighs his talent; he cannot shoot and score with any regularity. His fortunes change when he is selected for a basketball showcase tournament to be held in the United States. College scouts will be attending and it is quite possible that Sooley could find a scholarship and play in America, or he could be returning to South Sudan at the close of the two week tournament. While Sooley is busy learning new skills back home in Lotta rebel troops have overrun the area. Sooley's father is killed, his sister kidnapped and his mother with his two younger brothers have fled into the bush. Eventually his mother and brothers make their way to a tent city run by Doctors Without Borders. Although they are safe they are without family or worldly goods. Sooley, upon learning of his family's fate, wishes to immediately return home but it is impossible. A kindly coach offers Sooley a scholarship to a small college where the now 18-year-old begins to thrive and truly become a basketball star. But always, Sooley dreams of bringing his remaining family to America.

This is a difficult one to rate because who doesn't love the story of an underprivileged youth overcoming astounding odds to become more than he ever could have hoped for. Sooley is charming, polite, focused and always smiling. That description makes it extremely hard for me to accept the decision he made which led to the ending of the book. This is not the Sooley I had enjoyed from page 1. I am also not very sports-minded so the endless play by play of the basketball games left me cold.