Characters

4. Ziaty Beatrice’s son. He disobeyed his mother to play soccer in the parking lot of their apartment. He develops an innocence amongst the discrimination of the town.
6. The 31-year-old volunteer soccer coach from Amman, Jordan. She is independent despite her upbringing. She chooses to stay in the US on her own rather than depending on her parents back in Amman.
8. Luma’s kind, loving grandmother, who gave to the poor. She is Luma’s main connection to her family back home.
10. He is from Afghanistan. He was not a strong soccer player, but he upheld all the standards that Luma was looking for as a player. He was well-respected by the other players.

1. Ziaty Liberian refugee from Monrovia who went to immense measures to get her sons to the United States. Her husband was imprisoned, so she had to make it to the U.S. on her own. She was mugged and lost trust in the people of the U.S.
2. St. John the author and narrator of the book. He seems to understand the discrepancy of both sides as he compares the town’s development to that of a lifeboat. He shares his personal feelings about the government and the refugees struggles through his use of diction.
3. Ziaty Beatrice’s son.
5. and Sawsan al-Mefleh Luma’s wealthy parents, who disowned her when she decided to stay in the United States.
7. Luma’s little sister, who looked up to Luma. She works harder when it is Luma asking this of her.
9. A Sudanese forward.