This memoir tells the story of a woman and former refugee who after finding asylum and success in America, she gives back to young refugee children who are struggling to learn in the broken education system in the states. The school system struggles enough with academics much less the complex needs related to language, culture and trauma that refugee students contend with while trying to grow and learn in their new country. Mufleh not only saw the problems, she also created a solution by creating an academy to serve this specific group of children in need. Anyone invested in the education system, whether as a parent, teacher or student would benefit from reading this story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

✨✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨✨

Thank you @luma_mufleh, @netgalley, and @marinerbooks for the e-arc and finished copy of Luma’s memoir.

Summary: It was a wrong turn that changed everything. When Luma Mufleh—a Muslim, gay, refugee woman from hyper-conservative Jordan—stumbled upon a pick-up game of soccer in Clarkston, Georgia, something compelled her to join. The players, 11- and 12-year-olds from Liberia, Afghanistan, and Sudan, soon welcomed her as coach of their ragtag but fiercely competitive group.
Learning America traces the story of how Mufleh grew a group of kids into a soccer team and then into a nationally acclaimed network of schools for refugee children. Soccer as a part of every school day is a powerful catalyst to heal trauma, create belonging, and accelerate learning. Finally, this gifted storyteller delivers provocative, indelible portraits of student after student making leaps in learning that aren’t supposed to be possible for children born into trauma--stories that shine powerful light on the path to educational justice for all of America’s most left-behind.

Thoughts 💭: I was so excited when this beautiful and poignant memoir was suggested to me through NetGalley. Mufleh’s story is one of trauma, healing, belonging, and bringing light to educational justice for those who exist in the margins. As the troubling stories of hate crimes against Asians and Muslims continue to be in the rise, Mufleh’s voice contributes to the important conversations regarding how immigrants and refugees struggle to carve an identity in their host nation. Things are further complicated by Mufleh’s family excluding her from their family financially and emotionally. As the memoir unfolds, we see that her job as a coach is nothing sort of personal. Her encounter with an Afghani mother who is struggling emotionally leaves a mark, as Lume observes that she is kind to a Sunni Muslim. This moment speaks to how diaspora reforms relationships that would not be possible in the countries of origins. If you love memoirs, especially those which are inspirational, Lume’s book should be on your list. It released in April.

QQOTD ⁉️: what was the last memoir did you read?

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Oh…this is a story that’s close to my heart. As someone working in education, I was instantly intrigued by the blurb.

This memoir follows Luma Mufleh who wanted to join in a game of soccer with a group of 11 and 12 year olds refugee children in Georgia. These children have attended local schools but have not received the care and support they needed to learn. When she became the coach for this soccer team, she realised that only few of her players can read. What started as a passion for soccer led Mufleh to open one school after another to give refugee children a chance at education.

The whole story is engaging and informative without being dry. I felt Mufleh wrote about her view points and experience beautifully. She managed to weave her personal experience as a refugee and later on as an educator with research she has done which was very interesting to read.

This book touches on many important topics such as the US school system, refugees who are trying to learn English as a second language, racism and struggles refugees face on a daily basis. Mufleh saw the difficulties faced by refugee children as they adjust to a new lifestyle while recovering from trauma. I love the core principles the schools schools were built on and how passionate Mufleh is towards her cause.

Mufleh’s relentless passion and work with these children gave them a sense of hope and a chance to create better lives for themselves. She has shown me that there are so many things we can do to help students who are struggling. She has given me quite a bit to think about in terms on how I can create a better learning environment and experience for my students. She also reminded me that teaching requires a lot of patience and understanding but it is definitely one of the most rewarding job when you see these children learn and grow before your eyes.

Thank you Netgalley and Mariner Books for the arc.

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DOUG

I loved this book.

As a former ESL teacher immigrant and refugee issues are always on my radar, and can feel insurmountable. It is such a beacon of hope to read of an individual who sees, cares, and makes such an impact on the lives of numerous vulnerable children.

I found Learning America to be well written, but the subject matters were not what I expected. Still I found the book to be a timely book. It isn’t something I would go out of my way to purchase.

I absolutely loved this book. I had literal goosebumps the entire book, especially once she began talking about the kids. This book is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. The story grabbed my attention from the start and was not glorious by any means. Instead, it was raw and honest in a much-needed way.

At one point, the author asks the reader to do a visualization placing them in the shoes of a refugee fleeing their home with an enemy and war on their heels. In that moment, I was thoroughly crushed. I felt the dread sitting heavy in my heart and stomach. I also knew that what I was feeling wasn’t even a fraction of what they have felt. Luma told not just her story but the story of the kids and their community. I am incredibly grateful for and humbled by this story and have a greater appreciation for those who have gone through the asylum process.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, Mariner Books, and the author, Luma Mufleh .

Learning America by Luma Mufleh is an inspiring account of her route to helping refugee children in America. Mufleh is a Lesbian Muslim woman from conservative Jordan. She was granted asylum entrance to the US after college. What started as a casual soccer match with children in her neighborhood developed into a school for refugee children new to America. She saw the difficulties they experienced adjusting to their new country, learning in school, and recovering from trauma. Local schools could not offer the support they really needed to excel in their new country. Mufleh founded the Fugees Academy to better serve young people in most need. I loved reading about how the school was created and the principles it was founded on. I really enjoyed learning about the communities developed and think Learning America will be especially inspiring to educators.

Thank you and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read about how a woman transformed a refugee soccer group into a school for refugees. I thought there would be more analysis of refugees in American schools, but it was more just about her experience. Still an interesting read!

Learning America is a powerful book that anyone working with refugees should read. I have worked with refugees for many years and still learning new things and gained new perspective in reading this book.

Learning America is an absolute must read for anyone interested in the state of education in the US today. Mufleh clearly lays out the issues that refugee students face in public schools, and discusses possible solutions, as well as describing how she founded her refugee school. It was especially interesting to learn how her position as an immigrant shaped her understanding of how education could work.

R efugees. So much we don’t know about the trials and troubles they go through. The author is an immigrant, not a refugee; she points out there’s a difference. She sets up soccer teams and schools for refugee children.

A very sobering chapter is when she tells a story in the second person tense “you.” You live in Ohio; a neighboring state attacks your town. You are forced to leave your home and your treasured belongings because it isn’t safe to stay. Mufleh makes the situation so realistic.

I read this while there are two million refugees leaving Ukraine. I kept thinking of them while reading about the boys and their families Mufleh worked with and loved.
Highly recommended book. An eye-opener

After leaving her home country of Jordan and coming out as a lesbian, Luma Mufleh was looking for her place to belong in the U.S. When she happened upon a group of refugee kids playing soccer in Georgia, she asked if she could join, and the rest of her life was changed. Mufleh started a soccer team for refugee kids that turned into a family, a non-profit, a school, and so much more.

This is a really engaging, thoughtful, and accessible book about one woman's journey to support refugee kids and their families. It doesn't shy away from the difficult path kids face when they arrive in the U.S. with little or no English skills and limited resources, but it's also full of hope and optimism for a better future. Mufleh's story is enlightening and moving, and I enjoyed every page.

In Learning America, female, Muslim, gay refugee Luma Mufleh grapples with the systemic inequalities in the American education system. I really learned a lot from this book and hope everyone reads it.

This is an amazing book that faces many important topics: the US school system, refugees, learning English as a second language, racism just to mention a few.
The author reports her point of view clearly and did great work balancing her personal experience as a refugee, her experience in the education of those kids, and more broad data and research on the topics.
As an educator, I really liked the book and found many and many foods for thought.

As an educator and as someone who works with quite a few immigrants, I was immediately attracted to this book. This is not a boring, play -by- play story where author is less than humble and the immigrants are paraded like show ponies. This is a beautiful telling of the story of the Fugee Soccer team and The Fugees Family Non Profit/schools. It is engaging and informative without lecturing or posturing. You learn about the author, her students and the very beginnings of this amazing program via a well written tale.

Anyone interested in the plight of young immigrants will enjoy this story immensely. Best yet, there are not a series of bad then worse situations. This is a very straightforward, well written success story.

Don't pick up the next top ten non fiction from NYT. Read this book - a true American book. A story of a group of students and a visionary leader (who happens to be a gay female from conservative Jordan). A powerful story of change! #LearningAmerica
#marinerbooks #netgalley #netgalleyreads

Fascinating book by an exceptional woman. I requested this book because I knew about Fugees from friend of the author. We all went to the same college but I don't think Luma and I ever met. What I didn't know is that Luma had gone on to do a Ted Talk and was named CNN Hero of the Year in 2017. Her passion for the education of refugees in America is evident and I love how she gives names and stories to some of her students. I felt invested in them as I learned who they were.

She writes so articulately about the educational system in the US, outside of the impact it has on refugees. It's long been an interest of mine and she outlines many of the issues exceptionally well. Savage Inequalities indeed. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in education in the US or anyone who enjoys reading about an ordinary woman who is doing extraordinary things with her life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I didn't know what to expect and had completely missed the TED talks by Luma Mefleh, so I was surprised by the size of the project.
It's a very interesting read whether you know the backstory or not and while it isn't always easy to imagine the situation and understand the extent of each case or problem that arises in Mufleh's book (and life) you will find yourself caring, and more importantly talking about it.
I found myself discussing the book and recommending the TED talks to people throughout the reading process - and in the end that's what a good book is about.

A really interesting read that explores the American education system. In addition to being informative, this books grapples with a lot of important themes and would be great as a learning resource.

A really interesting read that explores the American education system. In addition to being informative, this books grapples with a lot of important themes and would be great as a learning resource.