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Hyattsville,  MD—Riderwood resident’s join in Maryland’s statewide community read: One Maryland One Book led by Beltsville Branch Manager Barbara Spears of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System at 10 am on Monday, September 20. This year’s selected nonfiction book, Outcasts United: An American Town, A Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference by Warren St. John, is the story of a soccer team of refugee boys from war zones in Liberia, Congo, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The "Fugees,” as the boys are called and their coach, Luma Mufleh live in Clarkston, Georgia, a sleepy, southern town upended by refugee resettlement. Not only does this small town become global, but in the process an inspiring tale about resilience, the power of one person to make a difference and the challenge of creating community in a place where people seem to have little in common unfolds. Warren St. John has written for the New York Observer, The New Yorker, Wired and Slate, in addition to his work as a reporter for The New York Times.

Riderwood residents, known for their literary prowess, will share their insights on the book’s multi-layered themes. Riderwood, located at 3140 Gracefield Rd. in Silver Spring MD, is the nation’s largest continuing care retirement community. Residents participate in an Issues Discussion Group, a Short Story Discussion Group, as writers for their monthly Riderwood Reporter newspaper and 600 of them enroll each year in classes at Prince George’s Community College.

Additional One Maryland One Book discussions will be held at the following library branches:

• Oxon Hill Branch: Tuesday, October 12, 2 pm
• Bowie Branch:  Wednesday, October 13, 7:15 pm
• Largo-Kettering Branch: Tuesday, October 19, 7:30 pm
• Laurel Branch: Tuesday, October 26, 8 pm
• Hyattsville Branch: Saturday, October 30, 3 pm

Please call the Library at (301) 699-3500 or visit our website at www.pgcmls.infofor details.

One Maryland One Book 2010 is coordinated by the Maryland Center for the Book, a program of the Maryland Humanities Council in partnership with Enoch Pratt Free Library and Barnes & Noble. It is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, LSTA grant funds, through the Division of Library Development & Services, Maryland State Department of Education and the Comcast Foundation.