From the acclaimed author of Netherland (a New York Times Book Review Best Book of the year): the odyssey of two brothers crossing the world in search of an African soccer prodigy who might change their fortunes.
Mark Wolfe, a brilliant if self-thwarting technical writer, lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sushila, and their toddler daughter. His half-brother Geoff, born and raised in the United Kingdom, is a desperate young soccer agent. He pulls Mark across the ocean into a scheme to track down an elusive prospect known only as “Godwin”—an African teenager Geoff believes could be the next Lionel Messi.
Narrated in turn by Mark and his work colleague Lakesha Williams, Godwin is a tale of family and migration as well as an international adventure story that implicates the brothers in the beauty and ugliness of soccer, the perils and promises of international business, and the dark history of transatlantic money-making.
As only he can do, Joseph O’Neill investigates the legacy of colonialism in the context of family love, global capitalism, and the dreaming individual.
Topics Brothers. Fate. Fortune. International travel. Racially mixed families. Soccer. Office politics. Technical writing. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Africa. Point of view.
Trim Size 9 1/2" x 6 1/4"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2024-06-03
JLG Release Date Sep 2024
Minimum grade 11
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus (Grades 11 & Up)
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus (Grades 11 & Up)
For Grades 11 & Up This collection features 14 adult fiction titles per year selected for strong appeal to older teens. Selections emphasize accessible storytelling and compelling narratives, centered on relatable characters facing challenges and themes that resonate with readers ready to move beyond traditional YA fiction. Some selections may explore identity, relationships, and real-world challenges, including LGBTQIA+ themes, strong language, social issues, and sensitive topics such as sexual abuse and suicide.
Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism,Language: Mild Language,Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes,Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context,Violence: General