Description

NOTABLES, 2021 CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, OLDER READERS

Meet Tariq Nader, leader of ‘The Wolf Pack’ at Punchbowl High, who has been commanded by the new principal to join a football competition with his mates in order to rehabilitate the public image of their school. When the team is formed, Tariq learns there’s a major catch – half of the team is made up of white boys from Cronulla, aka enemy territory – and he must compete with their strongest player for captaincy of the team.

At school Tariq thinks he has life all figured out until he falls for a new girl called Jamila, who challenges everything he thought he knew. At home, his outspoken ways have brought him into conflict with his family. Now, with complications on all fronts, he has to dig deep to control his anger, and find what it takes to be a leader.

In confronting and often hilarious situations, Tariq’s relationships with his extended Lebanese family and his friends are tested like never before, and he comes to learn that his choices can have serious consequences.

“A great novel. The dialogue jumps off the page. Funny and authentic and full of characters I loved.”
Melina Marchetta

“Rawah Arja has written one of the best Australian novels I have ever read…not just because the writing sparkles even as it packs a punch, but because this is the kind of novel that shows us what Australia really is.”
Randa Abdel-Fattah

“Rawah Arja’s work explores what it means to grow up in Australia today. It is full of big-hearted young people facing the complexities of race, culture and place with a great sense of humour, mateship and a few footballs. Arja is an astounding new talent whose work will speak to young people everywhere. The F Team is a fresh, surprising work that is set to become a young adult classic.”
Felicity Castagna