The F Team

Book excerpt: Age range 14+ 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. '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 'A great novel, funny and authentic and full of characters I loved.' — Melina Marchetta, author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca and On the Jellicoe Road 'Rawah 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, author of No More Boats 'In her debut YA novel, Rawah Arja expertly expresses the difficulty of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood while navigating family, friendship, love and self-worth. Not just full of heart and the importance of community, Arja’s novel is also honest...The F Team is an introspective and thought-provoking coming-of-age read.' — Books+Publishing