McFarland USA and Taking Sides McFarland USA and Taking Sides have many differences but they have one very important similarity. First, they are sort of opposites Taking Sides is about a Hispanic boy moving to a mostly white neighborhood. McFarland USA is about a white man moving to a mostly Hispanic neighborhood. The next difference is that McFarland USA is about cross-country. Taking sides is about basketball. Another difference is that McFarland is in a rural setting with corn and chickens waking you up. Taking Sides is in a suburb where rich people with fancy cars and nice houses. There is one very important similarity. In each story, they find out what their true home is. That is very important because you have to feel that others like