Football Academy: Boys United

Tom Palmer's Football Academy: Boys United is a football story for 8 year olds about a boy who keeps being told he's too small to make it.

What happens

Jake Oldfield has played football since he could walk. He's had trials at City, Bolton and Blackburn. Every time it's the same verdict. Very good player, too small.

So before his trial at United his dad does something odd. He takes Jake to the library! Three old England players, all short, all told they'd never make it. Jake gets the message.

The trial itself is properly tense. A huge full-back keeps barging him off the ball and the coach keeps writing on his clipboard. Who is he writing about? Then Jake remembers his dad's advice and starts linking up with a tall striker called Yunis.

Getting a place is only the start, though. Jake is a City fan, and now he's on the books at United (the enemy!). The captain, Ryan, doesn't want him there. Jake has taken the left-wing spot that used to belong to Ryan's best mate, and Ryan makes sure he knows it.

There's a new high school to deal with at the same time. Jake's nervous on day one, then suddenly half the school knows his name. Some of the rumours about him are very silly (no, he wasn't paid a hundred thousand pounds).

You're right there in Jake's head through all of it. He's thrilled one minute and wants to go home the next. The match scenes are quick and easy to follow, and the coach's marks out of ten for each player turn up between chapters, which football fans will love.

It's worth knowing that Ryan picks on more than Jake. He mocks Tomasz, the Polish keeper, and repeats his mum's view that Polish people are taking jobs. Jake nods along, then feels ashamed straight away. The story clearly sees it as wrong, but it may lead to a conversation. Ryan's mum also storms onto the pitch shouting at the referee in Jake's first game.

If you've got a reader who lives for Sunday matches and knows exactly what it's like to feel like the new kid, this will hit home. Jake's dad is lovely too. He's firm about school uniform and manners, and he drives Jake to every training session.

What to read next

If they want another left winger fighting for his place, try The Kick Off by Dan Freedman. Jamie Johnson's school trial goes about as badly as a trial can, starting with a boot that flies higher than the ball.