A page-turning sports novel perfect for young readers 7 and up, and for soccer fans of all ages.
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Born and raised in a small town, Leo K. Doyle has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane. But Leo is a star soccer player with big dreams in life.
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Rock-star, Olympic Gold, dragon-slaying dreams.
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While Leo longs to make the pros one day, he has no idea how to achieve this goal—
Until a professional scout pays a chance visit to one of Leo’s games and extends an invitation to try out for the London Dragons youth squad, known as The Academy.
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Leo is stunned. The London Dragons isn’t just any old soccer team. It’s a world-famous English Premier League Team. Soon Leo is off to a whole new country, embarking on the greatest adventure of his life. The downside? Only eleven players can make the team.
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Eleven out of two hundred of the very best youth players on the planet.
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Along with the grueling competition, Leo must also face a bully intent on torpedoing his summer, a roomie who doesn’t know how to have fun, a terrifying camp director, and, most of all, Leo’s own lack of formal training and the fear he’ll never succeed.By the end of the summer, Leo will become a much better player and forever changed by his experience.
But will he be good enough to make The Academy?
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Leo K. Doyle, a small-town kid from Ohio, has beaten all the odds and made the roster of a Premier League youth squad. But he is far from the star player.
In fact, he isn’t even a starter—and the U14 Lewisham Knights are the worst team in the league. They’re so bad that if they don’t improve this year, the owner will disband the team, which could jeopardize Leo’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Leo also has to keep up with his schoolwork, make brand new friends in a foreign country, deal with a coach who doesn’t seem to like him, and survive away from home for a demanding season in the Youth Premier League.
Leo believes he has the talent to help his team, but can he juggle all these balls and prove himself on the world’s biggest soccer stage?
In fact, he isn’t even a starter—and the U14 Lewisham Knights are the worst team in the league. They’re so bad that if they don’t improve this year, the owner will disband the team, which could jeopardize Leo’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Leo also has to keep up with his schoolwork, make brand new friends in a foreign country, deal with a coach who doesn’t seem to like him, and survive away from home for a demanding season in the Youth Premier League.
Leo believes he has the talent to help his team, but can he juggle all these balls and prove himself on the world’s biggest soccer stage?
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Leo tries to lead his team to glory in some of the most exciting, high-stakes soccer in the world.
Last season, Leo and his teammates saved the Lewisham Knights by avoiding a last-place finish in the U14 Premier League. Their future looks bright—until they learn the adult Knights have dropped down to the second division, again putting the future of the U14s in jeopardy.
All might not be lost. The team owner has entered the U14s in the Tournament of Champions, which takes place over the summer. Leo and his teammates will pack their bags and travel across Europe to play against some of the top youth teams in the world. But the tournament isn’t just for pride and a trophy. Something else is at stake: a loophole that allows the winner of the tournament to stay in the youth Premier League.
The competition will be fiercer than ever. No one is giving the Knights a chance to win. As if the tourney wasn’t enough to deal with, someone is trying to sabotage the team, and the Knights have a new star player with a serious attitude problem. The mountain to climb has never seemed so high. Can Leo find a way to pull his team together and have a fighting chance in the Tournament of Champions?
Last season, Leo and his teammates saved the Lewisham Knights by avoiding a last-place finish in the U14 Premier League. Their future looks bright—until they learn the adult Knights have dropped down to the second division, again putting the future of the U14s in jeopardy.
All might not be lost. The team owner has entered the U14s in the Tournament of Champions, which takes place over the summer. Leo and his teammates will pack their bags and travel across Europe to play against some of the top youth teams in the world. But the tournament isn’t just for pride and a trophy. Something else is at stake: a loophole that allows the winner of the tournament to stay in the youth Premier League.
The competition will be fiercer than ever. No one is giving the Knights a chance to win. As if the tourney wasn’t enough to deal with, someone is trying to sabotage the team, and the Knights have a new star player with a serious attitude problem. The mountain to climb has never seemed so high. Can Leo find a way to pull his team together and have a fighting chance in the Tournament of Champions?
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It's Knights versus Dragons in the toughest league in the world!
Leo and his teammates are riding high after their performance in the Tournament of Champions. But last season, they still finished near the bottom of the table in the U14 Premier League. If they want to compete with the London Dragons, they have a big challenge ahead of them.
Samantha is back to coach the Knights, but some of Leo’s friends have moved on to the U16s or transferred to other clubs. There’s a whole new group of players, including Goran, a tough central midfielder who is determined to take Leo’s position. To make matters worse, Leo has a setback that might ruin his season—or even his future career.
The Youth Premier League is the best in the world, and Leo and his teammates will be tested like never before. Can they handle the pressure, overcome a whole new set of obstacles, and rise to the challenge of a TITLE FIGHT?
Leo and his teammates are riding high after their performance in the Tournament of Champions. But last season, they still finished near the bottom of the table in the U14 Premier League. If they want to compete with the London Dragons, they have a big challenge ahead of them.
Samantha is back to coach the Knights, but some of Leo’s friends have moved on to the U16s or transferred to other clubs. There’s a whole new group of players, including Goran, a tough central midfielder who is determined to take Leo’s position. To make matters worse, Leo has a setback that might ruin his season—or even his future career.
The Youth Premier League is the best in the world, and Leo and his teammates will be tested like never before. Can they handle the pressure, overcome a whole new set of obstacles, and rise to the challenge of a TITLE FIGHT?
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Leo goes for glory with his junior national team!
‍Leo K. Doyle has become a star in the Youth Premier League and one of the brightest young players in the world. But he faces his toughest challenge yet when he joins his junior national team and tries to lead an underdog squad to victory in the greatest tournament of all for his age group: the U15 Cup of Nations.
Unlike the Lewisham Knights, Leo’s national team doesn’t have a roster full of Premier League talent. Plus, the team has terrible chemistry and very little time to improve.
The stakes have never been higher. The United States is the host nation, and the pressure is on to make a good showing. Will Leo and his teammates flame out in the group stage and disappoint their country? Or can Leo become a true leader and bring his team together?
‍Leo K. Doyle has become a star in the Youth Premier League and one of the brightest young players in the world. But he faces his toughest challenge yet when he joins his junior national team and tries to lead an underdog squad to victory in the greatest tournament of all for his age group: the U15 Cup of Nations.
Unlike the Lewisham Knights, Leo’s national team doesn’t have a roster full of Premier League talent. Plus, the team has terrible chemistry and very little time to improve.
The stakes have never been higher. The United States is the host nation, and the pressure is on to make a good showing. Will Leo and his teammates flame out in the group stage and disappoint their country? Or can Leo become a true leader and bring his team together?
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ABOUT
T.Z. LAYTON
T.Z. Layton is bestselling author Layton Green’s pen name for books aimed at younger readers. The author’s novels have been nominated for many awards, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. The author is also a soccer dad, youth coach, referee, former collegiate player, and lifelong fan of the beautiful game.
CONTACT
For rights, appearances, or other questions, or just to drop T.Z. a line (he is always happy to hear from readers), send a message to tzlaytonbooks@gmail.com or use the form above. (Note: for children under 13, please have an adult help you).
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