Tom Palmer

Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer. Kian’s best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He can’t understand why Kian’s reluctant as he’s one of the best players on their estate. But a bad experience with a former coach has robbed Kian of all his confidence. He wants to support his friend, but he doesn’t think he can face the pressure of being part of a team again. Can Kian overcome the Fear? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Judy loves her crew, and they love her. She knows that she bringscomfort to the men, making her job very important during these hardtimes. But when her soldiers are taken prisoner and she is separatedfrom her beloved Frank, she must find the strength to keepgoing. She is their only hope.

A funny and heartwarming story about a girl and her pet cat, who becomes a World Cup celebrity! There's a football challenge at Yusra's school and everyone wants to win. Which class can find the best way to predict England's World Cup results? Yusra has an idea – her pet cat Gus could help! As Gus keeps guessing the scores right, the word spreads and soon everyone wants a piece of the famous football cat. But is the life of a celebrity as purrfect as it seems? The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 3 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for fluent readers who are beginning to read exciting, challenging stories independently. Varied sentences Detailed illustrations to enjoy Chapters Interesting characters and themes A rich range of vocabulary More complex storylines to stretch confident readers All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading. Book Band: Lime

När Jack spelar sin första professionella fotbollsmatch borde det ha varit det stoltaste ögonblicket i hans liv. Men året är 1914 och det stora kriget har precis brutit ut. Idrottsmän anklagas för feghet, och snart bildas "Fotbollsbataljonen". Jack har inget annat val än att ta värvning och bege sig till skyttegravarna ...Ingen skriver om fotboll med sådan inlevelse som Tom Palmer. "Bakom linjen" är baserad på en sann historia.

Join Sam as she goes to her first ever football game. This exciting narrative by Tom Palmer follows Sam’s day from beginning to end, describing her journey to the stadium, the football songs she hears and the goals! Collins Big Cat Phonics Progress books are specifically designed for struggling readers, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. This title has a text level of Band 4 / Blue, which provides longer, repeated patterns with sequential events, and an interest level of Band 8 / Purple.Text type: A football storyOn pages 14 to 15, children can recap and discuss the main elements of Sam’s first football game.Curriculum links: P.E.

Lucas is the best in his football team at taking penalties. He never misses – ever. But one day that all changes and Lucas has to learn to deal with his mistake, finding a way of building up his confidence once again … This thought-provoking story was written by Tom Palmer. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading.Text type: A story with a familiar settingCurriculum links: Citizenship, P.E.This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

As he spends his days playing makeshift cricket, Adnan dreams of playing the game professionally for a team. When one of Adnan’s games ends with a damaged car, he fears his chances of practising will be over – his future all depends on what the owner of the car says to his parents … This lovely story was written by Tom Palmer. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading.Text type: A story with a familiar settingCurriculum links: Citizenship; P.E.This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

White Fear is the second must-have title in Tom Palmer's brilliant spy thriller new series The Squad. Perfect for readers of 10+ and all fans of Anthony Horowitz and Robert Muchamore's Cherub.A team of spies. Highly Trained. Super-intelligent. Thirteen years old. . . THEY ARE THE SQUAD.The Squad have been summoned to the deadly and frozen land of the Arctic Circle by the British Prime Minister who has heard of their growing reputation as brilliant young spies. An unknown criminal is trying to hijack a world conference about the precious and much fought-over fuels that lie below the arctic ice. To prevent an international war breaking out, Lily, Lesh, Hatty, Adnan and Kester go undercover to find out who it is and stop them. But the beauty of the icy mountains and deep fjords hide some dangerous secrets and someone will do anything to make sure that the Squad don't discover them . . .Praise for Tom Palmer:'Scores with the precision of a Ronaldo free kick' Sunday TimesAs well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He also teaches annually for the Arvon Foundation, and has travelled around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. He is the bestselling author of Football Academy and The Foul Play series, in which the first book was nominated for the Blue Peter Award, Book that I Can't Put Down.

The Squad - kickass teenage spies with the perfect cover. They are also part of an England youth football team. Wherever trouble is kicking off, the Squad are sent in. They're more than a match for any kind of enemy. In the first book in this exciting new series from Foul Play author Tom Palmer, the Squad are sent to Krakow, Poland just before the Euro 2012 tournament there.

Meet Danny Harte.Football fan and crime detective.Danny loves supporting his local team, City FC. So when everyone starts supporting the Italian team Forza FC, Danny is angry. His club is in jeopardy and needs their support. Danny decides to investigate the sudden popularity of the new team - starting with Forza's billionaire owner - and that's when the danger really kicks off. . . Can Danny uncover the sinister reasons behind Forza's success - and save City at the same time?

In recent months there has been a spate of burglaries at the houses of players from Danny's favourite football club, City FC. Danny wants to know who's behind it all and is on the case. But after scouting out the crime scenes, there are newspaper reports of a young boy having been seen hanging around. Danny needs to find out who's behind these crimes - and fast. If he doesn't, he might have turned from crime detective into the biggest suspect of them all...

When Danny Harte finds out there's been an anonymous foreign buy-out of his favourite club, City, he's furious - the fans were about to buy it themselves. The club is being secretive and Danny is determined to find out what's going on - until he's caught staking out the club by the police and cautioned. His parents are furious, and his friends too. No one is talking to him.But when Danny discovers Adam, a kid from Ghana, dumped by his agent who'd promised him a place as a junior at City, and lost in a foreign country he knows nothing about, Danny realizes there are worse ways of being alone. He decides to take Adam's story to the press - with terrifying consequences for them both . . .

An exciting football series, following the adventures of United's under-twelves side.Since Ryan Flynn got into trouble for bullying, he's been determined to pull his socks up and be the best captain United's ever had. So when team-mate Craig causes problems on - and off - the pitch, Ryan knows he must get to the bottom of it or he'll lose a talented player. But Craig's worries are much bigger than Ryan realized - can he help Craig and stop him from being shown the red card?

The fifth book in the fast-paced Football Academy series.James has been a junior player at United for a long time. Everyone expects him to follow in his dad's footsteps and play for England one day. But James isn't so sure. He has something he wants to do even more than football. Something that means he would have to give up football. The problem is he doesn't want to disappoint his dad. At a tournament in London, where he is pitched against Arsenal and Chelsea players, James finally makes his mind up.

Russian billionaire Dmitri Tupolev and a mystery Englishman agree to fix an important match in Russia's favour by intimidating the England goalie, Alex Finn. But Alex goes against their wishes. His punishment: an 'accidental' car crash and he's out of the return game in Russia. Something is going on with England's replacement goalie, and Danny soon finds himself caught up with the criminals of the footballing underworld. Will he unravel the match-fixing mystery?

Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates.Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he swallow his pride and ask for help before he sidelines himself - for good?

United's under-twelves are in Poland for a tournament. Goal-keeper Tomasz is very excited to be playing in his home country, but team captain Ryan thinks Poland are rubbish - in fact, he thinks everything Polish is rubbish. Ryan's behaviour causes trouble both on and off the pitch. Can Ryan and Tomasz tackle their differences - or will Ryan's bullying foul United's chance of success?

Striking Out: the second book in the Football Academy series by Tom PalmerYunis can't believe that he's United leading scorer. It should be the happiest time of his life, but his father wants him to give up football and work hard at school. Can Yunis convince his dad that he can do both, or will he have to hang up his boots forever?Stay on the ball this season with all the action from Football Academy.As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.Also by Tom Palmer:Football Academy:Boys United; Striking Out; Free Kick; Captain FantasticFoul Play:Foul Play; Killer Pass; Dead Ball; Own Goal; Off SideThe Squad:White Fear; Black Op

Boys United: the first book in the Football Academy series by Tom PalmerJake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! Jake can't wait to pull on his shirt and join the team. But someone at the club wants to make his life difficult. Can Jake face up to the bullies and become man of the match again?Stay on the ball this season with the first four stories following the boys in United's under-twelves.As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.Also by Tom Palmer:Football Academy:Boys United; Striking Out; Free Kick; Captain FantasticFoul Play:Foul Play; Killer Pass; Dead Ball; Own Goal; Off SideThe Squad:White Fear; Black Op