Dive into the exciting world of youth football with The Academy: A Fun-Filled Football Adventure, the inspiring first book in The Academy series by T.Z. Layton. Follow Leo K. Doyle, a talented American footballer with big dreams, as he gets an unexpected chance to try out for the prestigious London Dragons youth squad, known as The Academy. This adventure is perfect for primary school readers and young sports fans navigating competition, new challenges, and facing down bullies.

• Inspiring story about pursuing big dreams in professional football.
• Features Leo K. Doyle's journey from a small US town to trying out for a world-famous Premier League youth squad.
• Addresses themes of competition, facing a bully, and overcoming a lack of formal training.
• Book 1 in The Academy series by T.Z. Layton.
• Ideal for young readers aged 9 - 11 years.

Leo K. Doyle dreams of rock-star status and Olympic gold through football, but lacks formal training. His life changes when a scout invites him to try out for The Academy, the youth squad of the London Dragons. Moving to a new country for the intense competition—where only eleven players out of two hundred will make the team—Leo must contend with a determined bully, a difficult roommate, a terrifying camp director, and his own fears. This book chronicles his summer experience, where he becomes a much better player and is forever changed.

• Author: T.Z. Layton
• Series: The Academy (Book 1 of 6)
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Publication Date: September 23, 2025
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Reading Age: 9 - 11 years
• ISBN-10: 1464268797
• ISBN-13: 978-1464268793
• Dimensions: 129 x 24 x 198mm
• Weight: 244 g

Get ready for a humorous, action-packed sports adventure that chronicles Leo's quest to prove he has what it takes to make The Academy.