By Mitch Johnson (author)
"Impeccably researched and vividly portrayed, this award winning debut will really make your aspiring football stars think about wider global issues and the reality of other lives"
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Shortlisted for the UKLA Book Awards 2019 | Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2018
Like lots of kids in this country, Budi lives for football, training with his friends whenever he can, following his team with a passion and dreaming about playing at the top level. But Budi lives in Jakarta and works ten hours a day making the football boots his sporting heroes wear, and earning just pennies for doing it.
The descriptions of his working conditions will shock readers, but Budi’s acceptance of them as inevitable is almost more upsetting. Lively, funny, always optimistic, Budi will win readers’ hearts and his positivity ensures the book remains an accessible page-turner even as his life gets very bleak indeed.
A vividly told story that has lots to say about the world, and the importance of hope and fate, represented here by Real Madrid.
Budi's plan is simple. He's going to be a star. Budi's going to play for the greatest team on earth, instead of sweating over each stitch he sews, each football boot he makes.
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But one unlucky kick brings Budi's world crashing down. Now he owes the Dragon, the most dangerous man in Jakarta. Soon it isn't only Budi's dreams at stake, but his life.
A story about dreaming big, about hope and heroes, and never letting anything stand in your way.
After graduating from the University of East Anglia with an award-winning first class degree in English Literature with Creative Writing, Mitch completed Kick, his debut novel for middle grade readers. He was inspired to write it while working in a sports shop where he discovered a discarded, crumpled drinks sachet left in a shoebox between a brand-new pair of football boots. Mitch now works as a bookseller at Waterstones, Norwich, and writes in his spare time.
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UKLA Book Awards - 2019
Eoin Colfer and 1 more
The Squad: White Fear
Brilliant book for the ages of 10-13 years old. It's about a boy called Budi who loves football and who dreams of becoming a football star. Fantastic book and great ways to hook a reader because I am loving it! Defo worth a read
So I have read 116 pages of this book and already feel the need to do a book review! If you are between the ages of 10-13 years old and like sports this is the book for you. It's about a boy called Budi who dreams of becoming a football star. Mitch Johnson has created a really good book that I'm getting through very quickly because I'm loving it so much.... Read Full Review
Budi's plan is simple. He's going to be a star.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Kick and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-12 years old
Kick features in the following genres: Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Football , Children’s / Teenage general interest: Ball games and sports, Sports, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Gritty Reads, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Sporting Stories, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Ebook, Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Kick was written by Mitch Johnson and published by Usborne Publishing Ltd
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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