By Venessa Taylor (author) , Kenneth Ghann (illustrator) Part of the Baller Boys series
"Energetic, inclusive, and emotionally engaging, this action-packed story is a top of the league triumph for footie fans"
Paperback In Stock £6.99 £6.29
View All Editions (1)
Centred on the character-driven adventures of All Cultures United football club, Venessa Taylor‘s Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers is a highly readable footie-focussed romp with real-life resonance. In this case, an overarching theme of learning to embrace change.
The series centres on best mates Shay and Frankie. While they’re thrilled to be back for another season with AC United, unsettling change is afoot. First-up, Shay is worried he’ll lose his place to a new member of the team, the hugely talented Ashleigh: “And just like that AC, an all-boys team, now had a girl.
And not just any girl because Ashleigh was a very talented footballer”. At the same time, Frankie fears his family’s plans to move house will mean he’ll have to leave the team, and it looks like AC United’s ground is at risk of being sold.
With exhilarating in-play accounts of football matches (the energy, the action, the thrill of chances taken, and the blow of missed opportunities), and relatable team dynamics, Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers also takes in family life and community life, alongside emotional and environmental issues.
Best friends Shay and Frankie, and their team AC United, are back for another football season, another year older, and eager for a win... The duo soon realise that nothing ever stays the same, and change is a part of life whether they like it or not - both on and off the pitch.
Read the full description
With new team members, the threat of losing their precious home turf, and changes afoot in their family lives too, can the boys work together to stay on track... and keep winning? And, of course, who will be crowned Baller Boy this season?
Baller Boys is about more than football, it's about people. Young people and their possibilities. Venessa Taylor has a fresh, unique approach to writing. She is a true creative. Every character is whole. - Benjamin Zephaniah
Venessa Taylor brings two decades of experience as an inner-city primary school teacher and assistant headteacher to the creation of the Baller Boys series. Aimed at encouraging young boys to find pleasure in reading, the football-themed stories are written with young readers in mind.
Born and raised in London, Venessa continues her legacy as a literacy lead in schools through her creative writing. One of her proudest career achievements was raising the standards of reading, literary engagement and attainment across the school with a focus of engaging boys and reluctant readers. Venessa researched and identified what students would respond best to in terms of content, characters and setting. She soon realised that what the boys wanted to read about was not readily available, so took the challenge upon herself to inspire and encourage more young people - boys in particular - to read. Venessa wrote the Baller Boys series to empower young readers, to reflect the diversity football brings in a community, and showcase different families, lives and challenges. Venessa continues to be inspired daily by her grandsons. The stories are dedicated to her son-in-law, 'Coach Reece', who died suddenly in 2017 - Reece Darcheville and his wife (Venessa's daughter) Shenna, were an integral part of the development of the story ideas, plot lines and characters. With her family's input and insight from the children she has taught over the years, Venessa is proud to have crafted an authentic, original, inclusive series that she hopes all young readers will enjoy - in and out of school! Venessa lives in Essex and is an ambassador for various leukaemia and cancer charities. Venessa was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016 and is in remission despite being unable to find a donor.
Find Venessa on Instgram @ballerboysbooks
30+ Middle Grade Fiction Books for Kids who love Sport
The Reading Agency launches the Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge Book Collection
Industry Insights: Hashtag Press
the best books for 9-12 year olds
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Football , Children’s / Teenage general interest: Ball games and sports, Sports, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Sporting Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Stories about Family and Friends, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback. £6.29, down from the £6.99 cover price. In Stock.
Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers was written by Venessa Taylor and published by Hashtag Press
Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers has 160 pages
Yes it is part of Baller Boys series
£6.29, reduced from £6.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.