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The Academy
A Fun-Filled Football Adventure (The Academy Series Book 1)
Series: The Academy
Brief Description
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle brings his soccer ‘A’ game everywhere he goes...even abroad! Born and raised in a small town, 12-year-old Leo has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane…but he knows his soccer dreams will take...
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The Academy
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Description
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle brings his soccer ‘A’ game everywhere he goes...even abroad!
Born and raised in a small town, 12-year-old Leo has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane…but he knows his soccer dreams will take him far. Rock star, Olympic goal, dragon-slaying kind of far, with his pet lizard named Messi by his side.
So when a professional scout extends an invitation to try out for the London Dragons youth squad, The Academy for training younger players, Leo is more than game. But the world-famous English Premier League team only has eleven slots open...
And two hundred of the best and brightest youth players on the planet ready to compete.
Whisked off to a new country, Leo struggles to dodge and dribble his way through the gruelling training regime set by a cranky camp director who doesn’t want to hear about Leo’s recluse roommate or relentless camp bully...but it’s fine. Leo is here for soccer, the one thing he knows he is good at. But will he be good enough to make The Academy?
For premier fans and soccer enthusiasts, T.Z. Layton’s inspiring first book in The Academy Series is perfect for middle grade readers and sports fans ages 7-13.
Keep Score with the other books in The Academy series:
- The Academy II: The Journey Continues
Series: The Academy
View all-
The Academy
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle brings his soccer ‘A’ game everywhere he goes...even abroad! Born and raised in a small town, 12-year-old Leo has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane…but he knows his soccer dreams will take him far. Rock star, Olympic goal, dragon-slaying kind of far, with his pet lizard...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Academy II: The Journey Continues
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle brings his soccer skills and sports savvy to all that he does…even riding the bench. Leo 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...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early August -
The Academy IV: Title Fight
From the playground to the Premier League, Leo K. Doyle knows how to keep calm and play ball...even when faced with his biggest challenge yet—the London Dragons. 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...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early August -
The Academy III: Tournament of Champions
From the playground to the Premier League, Leo K. Doyle is a football star in the UK... but a football wannabe in the highly competitive, international Tournament of Champions. Leo tries to lead his team to glory in some of the most exciting, high-stakes football in the world! Last season, Leo and his teammates saved the Lewisham Knights... only to...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Academy V: Cup of Nations
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle has dodged and dribbled his way to football stardom...but is he prepared to represent his country at the Cup of Nations? Leo has become a star in the Youth Premier League and one of the brightest young players in the world. But he faces his greatest challenge yet when he...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Academy VI: Rise of the Scorpions
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle has always had a great first touch... but what about his first crush? Or first time encountering a team as feared as the Southwark Scorpions? Fresh off his success with the junior national football team, Leo K. Doyle is back in England and playing for the U16s, where he'll be...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781464268793
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 23 September 2025
Country: United States
Imprint: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 244g
Pages: 352
About the Author
T.Z. LAYTON is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Academy series, which has been optioned for film and sold translation rights around the world. The author writes adult fiction under Layton Green and is also a soccer dad, youth coach, former collegiate player, and lifelong fan of the beautiful game.
Also by T.Z. Layton
View all-
The Academy II: The Journey Continues
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle brings his soccer skills and sports savvy to all that he does…even riding the bench. Leo 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...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early August -
The Academy IV: Title Fight
From the playground to the Premier League, Leo K. Doyle knows how to keep calm and play ball...even when faced with his biggest challenge yet—the London Dragons. 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...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early August -
The Academy III: Tournament of Champions
From the playground to the Premier League, Leo K. Doyle is a football star in the UK... but a football wannabe in the highly competitive, international Tournament of Champions. Leo tries to lead his team to glory in some of the most exciting, high-stakes football in the world! Last season, Leo and his teammates saved the Lewisham Knights... only to...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Academy V: Cup of Nations
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle has dodged and dribbled his way to football stardom...but is he prepared to represent his country at the Cup of Nations? Leo has become a star in the Youth Premier League and one of the brightest young players in the world. But he faces his greatest challenge yet when he...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Academy
FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE. Now a New York Times bestselling series! The inspiring, action-packed first book, perfect for young readers aged 7-13 and sports fans of all ages. Born and raised in a small town, twelve-year-old Leo K. Doyle has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane. But Leo is a star soccer player...Paperback$3500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The Academy II: The Journey Continues
Now a New York Times bestselling series! 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...Paperback$3500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The Academy IV: Title Fight
Now a New York Times bestselling series! 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...Paperback$3500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The Academy VI: Rise of the Scorpions
From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle has always had a great first touch... but what about his first crush? Or first time encountering a team as feared as the Southwark Scorpions? Fresh off his success with the junior national football team, Leo K. Doyle is back in England and playing for the U16s, where he'll be...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August
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