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The Academy

A Fun-Filled Football Adventure (The Academy Series Book 1)
By T.Z. Layton
Series: The Academy
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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... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1799
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Academy VI: Rise of the Scorpions
    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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

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

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Best Selling Books Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational In Stock Books In stock Children's Books In Stock Kid's Books Penguin Books Series: The Academy T.Z. Layton Young Adult

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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships 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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Academy VI: Rise of the Scorpions
    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...
    By T.Z. Layton
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

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