1
of
1
The Fear
Brief Description
Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer. Kian’s best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He can’t understand why...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK
Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock
Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Fear. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.
Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer.
(DYslexia-friendly)
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
Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer.
Kian’s best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He can’t understand why Kian’s reluctant as he’s one of the best players on their estate.
But a bad experience with a former coach has robbed Kian of all his confidence. He wants to support his friend, but he doesn’t think he can face the pressure of being part of a team again.
Can Kian overcome The Fear?
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780008695705
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 11 September 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Illustration: 16 b/w, illus
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Robin Boyden
Audience: Children, Teenage
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 5.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 220g
Pages: 72
About the Author
Tom Palmer was a reluctant reader as a child and credits articles about football with getting him into reading. He is now the multi-award-winning author of many books for young readers, including the Young Quills Award winner After the War and FCBG Children's Book Award winners Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019 Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust's Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his significant contribution to literacy work in the UK. Robin Boyden is the author-illustrator of Gerald Needs a Friend and the illustrator of numerous bestselling middle grade and non-fiction books for children, including the My Brother Is a Superhero series by David Solomons, Leah Williamson's The Wonder Team series, and the Dr Who Team TARDIS Diaries. He lives with his family in Cheltenham.
Also by Tom Palmer
View all-
After the War
Master storyteller Tom Palmer returns with a deeply moving and beautifully told novel of friendship and belonging, inspired by the incredible true story of the Windermere Boys. The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocaust – Tim Robertson, CEO Anne Frank Trust Summer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo, and Mordecai are...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Angel of Grasmere
Tarn grapples with the loss of her brother at Dunkirk as she faces the threat of Nazi invasion in the Cumbrian countryside in this gripping wartime tale from Tom Palmer. July 1940 – as Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk, she and her friends...Paperback$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Arctic Star
Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer returns with a thrilling naval adventure inspired by the incredible history of the Second World War Arctic convoys. Arctic Star is set in Winter 1943. Teenagers Frank, Joseph, and Stephen are Royal Navy recruits on their first mission at sea during the Second World War. Their ship is part of an Arctic Convoy sailing to Russia...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Armistice Runner
Tom Palmer celebrates the unsung athletic heroes of the Armistice in a powerful tale of the fell-running messengers on the front-line of war. Armistice Runner follows Lily, a young girl with a lot on her mind. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, even more worrying, she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. Amidst these challenges, Lily finds her...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
D-Day Dog
Master storyteller Tom Palmer returns with a touching celebration of the heroic paratroopers of WWII and their parachuting canine companions. Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more about the war heroes he has always admired – brave men like his dad, who is a reserve soldier. But when his...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Resist
Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on life under wartime occupation, in a beautifully told story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn. As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat,...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Over the Line
Tom Palmer’s bestselling WWI novel, based on the true story of war hero and footballing legend Jack Cock. Over the Line captures the proudest moment of Jack's life – his debut as a professional footballer. Now he has a chance to achieve his dream of playing for his country. But it's 1914 and the world is at war. Talk of...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Football's Greatest Moments (Ultimate Football Heroes - The No.1 football series): Collect Them All!
From the invention of the modern sport all the way to the present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks one hundred of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, and players from more than 150 years of the Beautiful Game. Featuring Pelé's World Cup, Maradona's Hand of God, John Barnes' Maracanã magic, and the Lionesses' European Championship...Paperback$1699Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
Spitfire
Football meets fantasy in this second title of Tom Palmer's action-packed Wings trilogy. Greg's fed up with playing in goal. He reckons things only happen to you there. The other players get to make them happen. The summer school isn't turning out how he'd hoped at all.The old airfield next to the school freaks Greg out … but when he...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Ultimate Football Heroes Generations: Liverpool's Greatest Moments
From the founding of the club in 1892 to present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks ONE HUNDRED of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, players and moments from more than 130 years of The Reds. Featuring the 2022 FA Cup win, the 2005 Miracle of Istanbul, Liverpool's first division title in 1947, the 2006 "Gerrard...Paperback$1699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Rugby Academy
Dive into the world of rugby in this action-packed, globe-trotting sports adventure from top-selling author Tom Palmer. Rugby Academy follows the journey of Borderlands First XV as they strive to become the best school rugby team in the world. While the boys focus on their matches, many of their parents are serving overseas in the armed forces, causing them concern...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
War Dog
War Dog tells the inspiring story of Judy, a dog who loves her crew, and they love her. She knows that she brings comfort to the men, making her job very important during these hard times. But when her soldiers are taken prisoner and she is separated from her beloved Frank, she must find the strength to keep going. She...Paperback$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
More from Young Adult
View all-
New ReleaseSong of the Saltings
On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion. Now...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseTell Me with Kisses
From New York Times bestselling author and Wattpad sensation Mercedes Ron comes the English translation of the third in the Tell Me series, where Kamila Hamilton is caught between the two Di Bianco brothers after they burst back into her life. From New York Times bestselling author and Wattpad sensation Mercedes Ron comes the English translation of the third in...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Release Me
The searing second volume in a new series set in the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment. Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. Now she wants revenge. To save her sister she needs to get back home and destroy the system that created her. Rosabelle’s greatest strength is her ability to deaden her...$2200Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Language of Dragons
The most exciting debut of 2025 – an incredible fantasy Dark Academia, perfect for fans of Babel, Fourth Wing, and the Scholomance trilogy. EVERY FIRE STARTS WITH A SINGLE SPARK. Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules,...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Shatter Me: Shatter Me series 1
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is a gripping dystopian novel that plunges readers into a world where society is on the brink of collapse. At the heart of this chaos is Juliette, a 17-year-old girl with a fatal touch—literally. For 264 days, Juliette has been imprisoned in solitary confinement, her only crime being an accidental touch that resulted in death....Paperback$2200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Cozy Corner
Relax and unwind with this adorable colouring book – it’s time to get cozy! Step into a world of calm and comfort with Cozy Corner, featuring 45 beautiful hand-drawn pages ready for you to colour in. Settle into your very own cozy corner with these brand new colouring pages! This follow-up to Coco Wyo's beloved Little Corner promises a new...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch (a Phoenix Comic Book): the instant number one bestselling book from Jamie Smart, Illustrator of the Year
When Bunny, Monkey and friends discover a glitch in reality, life gets even crazier than normal: Bunny declares himself The Woods' Magical Protector, Pig becomes a superspy, plus there's complete metal Monkey mayhem! Experience the laughs and chaos in Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch (a Phoenix Comic Book), the instant number one bestselling book from Jamie Smart, Illustrator...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is now a major new TV series on Amazon Prime! If you loved The Kissing Booth and Jenny Han's smash-hit Netflix movie series To All the Boys I Loved Before, then you'll adore this gorgeously funny, romantic story! Everything that happened this past summer, and every summer before it, has all led up to this....Paperback$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is the New York Times No.1 bestselling YA crime thriller that has captivated readers globally. Now adapted into a major BBC series, this intricately plotted and intensely gripping novel is being lauded as a modern classic in young adult literature. Pippa Fitz-Amobi, an intelligent and determined high school student, is looking...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Powerless
OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD! THE INSTANT NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON. ‘Nothing short of epic’ - Rosie Talbot, bestselling author of Sixteen Souls ‘A thrilling fantasy with the most delicious slow-burn romance’ - M.A. Kuzniar, bestselling author of Midnight in Everwood ‘[A] titillating debut’ - Publishers Weekly ‘A masterpiece’ - Goodreads Reader Review ‘Everyone needs to read it’ -...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Free Gift
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Louise Rennison for the Dork Diaries generation - hilarious, relatable and full of heart. The first book in the hilarious new series for children by the bestselling creator of Hurrah For Gin. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks follows Lottie Brooks, who is 11 and feels like her life is already officially over. Not only is she about to...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Free Gift
Lottie Brooks's Totally Disastrous School-Trip
The fourth book in this hilarious bestselling series full of friendship, family, and first experiences from the creator of Hurrah for Gin. Lottie Brooks's Totally Disastrous School-Trip continues to navigate the many perils of growing up in this fantastically funny illustrated series for a 9-12 audience, filled with friendship, embarrassing moments, and plenty of lols. Woe is me. So much...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Young Adult lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listYoung Adult
Emily's YA Recommendations
The amazing Emily visited Book Hero and made a list of some of her favourite reads - perfect for ages 12 and...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listYoung Adult
Lizzy's Favourite Young Adult Romance
In this list there really is a bit of everything - coming of age stories, magical stories about enemies to lovers, boarding...View the list
