{"product_id":"the-academy-academy-1","title":"The Academy (Academy #1)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNow a \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling series! The inspiring, action-packed first book, perfect for young readers 7-13 and sports fans of all ages. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Young readers continue reading this series, asking for the next one and the one after that...Equally important, this series fills a gap in middle grade literature: action filled, fast-paced sports novels featuring young players.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e -- Maria Salvadore, Politics \u0026amp; Prose (Washington, DC)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn 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 with big dreams in life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRock star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Leo longs to make the pros one day, he has no idea how to achieve this goal--until a professional scout pays a chance visit to one of Leo's games and extends an invitation to try out for the London Dragons youth squad, known as the Academy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeo is stunned. The London Dragons isn't just any old soccer team. It's a world-famous English Premier League team. Soon Leo is off to a whole new country, embarking on the greatest adventure of his life. The downside? Only eleven players can make the team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleven out of two hundred of the very best twelve-year-old players on the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlong with the grueling competition, Leo must also face a bully intent on torpedoing his summer, a roomie who doesn't know how to have fun, a terrifying camp director, and, most of all, Leo's own lack of formal training and the fear he'll never succeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the summer, Leo will become a much better player and forever changed by his experience. But will he be good enough to make the Academy?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT.Z. LAYTON\u003c\/strong\u003e is the New York Times bestselling author of the 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T. Z. Layton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51133344973085,"sku":"9781464267109","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0821\/9095\/8877\/files\/9781464267109.jpg?v=1775758516","url":"https:\/\/staging.anovelideaphilly.com\/products\/the-academy-academy-1","provider":"A Novel Idea on Passyunk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}