This exciting coming of age story follows a boy from a tower block as he joins a premier league football academy. Jackson is surprised when he gets a call-up to play with United's under-eighteen team, and when everyone starts raving about his playing. But he's in for an even bigger shock when his dad turns up on his doorstep for the first time in years. Can they repair their relationship? Or is his dad out for what he can get? Bloomsbury High Low books encourage and support reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories for struggling and reluctant readers, those with dyslexia, or those with English as an additional language. Printed on tinted paper and with a dyslexia friendly font and illustrations, The Football Trials is aimed at readers aged 12+ and has a manageable length (80 pages) and reading age (9+). Produced in association with reading experts at Catch Up, a charity which aims to address underachievement caused by literacy and numeracy difficulties.

A Black boy's transformative day out in nature, recommended by Social Justice Books and We Are Kid Lit Collective Rodney is that kid who just can't sit still. He's inside, but he wants to be outside. Outside is where Rodney always wants to be. Between school and home, there is a park. He knows all about that park. It's that triangle-shaped place with the yellow grass and two benches where grown-ups sit around all day. Besides, his momma said to stay away from that park. When Rodney finally gets a chance to go to a real park, with plenty of room to run and climb and shout, and to just be himself, he will never be the same.

From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin', comes a hilarious and creepy middle grade summer camp story that takes a bite out of fat camp and diet culture. Perfect for fans of Spooky Stories and Starfish. Magnolia "Maggie" Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she's been dying to go to for three whole summers. But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn't going to Camp Rising Star. She's being shipped off to fat camp-and not just any fat camp. She's going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet. When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood-at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost. Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening-especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .

The fifth in a series of perfect pony books full of action and adventure! Georgia is looking forward to a very merry Christmas with Lily, her gorgeous palomino pony. But then Lily is offered a starring role in a film, and the Olympia horse show is approaching. Georgia suddenly has a lot to deal with! With loyal Lily by her side, can she cope with the pressure?

After watching a ninja cartoon, Pedro dreams of being a ninja himself. Luckily, his dad gets him karate lessons. With hard work and a little practice, maybe Pedro can become ninja star, just like thoses he sees at the cinema! A glossary and reading questions make this title a black-belt level book!

When the Checkmates need a new first baseman, Mike Hagin's new friend, Yuri, seems like a logical choice. But when Yuri starts flubbing plays and the team's star player threatens to quit as a result, Mike is not sure Yuri is such a good choice after all—for a teammate or for a friend. It appears as if Mike will have to choose between this friendship with Yuri and his loyalty to the team — or is there another solution?

""With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering, "" announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander ("He Said, She Said" 2013).

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

It was just another day on the BMX street course for Billy Cruz. He lunged down the pipe, rode the ramp high into the air, and tweaked his bike for a perfect Superman -- when suddenly he lost his grip on the seat. Cruz hit the concrete -- hard -- and wound up in the hospital with several broken bones. Six long weeks later, Billy finally got back on his bike. But now, he cant help but hold back a bit on his tricks, and his scores are starting to suffer. To add insult to injury, Billy's best friend, Penny, has been acting strange since the accident . . .

Told over the course of the ten rounds of his first fight, this is the story of amateur boxer Sunny. A seventeen year old feeling isolated and disconnected in the city he's just moved to, Sunny joins a boxing club to learn to protect himself after a racist attack. He finds the community he's been desperately seeking at the club, and a mentor in trainer Shobu, who helps him find his place in the world. But racial tensions are rising in the city, and when a Far Right march through Bristol turns violent, Sunny is faced with losing his new best friend Keir to radicalisation.

A gripping, life-affirming YA novel about friendship, radicalisation and finding where you belong.

Henry uses magic while playing soccer in this second Henry Heckelbeck adventure!

Henry Heckelbeck is just like any other normal kid. He plays soccer. He isn't a huge fan of homework. He even has an older sister, Heidi.

What's not so normal about Henry is his family. His sister and mom are magic.

Not Henry, though...he's just a normal kid. Or is he?

Henry Heckelbeck is excited to start the soccer season. He really wants to be the teams' goalie this year, but there's a new star player on the team, Max Maplethorpe. Is magic the answer to being the MVP on the soccer field, or would using his Book of Spells be cheating? What's a wizard to do?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Henry Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

Soar with the Firebird, dance with the Nutcracker Prince and thrill at the drama of Romeo and Juliet in this beautifully illustrated collection of ballet stories. A delightful gift to enchant and inspire any ballet lover, with twelve stories specially retold for readers today. Includes links to websites with video clips and more about the ballets.