The Academy
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FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
Now a New York Times bestselling series! The inspiring, action-packed first book, perfect for young readers 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 with big dreams in life.
Rock star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.
While 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.
Leo 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.
Eleven out of two hundred of the very best twelve-year-old players on the planet.
Along 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.
By 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?
Keep score with the other books in The Academy series:
The Academy II: The Journey ContinuesThe Academy III: Tournament of ChampionsThe Academy IV: Title FightThe Academy V: Cup of Nations
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Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,855
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,228
4.9 out of 5 stars 901
4.9 out of 5 stars 949
4.9 out of 5 stars 600
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Read more of Leo’s soccer journey in the award-winning Middle Grade series from T.Z. Layton!
Meet Leo, who loves soccer, pizza, and FIFA. When he gets an opportunity to try out for the Youth Premier League, will the grueling trainings, player competition, and high stakes soccer prove too much for Leo? Journey alongside Leo as he joins the Lewisham Knights: the worst ranked team in the Youth Premier League. Between his cranky coach and new teammates, can Leo find his place and help the Knights? Travel with Leo around Europe as his team competes in the tournament of a lifetime! But will a new coach, terrible team chemistry, and a double-crossing teammate ruin the Knights’ chances of winning the title? Cheer Leo on as the Knights prepare to take on the Dragons! But before Leo faces the league’s top team, he’ll have to navigate a whole new set of teammates and a setback that could end his soccer career. Return with Leo to the States to represent his country on the USA junior national team! With little time to mesh and everyone expecting the worst from team USA, will Leo be able to pull his squad together for the Cup of Nations?
Publisher : Sourcebooks Young Readers
Publication date : September 2, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 146426709X
ISBN-13 : 978-1464267093
Item Weight : 1.01 pounds
Reading age : 8 – 10 years, from customers
Dimensions : 5.75 x 1.01 x 8.75 inches
Book 1 of 6 : The Academy
Grade level : 2 – 8
Best Sellers Rank: #6,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Children’s New Experiences Books #1 in Children’s Soccer Books (Books) #1 in Children’s Travel Books (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,855) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
SBeloroza –
very relatable
I bought it for my 12 y.o. and I asked him to review, that’s what he wrote:The Academy I“So, I just finished reading The Academy I by T.Z. Layton, and honestly, it’s such a solid start to the series! The story follows Leo, this talented but kind of raw soccer player, as he joins a super competitive academy. What I loved most is how relatable his struggles are—balancing his dreams, self-doubt, and those intense rivalries with his teammates.The soccer scenes are written so well, whether you’re into the sport or not, and the relationships feel super real. It’s not just about the game but also about personal growth, and that’s what kept me hooked.The pacing slows down in a few spots, but by the time I hit the cliffhanger at the end, I was ready to jump straight into the next book. If you love sports fiction or just a good story, this one’s worth checking out!”
JP Hawkins –
A Goal-Score for Young Soccer Fans!
As a parent, finding a book that captures my son’s attention is a rare and wonderful thing, and “The Academy” by T.Z. Layton has done just that! My son, an avid soccer player, was immediately drawn into the world of a young American boy navigating the challenges of an English professional soccer academy. The detailed soccer play, combined with a relatable and compelling main character, kept him turning pages eagerly.What impressed me most was how the book balanced technical soccer terms with a storyline that was accessible and engaging. Yes, there are many characters and soccer jargon, but my son found this added to the realism and excitement. The secondary plot, including a subtle love interest, was a nice touch that added depth without overwhelming the main story.This book is not just for young readers; I found myself enjoying the story too, making it a great shared reading experience. It’s well-written, informative, and perfectly pitched for young sports enthusiasts. I highly recommend “The Academy” for young readers, especially those with a passion for soccer. It’s a game-changer in YA sports fiction!
Antoni Luc –
A great story and as positive message!
Read this book with my young soccer player and enjoyed the fast paced narrative and the positive message of perseverance and determination in working towards a goal.
MissGMWC –
Not just a book about soccer
Leo is the best soccer player on his local team. He lives in small-town Ohio but has always dreamed of playing somewhere else, somewhere bigger. He has a legend’s name for goodness sake. During one of his games, a professional scout catches some of his moves and extends an invitation to try out for The Academy, a feeder to one of the best youth squads the London Dragons. As he travels across the ocean for the first time, he is faced with other kids who are also the best on their team. Many have more training. Most have more confidence. But Leo may have the most heart. Will heart, new friendships, and a fast-speed approach to learning everything he can about professional soccer be enough to land him a spot on the Academy?As a soccer fan, I picked this book up a few times and then put it back down. I really wanted to read it with one or both of my boys who recently started playing club soccer, and when I couldn’t convince either of them, I went ahead on my own. I am so glad I did. I loved reading about Leo and his journey to London. While making the team was his goal, I loved all of the other things that happened while he grew as a soccer player. As a reader, I enjoyed the character development, especially reading as Leo learns more about himself every step of the way. The only reason I did not give the book five stars was due to the technical aspect of the book. Personally, I loved all of the soccer theory and verbiage, but I fear it could turn off some readers who may not know enough to understand it. Regardless, it is an excellent middle grade book, especially for soccer players and reluctant readers.
Megan Dean –
A heartwarming, relatable story that got my son hooked on reading!
I started reading The Academy with my son, and we were both instantly drawn in. It’s such a heartwarming story — full of meaningful lessons about confidence, teamwork, worry, and friendship. Even though it centers around soccer, the messages translate perfectly to any sport (and really, to life).What surprised me most was how much I loved it too! We started out reading a few chapters together each night, and it sparked so many great conversations. Before long, he was so into it that he started taking it to school to read ahead without me — bittersweet, but definitely a proud mom moment!If you’re looking for a story to share with your child that’s both engaging and full of heart, I can’t recommend The Academy enough. My son has already finished book one, we just started book two, and we’ve pre-ordered the next two coming in 2026. We’re hooked!
Donna s. –
Good book for 10 year olds
My grandson likes this series.
Jennifer Amoroso –
AMAZING SERIES!!!! Written so well for a soccer lover!
I constantly search for books my 9 year old will have a great interest in and him being a soccer lover I gave this book a try and I was actually blown away at how good it is! We are now starting book 3 of the series and I enjoy it just as much as him! Get this series for your young, preteen or teen who loves the game and they will be excited about reading. So well written and the play by plays are so detailed! It also gives great sports and life lessons throughout. I need this author to write more series for sure! 1000000% recommend!!
fingersmazda –
Well written, engaging, encouraging. Dad genuinely enjoys it as much as his 10 year old son.
Incredibly engaging. Clearly written by a “writer” that has created a captivating story, and not somebody who has a story but can’t write (as I’m surprised to find is often the case with books for young people). My 10 year old soccer playing son loves it; I love it. We’re both always eager to read more to see what’s going to happen to our main-man, Leo. It’s also good motivation – not heavy handed, but I do appreciate the time given to the difficulty and effort required of Leo to meet his goals. Get’s my son thinking about such things, which I appreciate. Can’t recommend enough.
Amazon Customer –
My kid enjoyed the read
Leandro –
Muy buen estado, a mi hijo le está gustando mucho la historia.
Doc –
A must read for all the budding football teens
Dash –
My son loves it 10 yo and he is waiting for the 6th book. in the meantime he asks for more and more like these stories
Roosvelt H. –
A mi niño lo atrapó desde el inicio, le gustó muchísimo este libro