The Academy II: The Journey Continues
Original price was: $9.99.$6.72Current price is: $6.72.
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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 if they don’t improve this year, the owner will disband the team, which could jeopardize Leo’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Leo also has to keep up with his schoolwork, make brand new friends in a foreign country, deal with a coach who doesn’t seem to like him, and survive away from home for a demanding season in the Youth Premier League.
Leo believes he has the talent to help his team, but can he juggle all these balls and prove himself on the world’s biggest stage?
The inspiring, action-packed second book in The Academy series is perfect for young readers 7-13 and for sports fans of all ages.
Keep score with the other books in The Academy series:
The Academy The 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 1,857
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,230
4.9 out of 5 stars 903
4.9 out of 5 stars 949
4.9 out of 5 stars 601
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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 : 296 pages
ISBN-10 : 1464267146
ISBN-13 : 978-1464267147
Item Weight : 11.9 ounces
Reading age : 9 – 11 years, from customers
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.74 x 8.5 inches
Book 2 of 6 : The Academy
Grade level : 2 – 8
Best Sellers Rank: #2,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3 in Children’s Soccer Books (Books) #5 in Children’s Travel Books (Books) #8 in Children’s New Experiences Books
Customer Reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,230) 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); } }); });
13 reviews for The Academy II: The Journey Continues
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Original price was: $9.99.$6.72Current price is: $6.72.
Meagan McGrew –
Great books for 9-12 year olds!
My son loves this series! We can’t wait for the next book to come out.
Rosalie B. –
Great book
Great book. My 9 year old son loved it.
Katherine Kelly –
Great book
Great book. My eight year old loves this series and it helped him transition from graphic novels to reading. We read the first book with him and he is now reading the second book to himself.
SBeloroza –
even better than Academy I
After first book my son asked to get him second one of the series. Here is his review:The Academy II“Okay, so The Academy II even better than the first! T.Z. Layton really built up this one. Leo is back, and you can see how much he’s grown—not just as a player but as a leader. The stakes feel so much higher in this book, and the soccer matches are intense. Like, I could practically hear the crowd and feel the tension during those big moments.What really hit me was how much heart the story has. It’s not just about winning games; it’s about loyalty, teamwork, and resilience. Plus, the new characters and team dynamics bring a fresh energy to the series.If you liked The Academy I, you’re gonna love this sequel. It’s fast-paced, emotional, and just an all-around great read. Highly recommend it!”
L R Wasson –
Big hit!
Bought the first three books of the series for my 9yo soccer addict, who is also an avid reader. He LOVED them. Blazed through them and couldn’t wait to get the rest of the books. Even shared them with his other book-loving teammates.
meghan –
Read it! HAT TRICK by T.Z. Layton
I want to call it a slam dunk but this 3 part series is more appropriately applauded as a hat trick! We are through the first 2 books and my 8/9 & 10/11 y.o.s have hung on every word. It has been a really great experience to share with them. There is a lot of detailed (and sometimes) technical description of plays throughout which my footballers ate it up but might be dry if you aren’t passionate about the game. But the characters and storyline will keep you reading regardless. Sometimes I would pause and re-read trying to imagine each interaction in a play and my boys would get impatient and just takeover reading where I left off, their imaginations steps ahead of mine. With such an army of young footballers/readers in most countries around the world Layton has nailed a gap in the market. Now if he could only churn them out every month or call on his literary friends to join him in youth soccer fiction. We need more of this great writing to keep these footballers reading!
JP Hawkins –
A Thrilling Sequel That Scores Again!
“The Academy II: The Journey Continues” by T.Z. Layton is an absolute page-turner and a worthy sequel to the first book. My son, who is a soccer enthusiast, was captivated by the journey of Leo K. Doyle, a small-town kid from Ohio, as he navigates the challenges of a Premier League youth squad. Despite being on the underperforming U14 Lewisham Knights, Leo’s unwavering determination and passion for soccer shine through.This book beautifully portrays Leo’s struggles, not just on the field but also in his personal life – balancing schoolwork, making new friends in a foreign country, and dealing with a tough coach. The way Leo juggles these challenges while trying to save his team and pursue his dream of becoming a professional player is inspiring.What makes this sequel stand out is its ability to maintain suspense and excitement while exploring deeper themes like teamwork, perseverance, and the importance of believing in oneself. It’s a must-read for young sports fans, and I found it to be a fantastic way to engage with my son about following dreams and overcoming obstacles. Highly recommended for its engaging narrative and meaningful lessons.
LizStacie –
Fun for young soccer players
My young soccer player loves this series!
David Crockett –
My 10-year-old son read this and loves it after reading the first edition. Great for a 10-year-old that’s into his soccer
Breezles –
We loved the first book, and the second book in the series did not disappoint. T. Z. Layton has crafted great characters, ones you really want to spend time with and has mastered writing in a way that captures the thrill and surprises of a football match. He has clearly done his research (Nandos was a beautiful touch). My son (9) and I have cheered, screamed, laughed, and cried throughout the book. Additionally, my son loves the football, training, the fun things that happen to the kids and their camaraderie. As a parent, I like that there are so many great life lessons and un-laboured morals woven in – the highs and lows of our human experience. It’s touching, joyous, pacy and football-packed!
Lynda –
Great read for the soccer fans.
Chitwan –
This product is not original. The paper is white while the original books have yellow paper. The text looks like a photocopy.
Marlies –
Excellent read! My 3 kids (7y – 13y) and I really enjoyed reading series 1-3 and are so much looking forward to the release of book no. 4. We just can’t stop reading about Leo’s exciting football adventures.