Love it, or hate it, football has been on many minds and in many hearts over the last few weeks. Here are a few books written about the beautiful game
'Keeper' - Mal Peet
In a newspaper office, Paul Faustino, South America's top football writer, sits opposite the man they call El Gato "the Cat", the world's greatest goalkeeper. On the table between them stands the World Cup. In the hours that follow, El Gato tells his incredible story of how he, a poor logger's son, learns to become a World Cup-winning goalkeeper so good he is almost unbeatable. And the most remarkable part of this story is the man who teaches him: the mysterious Keeper, who haunts a football pitch at the heart of the claustrophobic rainforest... (And if you like this football novel, then know that Peet has written two others).
'Jaz Santos vs. the World' - Priscilla Mante
Olá! I'm Jasmina Santos-Campbell (but you can call me Jaz). You've probably heard of me and my football team the Bramrock Stars before. No? Well, you will soon because we're almost famous! Forming the Stars was my genius idea - you see I need to prove to Mãe (that's my mum!) that I'm a football star so she'll want to come back home. The idea was the easy part, though. Now I've got a team of seven very different girls and we need to work together, to be taken seriously as footballers. We are the DREAM TEAM and we're going to show the world that girls CAN play football!
Shortlisted for The Children's Sports Book of the Year 2022
'Lioness: My Journey to Glory' - Beth Mead
Beth Mead is one of the world's most talented female footballers - Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Euros 2022, Arsenal Player of the Season 2021-22, and nominee for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. But long before this, Beth was just an ordinary kid from Hinderwell, North Yorkshire who wanted to play football.
From being placed in the local boys' team as a child because her mum wanted her to run off her boundless energy, to joining Middlesborough FC's academy and making her professional debut at Sunderland, Beth and women's football have come a long way.
Now, Beth shares the challenges that shaped her, what she faced on the journey to the top, and the life events that made her stronger. Filled with positive life lessons and an exclusive account of England's Euros campaign, Beth offers readers of all ages the tools to be confident, brave, and resilient.
Empowering, inspirational, and honest, this is Beth's story.
'You Can Do It' - Marcus Rashford
Marcus uses the power of his voice to shine a light on the injustices that he cares passionately about, and now he wants to help YOU find the power in yours! From surrounding yourself with the right team, to showing kindness to those around you, to celebrating and championing difference, You Can Do It shows you that your voice really does matter and that you can do anything you put your mind to. You don't have to be an International footballer to make a difference - even the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.
Packed with more inspiring stories from Marcus's own life, brilliant advice, and top-tips from social justice educator Shannon Weber, this book will show you how to use your voice and make a difference in this world.
'Anything is Possible' - Gareth Southgate
In this hugely positive and helpful book, Gareth gives YOU the tools to be confident, resilient and to overcome your own challenges for your exciting journey ahead, wherever it takes you.
'Billy the Kid' - Michael Morpurgo
Billy was a champion soccer star, playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out… Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man, who looks back on his life as Chelsea’s champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 and on through his subsequent life.
And if you really hate football...
The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden
(A more challenging novel for Fourth Form readers)
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church. But for the young, wild Vasya these are far more than just stories. She alone can see the house spirits that guard her home, and sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods...
'My Swordhand Is Singing' - Marcus Sedgwick
In the bitter cold of an unrelenting winter, Tomas and his son, Peter, arrive in Chust. Despite the villagers' lack of hospitality, they settle there as woodcutters. But there are many things Peter does not understand. Why does Tomas dig a channel of fast-flowing waters around their hut so they live on an isolated island? Why does Tomas carry a long battered box everywhere they go - and refuse to tell Peter of its contents? When a band of gypsies comes to the village, Peter's drab existence is turned upside down. He is infatuated by the beautiful gypsy princess, Sofia, and intoxicated by her community's love of life. He even becomes drawn into their deadly quest - for these travellers are Vampire Slayers, and Chust is a community to which the dead return to wreak revenge on the living.