Whilst good footballing stories for primary school children are steadily growing in number they are still few and far between so I was thrilled to learn that the award-winning and shortlisted Baller Boys were back.
It is the start of another season at AC United for best friends and football-mad boys Shay and Frankie. With Frankie having just been promoted from the development squad, the boys are hoping it will be the best season yet and have their eyes firmly set on winning matches, lifting trophies and being crowned Baller Boy of the season. But change is on the horizon. A new girl has joined the team, the football pitches are up for sale and Frankie’s parents want to move house. With challenges everywhere they look, can the boys stick together and keep on winning…
Venessa Taylor finds the back of the net with a match-winning performance in the second book in this engaging sporty series. This is another entertaining read that follows the highs and lows of AC United - a diverse football team, their families, the wider community and the various challenges that the players face in an eventful season both on and off the field. Loaded with pulsating action and plenty of drama, Baller Boys is a refreshing, enjoyable and accessible series for football-mad kids (especially appealing to those reluctant readers). Well written, told in snappy chapters and with plenty of illustrations, readers will race through the pages, always eager to read just a little bit more.
Diverse, inclusive and with great multicultural representation it is an exciting and accurate exploration of what it is like to be a young sportsperson. A very real and relatable cast of characters is made up of different ethnicities and genders, with Taylor sensitively exploring some of the challenges children experience - ADHD, dyslexia and child carers are touched upon as are anxieties, prejudices, insecurities and perceived injustices. What bonds this group together is a shared love for their sport and a willingness to do anything to keep playing it. The spirited group showcasing the importance of teamwork, friendship, acceptance, determination, commitment to the cause, standing up for what is right and putting differences and personal feelings aside for the good of the game. Led by multicultural coaches, AC (All Cultures) United are a wonderful collective of children and are the kind of team that many youngsters would want to be a part of, if they are not already. Having the opportunity to participate in grassroots sport is essential for children but the ever-pressing need for more houses and developers who fail to see the value in parkland and green spaces means sporting facilities are often under threat. Taylor addresses the importance of saving the environment, protecting green spaces and securing wildlife habitats, championing the importance of finding a voice and taking up the fight when the bull dozers come calling. Whilst this book is primarily about football - and for many children that will be the main draw as they live and breathe every kick, tackle, card, injury, goal, heartbreak and celebration - it is about much more than that. Yes it is a sporting story but it is also about everything that comes along with being involved in a team; the highs and lows, the success and failures, the challenges and the triumphs. It is about inner-city kids bonding over a shared experience and coming together for their team and their teammates. A terrific series for lower key stage two children and a must-read for footballing kids. I cannot wait to see what next season holds for the Baller Boys (maybe a rebrand with superstar Ashleigh now on the team). Check out the Baller Boys website for additional content and activity sheets. Recommended for 7+. With huge thanks to Hashtag Press for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
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