The Academy - T. Z. Layton

nFrom the Playground to the Premier League...n nBorn 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.n nRock star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.n nWhile 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.n nLeo 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.n nEleven out of two hundred of the very best twelve-year-old players on the planet.n nAlong 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.n nBy 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?n nThe inspiring, action-packed first book in The Academy series perfect for young readers 7-13 and for sports fans of all ages.n nKeep score with the other books in The Academy series: n n- The Academy II: The Journey Continues n- The Academy III: Tournament of Champions n- The Academy IV: Title Fight n- The Academy V: Cup of Nations