Notes –
Tom Palmer didn’t read a book til he was teenager then it was a football book ,this is the third in the series called foul play ,he has been to Ghana to research and also spoke to people in the fair trade movement .he was shortlist for the blue peter book i couldn’t put down .
the book –
We join Danny Harte the teenage detective and footy fan of the previous books as the book opens his beloved city football club are on the verge of a mystery takeover from unknown bidders from overseas he is at the ground commentating to his blind father the match and the demonstration at the end .Meanwhile another story starts Kofi is in Ghana a gifted football player ,goes to play football in Ghana’s second city Kumasi ,when his approached by a middle-aged man valled Jonathan Shearer saying he is an agent from Danny’s city and they want him but his family will have to pay to get him there ,back in england Danny is arrest and told to stop being a detective by his family.Kofi is on hos way to england hand a phone and warm coat he boards the plane on arrival he finds it is a huge hoax and there is no job for city ,so he is homeless in a unknown country this is where his and Danny’s stories unite and what follows is a roller coast ride of news stories and kidnapping .
My View –
I was asked to review this by Sarah at book rabbit ,she knows i love football so said yes have also been looking for a young adult to read and this was perfect i sat and read it ion a few hours ,what tom has done is wonderfully summed up major concerns in world football for kids with out talking down to them ,this book should be given to any young boy that likes football but not reading it is vibrant and gives people a view in to the darker side of football .there is also the undercurrent of fairtrade to get kids think about where things come from .a lovely book this is out this month from puffin .
May 06, 2010 @ 12:27:25
This sounds like a great read. Also, it fits in with your football / world cup challenge! So many issues dealt with too – football, fair trade, kidnapping, detectives and mysteries, I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.
May 06, 2010 @ 14:44:48
yes really nice book and great for kids that don’t read and like football
May 06, 2010 @ 15:45:33
Stu, where do you find these books? A YA book set in Ghana. I will order this ASAP. And thank you again.
Yes, there is a lot of dupiing of young football talent in Africa and it’s really sad. I’m glad that this book highlights the problem.
May 06, 2010 @ 17:19:05
thought of you when wrote this post ,its on puffin due out today i think ,all best stu
May 07, 2010 @ 14:02:49
Stu, fantastic review, thank you – and so pleased you enjoyed it. I shall let Lisa know. Keen to do something with the author on BookRabbit now! All best, S.
May 07, 2010 @ 19:43:50
i would sarah he is great for those boys that don’t like books but love football and so up to date on the facts ,stu
May 09, 2010 @ 18:45:52
lovely review. I also love this book. have you read Eduardo Galeano’s Mirro’s – A history of almost everybody? I’ve been reading it and looking at your great blog i guess you’d like it. He’s a terrific Uruguayan writer – done a great football book and this is a strange history of the world in little mini stories. I made the mistake of letting a friend see it before I’d finished and never goit it back so will have to reorder it from library!!
May 10, 2010 @ 00:00:56
thanks i will look at that ,stu
May 09, 2010 @ 18:46:39
by the way sorry for mirro’s read Mirrors!
Jul 31, 2010 @ 20:04:51
Just to say thanks for the review. It means a lot to have the book thought so well of. Thank you. I am also a big fan of Eduardo Galeano. His ‘Football in Sunshine and Shadow’ is a great history of the game in his unique styl.e. Thanks again. Tom
Aug 01, 2010 @ 13:27:14
many thanks tom for your message ,all the best stu