My Books for Children

I’ve written over sixty books about history, spies and sport! Find out more about my books for children by clicking on the covers below, try a chapter at Free Reads, watch videos of me reading here or buy them from your local independent bookshop and high street shops like Waterstone’s or my Bookshop.

Signed and dedicated copies of all my books can be personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.

And you can find out about what I am currently writing here.

Thank you.

LATEST HISTORICAL FICTION:Angel of Grasmere

July 1940 – Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk and she and her friends scour the hills around their Westmorland home, watching for any signs of the long-dreaded Nazi invasion.

But as the war drags on, with little good news from the front, the locals become aware of someone carrying out anonymous acts of kindness. With no one claiming credit, the village come to think of this unidentified stranger as a kind of guardian angel, but when his identity is finally revealed can Tarn come to terms with the truth…?

More about Angel of Grasmere here

LATEST FOOTBALL FICTION: Rocky Takes LA

The Soccer Diaries is a brand new series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big in a US soccer school. Rocky Race is going to be the best soccer player in the world!

Rocky Race is not your average fourteen year old. She’s determined, ambitious and the best football player you’ve ever seen. So, when she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a prestigious soccer camp in California, USA, she takes it. But far from home, Rocky suddenly finds herself out of her comfort zone. Fake friends, her own anxieties and a brand new world with strange rules all threaten to derail her new life before it’s even started – does Rocky have what it takes to succeed?

More here. Buy here.

Resist One Girl’s Fight Back Against the Nazis

Resist shines a light on the incredible work of the WWll Dutch resistance, in a story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.

As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. But what can a teenage girl do and how much risk is she willing to take?

More here. Buy here

Arctic Star

Teenagers Francis, Joseph and Stephen are Royal Navy recruits on their first mission at sea during the Second World War. Their ship is part of an Arctic convoy sailing to Russia to deliver supplies to the Soviets. Faced with terrifying enemy attacks from both air and sea, as well as life-threatening cold, gales and pack ice, will all three boys make it home again?

More here. Buy here

AWARD-WINING : After the War

Summer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred children who arrive in the English Lake District.

“The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocaust. After The War manages to be vividly engaging both as history education and as a human story – eye-opening, exciting, hugely touching. Beautifully structured and written it may be aimed at 9-14 year-olds, but no-one should miss it” CEO Anne Frank Trust UK

More here. Buy here

Rugby Academy compilation

Celebrate the Buzz of the Rugby World Cup with all THREE action-packed, globe-trotting Rugby Academy adventures.

“Pacey but thought provoking … 5 stars” Rugby World Magazine

“All the drama of the sport steams up from the page. Any rugby enthusiast is going to love this book” The BookBag

Published by Barrington Stoke. Buy here

D-Day Dog

Jack can’t wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches to learn more about the war heroes he has always admired – brave men like his dad. But when his dad is called up to action Jack questions all he believes about war. Finding comfort in his loyal dog, Finn, Jack is drawn to the heart-wrenching true story of one particular D-Day paratrooper …

More here. Buy here.

Roy of the Rovers

Roy Race is a totally normal 16 year old – he just happens to be the best footballer his age in Melchester, too. Trouble is, he’s so good that he’s not playing against kids his age. More here

Scouted – read Chapter 1 here
Teamwork – read Chapter 1 here
Playoffs – read Chapter 1 here
On Tour – read Chapter 1 here
From the Ashes – read Chapter 1 here
Rocky – read Chapter 1 here
Sudden Death – read Chapter 1 here

Armistice Runner

To mark the centenary of the end of First World War, this is a moving fictionalised account of the runners who were used as messengers to and from the front lines in the last days of the war.

Armistice Runner follows a young fell-runner called Lily as she discovers the diaries of her great-great-grandfather and his experiences as a runner-messenger in the lead-up to the Armistice of 1918, with an intertwining narrative of past and present.

More here Buy here

GUS THE FAMOUS FOOTBALL CAT

A funny and heartwarming story about a girl and her pet cat, who becomes a World Cup celebrity!

There’s a football challenge at Yusra’s school and everyone wants to win. Which class can find the best way to predict England’s World Cup results? Yusra has an idea – her pet cat Gus could help! As Gus keeps guessing the scores right, the word spreads and soon everyone wants a piece of the famous football cat. But is the life of a celebrity as purrfect as it seems? More here … Buy here

Over the Line

A powerful historical novel about one footballer’s experience in the First World War. It’s 1914 and Jack is making his debut as a professional footballer. But the match is marred by a demonstration demanding that the players sign up to do their duty in France. It is not long before Jack is bound for the trenches with the Footballers’ Battalion.

“Classic” The Guardian

More here … Buy here

Defenders series

Spine-tingling, spooky football adventures. The past is closer than Nadiya and Seth think. Great way into KS2 history. More here

1: Killing Ground (Vikings and Anglo Saxons) Buy here
2: Dark Arena (Iron Age Celts) Buy here
3: Pitch Invasion (Roman Britain) Buy here

Football Academy series

The Puffin Football Academy books are about the boys in an under-twelve Premier League side.

More here Buy the collection here.

Foul Play series

The Puffin Foul Play series feature a fourteen-year-old boy called Danny Harte who wants to solve football crimes.

More here. Buy the collection here.

Wings series

Jatinder, Greg, Maddie and Jess are at a football summer camp near an old airfield when they find themselves mysteriously propelled back in time. If they can learn how to fly the great RAF planes – the Sopwith Camel, Spitfire and Typhoon, history will lead them on a flightpath back to the present. More here.

Buy Books

Wings 1: Flyboy Wings 3: Typhoon

Wings 2: Spitfire

The Squad series

International espionage and football action combine when these teenage spies are sent to the world’s toughest trouble spots, going undercover with the England youth team. The world’s in danger and only The Squad can save us.

The Squad 1 : Black Op Amazon
The Squad 2 : White Fear Amazon

Other Books

Click on the covers for more about these stories published by Barrington Stoke:

Buy them here

Go Turbo books combine fact and fiction – out of print but available on Kindle. Buy them here

Collins Big Cat Progress books

Specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level.

Buy them here

Football Shorts: Big Match Writing from the Best in the Game, edited by Tom Watt.

My story “Murder at Manor Park!” is included in this great collection of short football stories.

The royalties from the sale of this book go to the National Literacy Trust.

Buy here.

Rugby League stories :

More here

The Last Try

ISBN 978902039251

Commemorates the life of Jack Harrison, the Hull FC hero killed in the First World War.
Illustrated by James Innerdale.

Find out more about Jack here.

Published by Kingston Press.
Copies available from Hull Libraries telephone 01482 210000 , tweet@hull_libraries or email lending.library@hullcc.gov.uk or facebook message .

Incredible Edible Story

I am very proud of the story I was asked to write for Incredible Edible – who are working together for a world where all share responsibility for the future wellbeing of our planet and ourselves. Read a pdf version of this special story, illustrated by Juliet Breese here.

Shaking Hands with Michael Rooney

My first book for children was commissioned by Leeds Libraries. I called it originally Shaking Hands with Alan Smith. It was later published by Grassroots as Shaking Hands with Michael Rooney. Can you guess why and how the name changed?

Its out of print now, which is a shame as it has beautiful illustrations by artist James Innerdale. Its worth looking out for, especially as it has a good section on encouraging children to be football readers and writers.

Kindle books

FREE to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers or just 99p. More here

Football Academy : Teamwork Buy here

Foul Play : The Danger Academy Buy here

Buy Books

Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA : Indigo books