Summer 2023 Women’s World Cup in Fiction

WIN THREE BOOKS FEATURING SPORTING GIRLS AS THE MAIN CHARACTER FOR YOUR SCHOOL

After the buzz created by the Lionesses in this summer’s World Cup finals, I expect school libraries will be looking to restock with even more books about girls playing sport.

I’m offering schools the chance to win one of six sets of three of my books and a pack of 10 sample chapters of my forthcoming book about a British girl who goes to play football in California.

TO ENTER :

Please either RETWEET on Twitter and/or SHARE on Facebook and then enter your details below.

Three sets – for you to give to a school of your choice – will be up for grabs on each platform. Deadline is midnight on Sunday 20th August 2023. Winners will be drawn at random.

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I have written many sports stories featuring girls as the main character:

Secret FC (2010), 6+
Typhoon (2016), 7+
My First Football Game (2013), 4+
Armistice Runner (2018), 9+
Rocky (2020), 9+
Gus the Fantastic Football Cat (2018), 5+
Game Changer (2022), 10+
Soccer Diaries I (2023), 10+

Find out more about them below.

Out September 2023 Rocky Takes LA. Pre-order signed and dedicated copies from my local independent bookshop, The Thoughtful Spot here: www.thethoughtfulspotbooks.com/product-page/the-soccer-diaries-book-1-rocky-takes-la

“Rocky is a brilliant role model for girls and boys alike, showing that there is always a way through life’s challenges if you keep going and never give up.” Kate Heap

2023 World Cup Activities

Rocky Doodle Doo Colour in and add your own football linked doodles to download and print off here

Play Rocky’s 2023 World Cup Reading Game in the classroom or library and discover lots of way to enjoy football and enjoy reading here.

Learn to draw Rocky with Lisa Henke here.

More about my books featuring girls playing football:

4 + First Football Game

Join Sam as she goes to her first ever football game. This exciting narrative follows Sam’s day from beginning to end, describing her journey to the stadium, the football songs she hears and the goals!

Published by Collins Educational. More about First Football Game here

5 + 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?

Published by Egmont. More about Gus here

7 + SECRET FC

Lily, Maddie and Zach can’t believe it when the new headmaster bans football in the playground. Living in the inner-city, there is nowhere else to play. Then Zack has a brilliant plan and soon a very special secret football club is formed . . .

Published by Barrington Stoke

More about Secret FC here

9 + Rocky of the Rovers

Rocky is the sixth and historic book in the brand new series of illustrated middle grade fiction titles starring Roy of the Rovers, the classic British children’s football hero rebooted for the 21st century. This time, it’s all about Rocky, Roy’s football-mad younger sister!

A struggling student and brilliant footballer, Rocky Race is many things, but to most people she’s just Roy Race’s little sister. It’s not much fun – especially as Melchester Rovers head to the League Cup Final.

Rocky’s sick of everyone knowing her through Roy, she’s had enough of school, and she’s even started having panic attacks.

Now it’s up to Rocky to find her own way – as a person and a player – and she’s going to need all her grit and determination to do it…

Published by Rebellion. More about Rocky here

9 + Game Changer

The newly formed Melchester Women’s team are going from strength to strength in their first full season of professional football, lead by the tenacious Rocky Race. Can she maintain her match-winning performances? And just where does her footballing future lie?

‘I LOVED this book! I love how the story turns from one stage to another. I would definitely recommend it to any girl who enjoys football! I love that Rocky has real determination and passion for the game.’ Jess, Year 5.

Rocky of the Rovers book – Game Changer – was selected for the 2023 Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Game Changer is the latest story about Rocky Race, sister of Roy of the Rovers, and has already been featured on the front page of the Times newspaper.

More about Rocky here

9 + 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 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?

Out September 2023. You can pre-order signed and dedicated copies from my local independent bookshop, The Thoughtful Spot here: https://www.thethoughtfulspotbooks.com/product-page/the-soccer-diaries-book-1-rocky-takes-la

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!

Overseas : FREE Delivery worldwide from The Book Depository.
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA : Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshopHIVE