Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fast-paced soccer series about grit, growth, and teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE ACADEMY series follows Leo K. Doyle, a talented young soccer player from the United States who earns a rare chance to train with an elite English youth academy. Across the series, Leo competes against top players from around the world, faces bullies and setbacks, and learns what it truly takes to grow as both an athlete and a person.
Is It Any Good?
Sports fans will find plenty to love in this gripping, accessible series that blends realistic competition with emotional depth. The stories in The Academy series move quickly, the soccer scenes are energetic, and the long-term character arcs reward committed readers. These are more than just one-dimensional characters; the players and coaches have struggles that are taken seriously and that show the different ways people can grow and change when faced with adversity. The focus on elite sports may feel intense for some, and there can be an overwhelming amount of detail about plays, specific moves, or soccer strategy. But moments of stress, disappointment, and rivalry may resonate strongly with competitive kid athletes. The emphasis on personal growth and teamwork makes this series great for middle school readers, and the topics and themes are great for enticing reluctant readers. Leo's insights are remarkably sensitive and mature but age-appropriate and relatable. There's a big focus on resilience on and off the field, plus an awareness that youth sports should help kids grow into their future selves and that there's so much more beyond the current season, in soccer and in life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the excitements and pressures of competitive sports as shown in The Academy. How can kids balance ambition with enjoying the game?
What are healthy ways to handle conflict with teammates or competitors? How do you navigate different personalities in a group? What's the role of communication in conflicts?
How can mistakes help people improve? How do you react when you make mistakes? When you make a mistake, how do you process what you're feeling? Who helps you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Sports
- Topics : Competition , Friendship , Sports ( Soccer ) , Travel
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 2, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : May 13, 2026
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