{"product_id":"the-academy","title":"The Academy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBy T. Z. Layton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe inspiring, action-packed first book in The Academy series perfect for young readers 7-13 and sports fans of all ages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRock star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeo 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEleven out of two hundred of the very best twelve-year-old players on the planet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlong 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy 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?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cozy \u0026 Bright Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48101671108800,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0723\/9801\/2608\/files\/Screenshot2026-04-02081455.png?v=1775142905","url":"https:\/\/cozyandbrightbookshop.com\/products\/the-academy","provider":"Cozy \u0026 Bright Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}