Rocky Race is going to take football by storm! Bright, tough, and sporty Rocky has always loved football, so much in fact that she’s moved to the United States to train at a high school with an amazing soccer team. She’s made new friends, even won a state championship! But now her best friends from her home in Melchester, England, have come to visit and play a match against her new American team. Rocky is thrilled to see them, but not everyone is happy: her American friends don’t understand their British accents. The British friends don’t understand why the Americans are so loud! Will Rocky be able to take the lead and show everyone that they’re all united by football?

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Resources

Check out Tom Palmer’s assembly video where he shares children’s books he’s enjoyed, where he loves to read, his top tips for enjoying reading and more!

Reviews from children:

Harriet (10) 

This story takes place in America where they call football ‘soccer’ and pitches ‘fields’. The main character is a girl (Rocky) who used to live in England. One day things take a bad turn when her old, English team has to play against her new team. Ffion (a member of her old team), Kimi (a member of her new team) and Rocky must think of a plan before it’s too late and the two teams become enemies for ever. Rocky Takes the Lead is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes exiting and powerful stories with some cliffhangers. It is especially brilliant for people who like football.

Violet (11)

An ups-and-downs journey through differences, this book is about a girl named Rocky who has moved from England to America to play football – soccer – in the US. When her old team has to play against her new one, things start to go horribly wrong. Rocky has to pick which team to play with and, as well as that, she has to face more challenges along the way. This drama-filled book will keep you on your toes with cliffhangers between chapters and friendships being made and then split. It’s a great read and a brilliant story.

Asa (age 9)

Soccer Diaries, Rocky Takes the Lead is a fantastic football and friendship book about a girl who moves from England to LA to play football with her new team. She is then reunited with her old football team who come from England to play a friendly match. However, Rocky can’t decide which team to play for! I recommend the book  for boys & girls aged 8-12 who enjoy playing football. This book might even help with friendship difficulties and/or  inspire people to keep playing football. It’s cheerful, exciting, sometimes even a little bit thoughtful, and children will definitely enjoy it.

Arlo age 10

Rocky loves playing for her football team: Melchester Rovers. Then  she moves to  America,  finds some best friends and plays for a new football team that she also loves: Mountain Heights.

But  when Rocky finds out that the Melchester Rovers are coming to California she’s stressed because she  knows that there will be arguments between the teams over her.

Great for football, friendship and starting again somewhere new even when you like the place you come from and don’t want to leave.