LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Centred on the character-driven adventures of All Cultures United football club, Venessa Taylor‘s Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers is a highly readable footie-focussed romp with real-life resonance. In this case, an overarching theme of learning to embrace change.
The series centres on best mates Shay and Frankie. While they’re thrilled to be back for another season with AC United, unsettling change is afoot. First-up, Shay is worried he’ll lose his place to a new member of the team, the hugely talented Ashleigh: “And just like that AC, an all-boys team, now had a girl. And not just any girl because Ashleigh was a very talented footballer”. At the same time, Frankie fears his family’s plans to move house will mean he’ll have to leave the team, and it looks like AC United’s ground is at risk of being sold.
With exhilarating in-play accounts of football matches (the energy, the action, the thrill of chances taken, and the blow of missed opportunities), and relatable team dynamics, Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers also takes in family life and community life, alongside emotional and environmental issues.
Joanne Owen
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About
Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers Synopsis
Best friends Shay and Frankie, and their team AC United, are back for another football season, another year older, and eager for a win... The duo soon realise that nothing ever stays the same, and change is a part of life whether they like it or not - both on and off the pitch.
With new team members, the threat of losing their precious home turf, and changes afoot in their family lives too, can the boys work together to stay on track... and keep winning? And, of course, who will be crowned Baller Boy this season?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781913835194 |
| Publication date: |
1st June 2023 |
| Author: |
Venessa Taylor |
| Illustrator: |
Kenneth Ghann |
| Publisher: |
Hashtag Press |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
160 pages |
| Series: |
2 |
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Press Reviews
Venessa Taylor Press Reviews
Baller Boys is about more than football, it's about people. Young people and their possibilities. Venessa Taylor has a fresh, unique approach to writing. She is a true creative. Every character is whole. - Benjamin Zephaniah
Author
About Venessa Taylor
Venessa Taylor brings two decades of experience as an inner-city primary school teacher and assistant headteacher to the creation of the Baller Boys series. Aimed at encouraging young boys to find pleasure in reading, the football-themed stories are written with young readers in mind.
Born and raised in London, Venessa continues her legacy as a literacy lead in schools through her creative writing. One of her proudest career achievements was raising the standards of reading, literary engagement and attainment across the school with a focus of engaging boys and reluctant readers. Venessa researched and identified what students would respond best to in terms of content, characters and setting. She soon realised that what the boys wanted to read about was not readily available, so took the challenge upon herself to inspire and encourage more young people - boys in particular - to read. Venessa wrote the Baller Boys series to empower young readers, to reflect the diversity football brings in a community, and showcase different families, lives and challenges. Venessa continues to be inspired daily by her grandsons. The stories are dedicated to her son-in-law, 'Coach Reece', who died suddenly in 2017 - Reece Darcheville and his wife (Venessa's daughter) Shenna, were an integral part of the development of the story ideas, plot lines and characters. With her family's input and insight from the children she has taught over the years, Venessa is proud to have crafted an authentic, original, inclusive series that she hopes all young readers will enjoy - in and out of school! Venessa lives in Essex and is an ambassador for various leukaemia and cancer charities. Venessa was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016 and is in remission despite being unable to find a donor.
Find Venessa on Instgram @ballerboysbooks
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