Family, friendships and football are all needed to help 9-year old Riley in this thoughtful sporting story. Riley loves football and the friends he’s made on his team, Highfield Flyers FC. In training they learn to work together and in their games they find rivalries and learn to focus under pressure as they work to try and win the league. But Riley’s life is turned upside down when he finds out his mum has a terminal illness and his once unwavering love of football is left shaken. It’ll take his friends, family and the game to help Riley cope with the devastating news. Filled with the highs and lows, wins, draws and defeats of a football season ‘The Life of Riley: Unbreakable’ offers an exciting, well written story of teamwork and never giving up. However, alongside the football narrative there is also the poignant, heart breaking and thoughtful tale of Riley’s life off the pitch. We see Riley react to his mum’s life-changing news and experience the struggles of managing his emotions around it. It was heartwarming as his friends and teammates showed up to support him and how Riley’s passion for football gave him a focus and an outlet. It’s sweet, it’s sad and it’s football focused, I think that ‘The Life of Riley: Unbreakable’ would be a good read for middle grade readers and football fans. It deftly handles a difficult topic while also delivering on an entertaining story and a relatable and engaging main character in Riley.
Riley Adams has three passions in life: family, friends and football. Despite often finding school difficult, Riley finds happiness in friendships with his ‘band of brothers and sisters’, who play for his beloved Highfield Flyers FC. Riley and the Flyers learn to play together and focus, bringing them great moments and taking them close to glory. Rivalries form and the desire to win grows until… Riley’s world is turned upside down when his mum receives life-changing news. Can he really care about football again? What will happen to Mum? How will he cope with life now?
Tom Allen worked as a Primary School Teacher, mostly teaching 9–11-year-olds and has over 20 years voluntary sports coaching experience. He loves the power of sports and books and how they can inspire young people. His friend Rich passed away recently, leaving his incredible wife and three amazing children. Parts of the story are inspired by his friend’s tragic passing, and he hopes the themes explored in his story will give strength and guide younger children who have also lost a loved one. He resides in Bristol.
