Winner of the Branford Boase Award.

Budi's plan is simple. He's going to be a star.

Budi's going to play for the greatest team on earth, instead of sweating over each stitch he sews, each football boot he makes.

But one unlucky kick brings Budi's world crashing down. Now he owes the Dragon, the most dangerous man in Jakarta. Soon it isn't only Budi's dreams at stake, but his life.

A story about dreaming big, about hope and heroes, and never letting anything stand in your way.

About the Author
Mitch Johnson studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Mitch now works as a bookseller at Waterstones, Norwich, and writes in his spare time. Kick, Mitch's debut novel, won the 2018 Branford Boase Award, as well as garnering shortlistings for numerous regional awards including the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Teach Primary Book Awards. Mitch loves reading and, like Budi, is a big football fan (although his chances of turning professional are considerably slimmer).

Reviews
A brilliant debut. * John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas *
A dazzling story of family, fate and football and one game-changing friendship. * Peter Bunzl, author of The Cogheart Adventures *
A fantastically original debut that champions hope, dogged optimism in the face of adversity, and friendship * M. G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy *
skillfully written and perfectly paced. Mitch Johnston has produced a fantastically original debut that champions hope, dogged optimism in the face of adversity, and friendship. * M.G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy *
A fast-paced, compelling read about so much more than the beautiful game. It's about the cost of friendship, about having to make agonisingly difficult choices and about keeping hope alive while life delivers some hard blows * Toppsta reader review *


Awards
Winner of Sainsbury's Children's Book Award 2017 and The Branford Boase Award 2018 and What Kids Are Reading 2019. Short-listed for Stockport Children's Book Award 2018 and Teach Primary Book Awards 2018 and Sheffield Children's Book Award 2018 and Glenthorne High School Book Award 2018 and Bolton Children's Fiction Awards 2019 and The Bookling Award 2018 and The Weald Book Award 2018 and St Albans Schools Book Award 2018 and Alexandra Palace Children's Book Award 2019 and The UKLA Book Awards 2019 and Essex Book Awards 2018 and North East Teen Book Award 2018 and Concorde Book Award 2019 and Reading Rampage Award 2019. Long-listed for Redbridge Children's Book Award 2018 and Wirral Book Award 2018. Nominated for The Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge 2018 and Northern Ireland Book Award 2019 and The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2019.



Book Information
ISBN 9781474928151
Author Mitch Johnson
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Usborne Publishing Ltd
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 250g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 134mm * 20mm