The Academy III: Tournament of Champions

The Academy #3

by T.Z. Layton

The Academy III( Tournament of Champions) <> Paperback <> T.Z.Layton <> FirstTouchBooksforYoungReaders

Genres: Sports, Childrens, Middle Grade, Soccer

294 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2023

About the author

T.Z. Layton is the award-winning author of the bestselling Academy series, which has been translated into multiple languages and optioned for film. The author is also a soccer dad, youth coach, referee, former collegiate player, and lifelong fan of the beautiful game.

To stay up to date on the Academy series and other stories by T.Z. Layton, it’s best to visit his website (tzlaytonbooks.com) and join his newsletter.

Reviews

[Anna Judice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by T. Z. Layton is definitely my FAVORITE 🤩! It keeps you on your toes! But Leo is having the best time in this book… his team is ranked last in the league. Worser yet, getting accused for something he didn’t do that could have cost him of the team! Could he lead his team to victory in the Tournament of Champions or get innocently kicked of the team?

[Caleb M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ (Extremely Good)

This series is just so much fun. I really have enjoyed every book. This one is probably my least favorite overall, but I'd be lying if I said it still wasn't an absolute blast to go through.

Layton does an amazing job of laying out different characters to fall in love with. And how he weaves story that is fun mixed with the right amount of soccer is just brilliant. A lot of times I fell like sports books/movies surround the sport around the story. These novels the sport is intrinsically intertwined with the story and part of it as a whole. Which I really appreciate.

We will eventually get to book 4. Which I am super excited to get to. But it takes some time to read books where my whole family of four is available, and these books are with all four of us.

Shout out to the audio version as well. As we are listening to this it's hard to not be impressed by the narrator. He does a wonderful job of capturing emotions by the characters, especially Brock, throughout all the books.

If you have any kind of interest in soccer at all this is totally worth listening (or reading) to. If you don't care about soccer, but love organized sports and want a good book that shows teamwork and hard work dedicated to the craft, this is still worth your time. An easy recommend. For adults and kids alike.

[Hannah Weise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book in this series! My oldest has NEVER been excited to read until we came across this series. This book was exciting as they went into different countries for games and there was a bit of a mystery situation which was a great discussion point with my son and I. We are both so so glad there there is a 4th book and now a 5th book in the works!

[Reader]

I think the the book is amazing I love soccer and I think Leo is epic and soooo enthusiastic 😎

[C Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must buy

It was amazing the way Leo travelled around Europe with his team and clutched up at the end.
Definitely recommended to 8-12 year old football fans.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edleweiss Plus

After a few weeks relaxing back in Ohio, Leo is devastated to learn that since the professional team associated with the Lewisham Knights did poorly, the U14 team will also be relegated to the second division. This would impact his future career! There is a loophole, though, and if his team can win the Tournament of Champions, they can stay in the Premier League. Their coach, Samantha, has to spend the summer getting certified, but the league gets retired Italian coach Beppe Grifone to work for them. There are many ups and down as the team works on their skills in order to win the tournament. There are two books after this one, so it's not too shocking that they win the tournament, and Leo is even named MVP.

My students really like this series, which is one of the longer ones about soccer.

[Stephanie Berke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to not disappoint my fourth grade son and myself. We have enjoyed reading this third book as much as the first and second. The author keeps readers interested with mysterious twists and new characters. Traveling the European cities during the tournament and all the description of each city was fabulous! Suspense, drama, compassion, integrity and confidence are just some of the life lessons in this series.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layton does it again. While as an adult, I found the plot somewhat predictable, middle grade readers will love the football (soccer) friendships as well as the rivalries. This series entry has an added mystery element, trying to figure out who keeps sabotaging the Knights, trying to keep them from winning the Tournament of Champions. A must read for series fans.

Review based on a DRC received through NetGalley.

[Danielle Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously love this series. We found it by accident, sitting innocently on a thrift store shelf and after reading the first one, have been riveted. I have never been one to enjoy sports stories but this one is so well written, if you aren’t a soccer fan before you begin the series, you will at least be rooting for Leo and his team by the end.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11 year old son was so engaged in this book it was a pleasure to read to him at night. When Leo's team would score my son would jump around and celebrate as though he was there watching. Totally awesome series for a soccer loving kid.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie gave it a 4.5. Interesting, funny, some mystery, and good life lessons too.

[Magenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happening next, Leo?! Tell us!

[Marbellis Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book ever

[Deepti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Coach Beppe and his pasta training, the whirlwind tour of Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Prague, and Munich as a bonus along with different countries sporting philosophies primer

[Courtney Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

Best book ever if your a big soccer fan I highly recommend this book for you and your family this book is fire

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my kid. This series is fantastic for soccer/sports fan kids. Great characters. We enjoyed looking at the globe and maps as they traveled city to city.

[Blackflyingdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best soccer book

[Bridgid · Rating 4 out of 5]

My soccer-obsessed 8 year old loved it.

[Leif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book I am sill reading it over and over you should definitely read this book

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My nine year old son and I love these books! Another great story!

[Jentatu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so fun, my son absolutely loved it!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't plan on reading the rest of this series

[Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time there was a bit of mystery and sabotage added in which made it extra cool

[Monique Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m loving this series, and looking forward to book #4. Our family started listening to this on audio and has enjoyed reading all about Leo and his soccer adventures and growth.

[Jasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo is back traveling Europe with his team to secure a spot in the Youth Premier League next season. But someone has other plans and is trying to sabotage them along the way.

This one is definitely my favorite so far!! There were so many moments in the book that I keep thinking about and discussing with my boys. Mostly, I loved seeing the team come back together and find new ways to communicate on the pitch.

[Kobie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, the plot twists and descriptions of the cities are very good, and I haven't even talked about the descriptions of the matches yet. Though I feel it is a bit repetetive sometimes its really good

[Christopher Ketelaars · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next step in Leo's academy journey is just as well-written and fun as the others. Something a little different and new lessons for young minds to take away.
If you have a young football lover in your life ... get them reading these books!

[Shiv Goyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

soccer is my favorite sport, and i really liked the coach my favorite book