Over the Line

by Tom Palmer, Ollie Cuthbertson (Illustrator)

Based on a true story of a sporting hero's experience in the trenches. Jack is to make his debut as a professional footballer, but it's 1914 and the world is at war. Talk of sportsmen's cowardice leads to the formation of a Footballers' Battalion and Jack has little choice but to join up. Jack and his team-mates will have to survive a waking nightmare if they are ever to play again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, War, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

131 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2014

Reviews

[Mrs G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this book would appeal to football fans of about 10+. Set in WW1 it doesn't skimp on some gruesome details, but has some good description of the beautiful game too. Could be good for reluctant readers as it has short chapters and is an interesting subject - the true-story element adds appeal.

[Peggy Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book, took me just under 2 hours to read,

Enough detail to keep me sucked in, and a cracking story 😁

[Callumhopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really nice read going into the lives of some of the men of the football battalion and the troubles they faced during the war and after while keeping the game in their hearts.

[Benjamin Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really god

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Palmer delivers yet another thought provoking and insightful World War 1 novel. Based on the true story of an English soccer/footballer, the tale of the formation of the Footballer’s Battalion highlights the pressures placed on young men through government propaganda and societal expectations.
Told in respectful detail, we follow the Battalion through the cataclysm that was Flanders and beyond, rejoicing in their triumphs and mourning with them in their tragedies.
Especially good for high schoolers studying World War 1 history.

[Patch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for children 10+. This is gritty, realistic and a little gruesome in places. Definitely not for the faint hearted. Based on a true story of a young footballer from Yorkshire as he signs up to go to the trenches in the First World War.

There is lots of football involved. I'm not a football fan and have never read a book about football but it didn't detract from it at all for me. It's interesting to see things from someone else's viewpoint. And it's an excellent hook for football obsessed kids.

This book is also exciting - they are given orders to go over the top.... I couldn't put it down during this section. It's also emotional when he struggles to save his injured friends. I cried at times. A frank and honest description of life in the trenches for older children.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd Tom Palmer book, and a perfect fit for our football-mad students. This was an interesting story about football and war. One aspect that stood out to me was the strength of character of many of the people portrayed. Being a morally good person was something that was important to these men. Loyalty, bravery, persistence, leadership - all these characteristics and more came through very strongly.

This story was even more interesting once I realised it was based on real people.

My only reservation is that some of the descriptions of war were fairly graphic and personal. Maybe a bit much for younger students, who would otherwise love to read this.

[Tracy Lander]

Firstly, I do not like football! But I really liked this book. It is based on the life of Jack Cock, who played his first professional match for Huddersfield Town in 1914. It is his dream to play for England. But WW1 had already begun, and the footballers were slammed for playing when other men were dying for their country. At the end of his first season, Jack and several of his friends sign up to a footballers battalion. Will Jack ever play professional football again? ...

[Juanlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro algo curioso. Escrito para niños, letra grande y sin grandes rodeos. Pero al fin y al cabo un libro de guerra, que la describe sin recrearse en ella pero sin esquivarla.

Me hubiera encantado un libro más largo, escrito para adultos, con más detalles, sin tantos saltos en el tiempo. La historia lo merece.

Y por eso deja un sabor agridulce, porque es un libro bonito, y bien escrito, pero que pudo ser mucho más.

[Jade Whitehead-lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story which thoroughly hooked the boys within my class at school, they were enthusiastic and couldn’t wait to find out what happened to the footballers during the war. Equally enthused were the girls who enjoyed comparing their lives with the characters in the book and also empathising with them.

[Ailsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant dylexia-friendly children's book, based on the true story of Jack Cock who left his career as a professional footballer to fight in World War I. This is sensitively researched and written, whilst not shying away from the horrors or war. A great example of using fiction to teach young people about historical events.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the hidden war stories which are still emerging so long after World War I. Tom Palmer is a fantastic writer for young people, and he has put great heart into researching the stories of footballer (soccer) soldiers in World War I, and embedding their stories into a novel that will give young and old some poignant insights into that era.

[A Severs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells of the harsh realities of The Great War in no-holds-barred way (relative to the intended audience's age) but with the moments of hope that football brought to the lives of soldiers in the Footballers Batallion. Based on true stories and expertly told. Gripping stuff.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not usually a lover of historical fiction but this based on fact 1st WW football story kept my interest all the way through. It taught me facts I’d never heard of before and includes a sensitive but understandably upsetting account of life in the trenches.

[Charlie Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story from Tom Palmer - as always. I loved that this was based on true events and real people, it’s absolutely right to honour their memories in this story. Will definitely recommend to children at school.

[Alice Visser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for young football fans with a strong historical component detailing a soldier's life in the World War I trenches. Some gruesome (but accurate and not gratuitous) details along with lots of football in a dyslexia-friendly format.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 5th and 6th graders. I have a high amount of soccer fans this year and we are studying The Great War. This book was just too perfect. The class enjoyed it and several asked if there was a sequel.

[Alasdair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my 9yr old daughter - her choice. Both really enjoyed its highs and lows.

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect mix of football action and fairly gritty trench warfare. I loved that this was based on real people and events. Great for reluctant readers age 10+.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smart way to introduce kids to trench warfare. Tom interweaves football reportage with warfare, capturing the bravery of football battalions.

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The balance of War and Football was perfect. I can’t wait for more of my class to read this and get a better picture on what that time would have been like.

[Neil Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly aimed at a younger audience. I would say this is essential reading for 10 year olds plus as it delivers the harsh realities of what our forefathers faced during WW1.

[Summer Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me get out of a reading slump! 100% recommend!

[Keir Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book about how history and football can go hand in hand. I never knew that in the war there was actually football happening

[Yuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was a very good book i would really recomend this book as it shows that even in the dark times of the war there is still some fun in the game of football even if it is only for 90 minutes

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Marj Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on true events, this is a great little novel for reluctant boy middle grade readers, especially those interested in soccer and/or war stories as it's a combination of both. At times gritty in its details of war, even though there's a low level of vocabulary, the tone is not condescending - more factual (even 'proper', which suits the era) than anything. Suitability: Year 6 - 9 boys.

[Steven Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little story for any child aged 10 +, or teen, who is into football and also likes Horrible Histories, combining as it does a tale of survival of a footballer with accounts of the battlefields of Flanders in the First World War. The main character, Jack Cock, based on a real person, played professionally for Huddersfield and Chelsea and was part of the Footballers’ Battalion. It is well researched – all the historical details read authentically – so it would be also be good for teachers wanting to give kids, who may not find World War 1 very motivating, a way-in that the football angle may provide. The only historical inaccuracy I found was that, when a game is played at Highbury in 1915, the ground is described as having a ‘glass and stone entrance and marble halls’ – that, I believe, didn’t arrive until 1932.
http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...

[Judy Newson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read aimed at 10-13 years - a good introduction to the life of soldiers in the first world war. Also should be popular with mature football mad kids.

[Carolina Edvinsson]

My review in swedish ---> Romeoandjuliet