Tom Palmer
Tom Palmer writes children’s books about history and sport. In 2019 he won the Children’s Book Award for Armistice Runner, which was also nominated for the Carnegie Prize. His best known series are Football Academy, Foul Play and Roy of the Rovers. You can find free resources and first chapters by visiting his website.
Books
Angel of Grasmere
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
In the midst of war, a mysterious figure is performing acts of kindness in a Lake District village. Can Tarn find out who it is? An excellent addition to fiction about World War II.
Armistice Runner
Author: Tom Palmer
Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 8+
Lily loves fell running. She’s good, but never quite good enough: she gets anxious and loses her focus and then that’s it. Out. Plus she’s worried about her grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s and is growing distant and confused.
D-Day Dog
Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
Jack’s favourite things are his dog, Finn, and playing war-themed videogames with his dad, who’s an army reservist. He’s excited about the school trip to Normandy and the class project on World War II. War and being a soldier seem like really exciting things.
As the class begins the research for their project, though, Jack’s perceptions are questioned at eve…
Defenders: Killing Ground
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Seth has a special ability: to see things from the past. He's at a football match when flickering flames and a screaming, wild-haired man appear on the pitch. A storm hits from nowhere and the crowd panics. No-one's hurt, but more odd things happen over the following days and Seth learns he's seeing a 1000-year-old, brutal Viking massacre. Except the past is…
Football Academy Reading the Game
Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Brian Williamson
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+
One of six titles in the Football Academy series, each featuring two young players
Foul Play
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 7+
Danny is obsessed with two things: football and investigating crimes.
Ghost Stadium
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 8+
Three boys go camping in the abandoned Northface football stadium. But all is not as it seems. Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium is a fast-paced and properly spooky ghost story. The book will suit reluctant readers as the exciting mystery will grab their attention.
Over the Line
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 8+
Set during World War I, this book tells the compelling true story of the professional footballers who signed up to fight. It's sure to enthral readers and pique their interest in the period.
Rugby Academy
Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: David Shephard
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
A high-stakes rugby drama, with memorable characters on and off the pitch, presented in a super-readable collection of three linked stories.
Wings: Flyboy
Author: Tom Palmer
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 7-14
Reading age: 7+
On the football field and off it, Jatinder always wants to excel, but he always takes the easy option instead of the risky one.
Then Jatinder reads a book by a World War 1 pilot - and finds himself transported into battle.