The Squad: White Fear

White Fear is the second must-have title in Tom Palmer's brilliant spy thriller new series The Squad. Perfect for readers of 10+ and all fans of Anthony Horowitz and Robert Muchamore's Cherub. 
 
 
A team of spies. Highly Trained. Super-intelligent. Thirteen years old. . . THEY ARE THE SQUAD. 
 
The Squad have been summoned to the deadly and frozen land of the Arctic Circle by the British Prime Minister who has heard of their growing reputation as brilliant young spies. An unknown criminal is trying to hijack a world conference about the precious and much fought-over fuels that lie below the arctic ice. To prevent an international war breaking out, Lily, Lesh, Hatty, Adnan and Kester go undercover to find out who it is and stop them. 
 
But the beauty of the icy mountains and deep fjords hide some dangerous secrets and someone will do anything to make sure that the Squad don't discover them . . . 
 
 
Praise for Tom Palmer: 
 
'Scores with the precision of a Ronaldo free kick' Sunday Times 
 
 
As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He also teaches annually for the Arvon Foundation, and has travelled around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. He is the bestselling author of Football Academy and The Foul Play series, in which the first book was nominated for the Blue Peter Award, Book that I Can't Put Down.

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He also teaches annually for the Arvon Foundation, and has travelled around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read.

The Squad have been summoned to the deadly and frozen land of the Arctic Circle by the British Prime Minister who has heard of their growing reputation as brilliant young spies. An unknown criminal is trying to hijack a world conference about the precious and much fought-over fuels that lie below the arctic ice. To prevent an international war breaking out, Lily, Lesh, Hatty, Adnan and Kester go undercover to find out who it is and stop them. 
 
But the beauty of the icy mountains and deep fjords hide some dangerous secrets and someone will do anything to make sure that the Squad don't discover them . . .

The Squad: Black Op

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He also teaches annually for the Arvon Foundation, and has travelled around the world  to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read.

The Squad - kickass teenage spies with the perfect cover. They are also part of an England youth football team. Wherever trouble is kicking off, the Squad are sent in. They're more than a match for any kind of enemy. In the first book in this exciting new series from Foul Play author Tom Palmer, the Squad are sent to Krakow, Poland just before the Euro 2012 tournament there.

Foul Play: Own Goal

Scores with the precision of a Ronaldo free-kick

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development, travelling around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years

Meet Danny Harte. 
Football fan and crime detective. 
 
Danny loves supporting his local team, City FC. So when everyone starts supporting the Italian team Forza FC, Danny is angry. His club is in jeopardy and needs their support. Danny decides to investigate the sudden popularity of the new team - starting with Forza's billionaire owner - and that's when the danger really kicks off. . . 
 
Can Danny uncover the sinister reasons behind Forza's success - and save City at the same time?

Foul Play: Killer Pass

Scores with the precision of a Ronaldo free kick

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development, travelling around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years.

In recent months there has been a spate of burglaries at the houses of players from Danny's favourite football club, City FC. Danny wants to know who's behind it all and is on the case. 
 
But after scouting out the crime scenes, there are newspaper reports of a young boy having been seen hanging around. 
 
Danny needs to find out who's behind these crimes - and fast. If he doesn't, he might have turned from crime detective into the biggest suspect of them all...

Foul Play: Off Side

When Danny Harte finds out there's been an anonymous foreign buy-out of his favourite club, City, he's furious - the fans were about to buy it themselves. The club is being secretive and Danny is determined to find out what's going on - until he's caught staking out the club by the police and cautioned. His parents are furious, and his friends too. No one is talking to him. 
 
But when Danny discovers Adam, a kid from Ghana, dumped by his agent who'd promised him a place as a junior at City, and lost in a foreign country he knows nothing about, Danny realizes there are worse ways of being alone. He decides to take Adam's story to the press - with terrifying consequences for them both . . .

The Secret Football Club (Pocket Money Puffin)

Tom Palmer is a football fan and author. He writes two series for Puffin: Football Academy and Football Detective. He visits schools and libraries every week to talk about reading, writing and football. 
It was reading about football that helped Tom to become a confident reader. He now has the job of his dreams: travelling the world to watch football matches, meeting players, then writing stories about them. 
He lives in Yorkshire where he likes to be with his family, watch football and eat Dubble bars. 
You can find out more about Tom - and talk to him - through his website www.tompalmer.co.uk

James, Lily and friends have had some bad news - football is now banned at their school. But they all love football! So if they're not allowed to kick a ball the playground, they'll have to find another way to play - in secret . . .

Foul Play

Foul Play: the second book in this crime fighting series by Tom Palmer 
 
Danny is obsessed with two things: football - especially City Football Club - and investigating crimes. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing the day after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at night, he's determined to get to the bottom of it. But is Danny getting into something he can't handle? 
 
As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter. 
 
Also by Tom Palmer: 
 
Football Academy: 
 
Boys United; Striking Out; Free Kick; Captain Fantastic 
 
Foul Play: 
 
Foul Play; Killer Pass; Dead Ball; Own Goal; Off Side 
 
The Squad: 
 
White Fear; Black Op

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He also teaches annually for the Arvon Foundation, and has travelled around the world  to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. This is his first book for Puffin.

Danny is obsessed with two things: football &ndash; especially City Football Club &ndash; and investigating crimes. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing the day after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at night, he's determined to get to the bottom of it. But is Danny getting into something he can't handle?

Foul Play: Dead Ball

Russian billionaire Dmitri Tupolev and a mystery Englishman agree to fix an important match in Russia's favour by intimidating the England goalie, Alex Finn. But Alex goes against their wishes. His punishment: an 'accidental' car crash and he's out of the return game in Russia. 
 
Something is going on with England's replacement goalie, and Danny soon finds himself caught up with the criminals of the footballing underworld. Will he unravel the match-fixing mystery?

Football Academy: Captain Fantastic

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme. He is the author of the Football Detective series for older readers. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

An exciting football series, following the adventures of United's under-twelves side. 
 
Since Ryan Flynn got into trouble for bullying, he's been determined to pull his socks up and be the best captain United's ever had. So when team-mate Craig causes problems on - and off - the pitch, Ryan knows he must get to the bottom of it or he'll lose a talented player. But Craig's worries are much bigger than Ryan realized - can he help Craig and stop him from being shown the red card?

Football Academy: Free Kick

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme. He is the author of the Football Detective series, for older readers. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

The fifth book in the fast-paced Football Academy series. 
 
James has been a junior player at United for a long time. Everyone expects him to follow in his dad's footsteps and play for England one day. But James isn't so sure. He has something he wants to do even more than football. Something that means he would have to give up football. The problem is he doesn't want to disappoint his dad. At a tournament in London, where he is pitched against Arsenal and Chelsea players, James finally makes his mind up.

Football Academy: The Real Thing

Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. Tom lives with his wife and daughter in Todmorden, W. Yorkshire.

United's under-twelves are in Poland for a tournament. Goal-keeper Tomasz is very excited to be playing in his home country, but team captain Ryan thinks Poland are rubbish - in fact, he thinks everything Polish is rubbish. Ryan's behaviour causes trouble both on and off the pitch. Can Ryan and Tomasz tackle their differences - or will Ryan's bullying foul United's chance of success?

Football Academy: Reading the Game

Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for many years. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates. 
Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he swallow his pride and ask for help before he sidelines himself - for good?

Football Academy: Boys United

Boys United: the first book in the Football Academy series by Tom Palmer 
 
Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! Jake can't wait to pull on his shirt and join the team. But someone at the club wants to make his life difficult. Can Jake face up to the bullies and become man of the match again? 
 
Stay on the ball this season with the first four stories following the boys in United's under-twelves. 
 
As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter. 
 
Also by Tom Palmer: 
 
Football Academy: 
 
Boys United; Striking Out; Free Kick; Captain Fantastic 
 
Foul Play: 
 
Foul Play; Killer Pass; Dead Ball; Own Goal; Off Side 
 
The Squad: 
 
White Fear; Black Op

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! Jake can't wait to pull on his shirt and join the team. But someone at the club wants to make his life difficult. Can Jake face up to the bullies and become man of the match again? 
 
Stay on the ball this season with the first four stories following the boys in United's under-twelves.

Football Academy: Striking Out

Striking Out: the second book in the Football Academy series by Tom Palmer 
 
Yunis can't believe that he's United leading scorer. It should be the happiest time of his life, but his father wants him to give up football and work hard at school. Can Yunis convince his dad that he can do both, or will he have to hang up his boots forever? 
 
Stay on the ball this season with all the action from Football Academy. 
 
As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter. 
 
Also by Tom Palmer: 
 
Football Academy: 
 
Boys United; Striking Out; Free Kick; Captain Fantastic 
 
Foul Play: 
 
Foul Play; Killer Pass; Dead Ball; Own Goal; Off Side 
 
The Squad: 
 
White Fear; Black Op

Yunis can't believe that he's United leading scorer. It should be the happiest time of his life, but his father wants him to give up football and work hard at school. Can Yunis convince his dad that he can do both, or will he have to hang up his boots forever? 
 
Stay on the ball this season with all the action from Football Academy.

Tom Palmer

When the Gelderd End sings 'If you're proud to be a Leeds fan clap your hands' you clap your hands . . . but should you? 
 
Leeds United Football Club have one of the worst reputations in the country. For years the fans and players - fairly or unfairly - have been associated with thuggery. In If You're Proud to be a Leeds Fan Tom Palmer tries to work out just why he claps and why, when he has to miss a home game for work, he feels so bad. 
 
Set in the 2001-02 Premiership season, the author follows Leeds United at stadiums home and away, in bars watching satellite, listening to Radio Leeds and Radio Five Live and watching the pages of Ceefax. He focuses as much on the fans as on the action on the pitch and tries to establish whether Leeds fans and players are really so bad. 
 
The book examines the highs and lows of the club's recent history and their impact on the supporters - from the Paris riot in 1975 to relegation in 1982 and the glory of the 1992 League win. Palmer discusses the Bowyer-Woodgate trial, the board's plans to take Leeds United away from Elland Road, the controversial replacement of manager David O'Leary with Terry Venables, and the club's persistent hooliganism problems, especially the fans' unceasing hatred of Manchester United. 
 
If You're Proud to be a Leeds Fan tries to explain why, in the face of so many reasons why you shouldn't, you still find yourself clapping. 
 
The book includes Leeds poet Tony Harrison's poem 'v.'.

Tom Palmer

Books by Tom Palmer

Series by Tom Palmer

Football Academy6 Books

Foul Play4 Books

The Squad1 Book

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter