Number 9: The Beginning | Soccer Books for Kids 8-12 (No.9 Series)
by Jack Scorer
SportsAdded on January 13, 2026
Description
FROM TEXAS DREAMER TO LONDON LEGENDJack has never played for a real team—until now.When a surprise trial lands him at England’s top soccer academy, Jack swaps his small Texas town for the cutthroat world of elite football in London. But it’s nothing like he imagined.Every mistake is punished. Every pass is judged. Rival players want him gone. Alone, out of his depth, and way behind the others, Jack starts to question everything.Then he finds The Bandits—an underground crew of street soccer legends. No whistles. No coaches. No limits. Just pure, electric soccer that rewrites every rule he's ever known.As Jack sneaks between two worlds—the rigid academy and the wild freedom of street ball—he learns that becoming a star isn’t about being perfect... it’s about playing with heart.Can a total outsider rise to the top before he's kicked out for good?🔥 Why Kids Love It:✔ Fast-paced matches, epic rivalries, and jaw-dropping street skills✔ Jack’s a relatable underdog you can’t help but root for✔ Bursting with energy, emotion, and soccer action from start to finish💡 Why Parents Love It:✔ Teaches resilience, teamwork, and confidence✔ Inspires kids to dream big and never give up✔ Perfect for 8–12 year olds—especially reluctant readers⚽ Ideal book series for fans of soccer, sports, and fast-paced underdog stories.🎯 Join Jack’s thrilling soccer journey today!
Reader Reviews
If there’s one thing my grandson loves, it’s sports — and soccer is one of his absolute favorites! So when it was his turn to pick our next read, of course he wanted a soccer book (it iseason, after all ⚽).We just finished reading No. 9 by Jack Scorer — and we had such a great time with it! The story follows Jack, a boy from Texas who wins a Golden Ticket to attend Kingsdown Academy in London. 🇬🇧N. thought the story was a little sad (fair warning — there’s a dog who doesn’t make it 😢), and Ja
Great for my kidsThe kids I teach at my church have started a soccer team and this has been a really great and helpful guide.I honestly didn’t know much about the sport, and because this book said for beginners, I thought I would give it a shot. Glad I did! I’m grabbing the other books in the series now, because you definitely need more info after reading this, but overall, this was for my target age group and it did not disappoint. There were lots of things I was having trouble figuring out exa
cool story, perfect for the reluctant readerThis story is perfectly geared toward the young soccer player who may be reluctant to read, but will dive into a soccer story. Jake and his friends are very relatable characters. I also enjoyed seeing the growth Jack experiences throughout the story. The character arc is well developed, albeit a little too convenient at times. Similarly, the plot ties together a little too easily as everything works out perfectly for Jack.
