Green Fingers

An absorbing and perceptive tale of a troubled youngster who finds new hope when she begins restoring a garden.

There is a lot that is gently moving and wise in this very readable novel

A beautifully composed, uplifting, bittersweet story

This book grips from the very beginning and although it touches on many issues, it tells a good, believable story

If you're feeling low, this book'll cheer you up big time

Paul May is a teacher and keen footballer with two children. His first book for the Transworld lists, TROUBLEMAKERS, was shortlisted for the inaugural Branford Boase Award 
 
Author lives: Suffolk

Troubled Kate is hostile to the idea of moving to the country, suspecting that the family are only moving because of her problems at school.  But everything goes wrong from the moment they move into the old farmhouse out in the middle of nowhere - Mum and Dad arguing so much that Mum moves back to London, school just as much of a problem as ever and she still can't read properly...  Then Kate discovers a reason to try again: the abandoned garden behind their new home...

Rain

An absorbing story about standing out from the crowd, from the author of GREEN FINGERS. Why does being different have to make you an outsider?

This interesting book is about growing up and learning to live with being an outsider. It will appeal to teenagers who want something a little different

Paul May is a teacher and keen footballer with two children. His first book for the Transworld lists, TROUBLEMAKERS, was shortlisted for the inaugural Branford Boase Award 
 
Author lives: Suffolk

'They're not going to like me whatever I do . . .' 
 
Rain has always lived on the road with her artist mum, Max, in their colourful old bus. She's never been that bothered about fitting in, or about finding the dad she's never known. All that changes when their bus breaks down, they put down roots for the first time - and Rain gets to go to school at last! But Rain hadn't reckoned on having to deal with the way kids at school treat anyone who is different. Will her friendship with fellow outsider Daniel be enough to help her stick at it?

Nice One Smithy!

A funny, lively story about football, friendship and the importance of playing as a team.

The pafce is brisk and there is enough humour to keep the reader entertained to the final whistle. Sheppard's roughly sketched, spindle-legged characters add to the humour

"THEY'LL PULVERIZE US!" 
 
Fizz and her mates at Hillside Primary love playing football - but the school team's first match is against the Church Street gang (mean, nasty and horrible - and that's how they play their football too). That's when their teacher decides Smithy gets the job of goalkeeper - a position Smithy HATES. Now they've got to play against the roughest bunch ever, with a goalie who doesn't want to be there. Can Fizz and Smithy team up to beat the Church Street team?

Defenders

An action-packed soccer story from the author of the shortlisted Troublemakers

An impressive debut novel which draws out the racism infecting football through an encounter between a star experiencing a rough patch and a young, hopeful and enthusiastic teenage fan

A winning combination of realistic match play and realistic characters and dialogue, as well as providing a thought-provoking insight into how the racial tensions and abuse that are so prevalent in the stadium have a far-reaching and dreadful effect

In between the action-packed soccer games, the characters have other lives. Underlying issues such as friendship, ambition and self-esteem make this an engaging story likely to appeal to football-crazed boys of eight and over

Paul May is a teacher and keen footballer with two children. His first book for the Transworld lists, TROUBLEMAKERS, was shortlisted for the inaugural Branford Boase Award

'WHO WANTS TO WATCH OTHER PEOPLE SCORE ALL THE GOALS?' 
 
Chris is a goalscorer - but his life is a mess. He's falling out with everyone: his dad, his teachers, even his best mate. The only thing that akes him feel good is banging the ball into the back of the net. He certainly doesn't want to play in defence - even if his school team does need defenders. 
 
Ian Rawson is Chris's new neighbour. An ex-Premier League defender, he's absolute magic on the pitch, in total control of the game . . . 
 
When Chris sees Ian play, he starts to wonder. Has he got it all wrong about defenders? And if he changes his mind, will there still be a place for him in the team?

Cat Patrol

When a cat moves next door to Ben, how will he save all the birds in his garden?

"DON'T BE FRIGHTENED, LITTLE BIRD," SAID BEN... 
 
When Ben discovers that his new next-door neighbours have a cat, he is horrified. Ben loves birds - and he's scared that the cat will catch one and hurt it. So Ben and his sister set up a cat patrol. It's the only way to keep the garden safe for the birds. 
But then Ben finds a special little bird who can't fly away...will he be able to protect it?

Paul May

Eddie's little brother Billy is terrified of everything! Snakes, the dark, toilets, orange peel, moustaches and even soggy toast. When they move to the seaside, Billy find a new thing to be scared of - seagulls! They swoop down in the playground and pick at leftover crisp packets - and Billy thinks they are the scariest thing he has ever seen. Can Eddie and his stepfather try to work out ways to help Billy get over his fears?

Paul May

Books by Paul May

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