Billy the Kid

A heart-stopping tale of football and war from one of the world’s finest children’s writers. The only thing Billy ever wanted was to play football! He was faster and better on the ball than kids twice his age. His dream came true when he was picked to play for Chelsea, and became a champion soccer star. But that was in 1939, the year the Second World War began… and Billy’s life, like so many others, changed forever. Billy’s no kid now – he’s eighty. But he’s got memories, such memories. Can he turn another boy with a passion for football into a Chelsea champ?

“A thrilling and moving story about a Chelsea footballer who gets caught up in the ravages of the Second World War.” TES

“Told with all the author’s open-hearted clarity, and richly illustrated by Michael Foreman.” Guardian

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Recent reviews

  • loved it

    this is a really sad book but it is brilliant if you like books about the war if you you haven’t read it then you should

    16 March 2014

  • A touching story, but there was too much detail.

    9 March 2014

  • liked it

    it fun and joyful and we got to learn about this in school for english

    5 March 2014

  • A sad funny action packed story great

    9 March 2013

  • More of a boys story but still sad

    6 March 2013

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  • Photo of Michael Morpurgo

    Michael Morpurgo

    Master storyteller Michael Morpurgo has written over 100 books for children, and has won a multitude of awards as well as serving as Children’s Laureate from 2003-2005.

    Awards

    Michael was the Children’s Laureate 2003-2005, and has won many awards including The Whitbread Prize For The Wreck of the Zanzibar, the Smarties prize for The Butterfly Lion the Blue Peter Award for Private Peaceful and the Red House award for Shadow.

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