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OverviewBilly was a champion soccer star, playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out… Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man, who looks back on his life as Chelsea’s champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 and on through his subsequent life. Billy joins Chelsea as a football apprentice, rises through the reserves to become a real champion. His passion for football sees him through the war years – even as a prisoner of war he organises a friendly against the Italians – but, having been injured by a mine he cannot play for Chelsea on his return to England. Billy turns to vagrancy and alcohol and for years he wanders up and down the country. He re-settles in London in a derelict house and is befriended by a family who move him to a shed in their garden. He, in turn, helps their son with his football who in his turn becomes a Chelsea player. Billy becomes a Chelsea Pensioner and his 80th birthday is celebrated when Chelsea play at home. A novel for both children and adults which deals with some difficult issues. Michael Morpurgo’s storytelling is superb and this will be a welcome follow up to the previous Morpurgo / Foreman collaboration – Farm Boy. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Michael Morpurgo , Michael ForemanPublisher: HarperCollins Publishers Imprint: HarperCollins Children's Books Edition: New edition Dimensions: Width: 12.90cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 19.80cm Weight: 0.130kg ISBN: 9780007105472ISBN 10: 0007105479 Pages: 128 Publication Date: 02 January 2002 Recommended Age: From 9 To 11 Audience: Primary & secondary/elementary & high school , Children/juvenile , Educational: Primary & Secondary , Children / Juvenile Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: To order  Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us. Table of ContentsReviews'a thrilling and moving story about a Chelsea footballer who gets caught up in the ravages of the Second World War, with the focus on the Beautiful Game as a common bond that can link nations and generations.' Foreman's shimmering watercolours and line, so agile and expressive, are a perfect match for Morpurgo's assured and memorable narrative. This is a book that will be treasured by any child or teacher learning about the Second World War.' TES 'It's wonderful!' Kate Agnew 'Michael Morpurgo, whose command of his material is absolute, told with all the author's open-hearted clarity, and richly illustrated by Michael Foreman.' Guardian 'A story that combines football and war. It is a lot like an afternoon at Stamford Bridge, and ideal for football fans aged eight and over.' Daily Telegraph 'If you just love good stories, stunning pictures and beautiful books, you'll want this book for your own.' Young Writer. Billy the Kid's life story is as powerful and hard-hitting as his strikeres kick was for pre-war Chelsea. Billy's now eighty but is still as inspired by football as when he was a skinny lad with a natural born talent. At 19 Billy achieved his dream to play for Chelsea, quickly becoming a terrace favourite, the Michael Owen of 1939 but dreams were sadly the first casualty as Billy followed the world into war. Morpurgo avoids one-dimensional goalmouth heroics to recount an extraordinary life of highs and tragic lows bound together by a devotion to football while Forman's stirring colour illustrations adeptly capture the physical and emotional drama Billy faces on the football pitch and battlefield. (Kirkus UK) Author InformationMichael Morpurgo OBE is one of the UK's best-loved authors for children and young people. He was the third UK Children's Laureate and he has won the Children's Book Award, the Nestle Children's Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. There have been many stage and screen adaptations of his books, including a major film and award-winning stage play based on War Horse. Michael also set up the charity Farms for City Children with his wife Clare. Michael Foreman is one of the world's best-loved children's book illustrators. He has written and illustrated a vast range of books and has collaborated with many leading children's authors, including Michael Morpurgo and Terry Jones. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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