The Academy

T.Z. Layton’s 2022 novel The Academy is the first installment in the series of the same name. It tells the story of Leo K. Doyle, a 12-year-old American soccer player recruited to compete at the London Dragons summer camp to enter the Academy, their youth development program. Layton is the penname for Layton Green, an adult fiction writer who has written the Genesis Trilogy, the Dominic Gray Series, the Blackwood Saga, and the Preach Everson novels, among others. The Metaxy Project (2014), The Resurrector (2017), and Unknown 9 (2020) were all finalists for the International Thriller Writer’s award. The Academy is Green’s first foray into young adult fiction. 

This guide refers to the 2022 edition published by First Touch Books for Young Readers.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying.

Plot Summary

The Academy opens with a prologue explaining that Leo, the narrator, is a 12-year-old soccer player at an elite Premier League youth development academy where he hopes to make the youth team and earn money to help save his family’s house. He explains that he’s going to write down everything that happens during his time there.

In his hometown of Middleton, Ohio, a scout from London Dragons FC, a Premier League team, spots Leo. He offers Leo a place at the team’s youth summer camp, where he can compete to earn a place at the Academy, the London Dragons’ youth development program. Leo’s father worries about finding the money to send his son. Leo also overhears his father fighting with his aunt over money owed for Leo’s late mother’s student loans. They could lose the house. Leo thinks the signing bonus money from making the Academy team can help. Leo is nervous about leaving home since he’ll have to travel alone.

On the plane, Leo meets Tig, who is on the London Dragons youth team. When they arrive in London, Tig gathers up a group of players, and they have a juggling competition to see who can keep the soccer ball off the ground for the longest without using their hands. Leo wins. The bus arrives, and they depart for the “Castle,” the training facility where they’re staying. There, while waiting to register, another student bullies Leo for wearing Major League Soccer gear, saying that American players aren’t any good. Leo tries to stand up to him but feels nervous since he is one of the only Americans at the camp. He accidentally falls asleep when he arrives, waking late in the evening and making it difficult to fall back asleep. He finally does so at four in the morning.

The next day, Leo eats breakfast with his roommate Robbie, who soon goes to do his warmup routine before the training starts. Leo runs into Tig, who explains that 220 players are competing for 11 spots. When Leo goes down to the field, Director Hawk speaks, revealing that the players will be sorted into teams the next day. There will also be cuts after each of the first three weeks, narrowing players down until four teams compete in a World Cup at the end. After that, 11 players will be selected for the London Dragons Academy team.

The players then split up alphabetically so the coaches can assess their skills. The other players’ talent amazes Leo. However, Leo also scores the fastest time in his group on an agility test. By lunch, Leo is exhausted. Later, Leo scrimmages with a randomly assigned team, and he struggles to play defense. Brock, who insulted him for being an American, also rams into his shoulder during one of the games. At the end of the game, Leo seizes an opportunity to try to score, even though it means leaving the position he was assigned. One of the other players compliments his moves. In the evening, Leo gathers a group of players who aren’t sure where they fit in and feels like he belongs with them.

The next day, Leo learns that he’s been placed on the Iguanas and is joined by his roommate, several of his new friends, and Brock, among others. Their coach is a woman in her 20s named Samantha. She impresses them with her skills, and they practice passing and trapping. Every day, they scrimmage in the afternoon and do a Special Activity in the evening. The first one is a commentary from a former London Dragon professional player. Throughout the week, Leo practices defense, headers, corner kicks, and other skills. Brock continues to bully him. Leo also wins a camp-wide FIFA tournament. On the day of the first cuts, everyone at the camp goes out to explore London, and Leo loves seeing the city. When he returns to the Castle, he finds an envelope on the bed revealing that he hasn’t been cut. He feels excited that his talent has gotten him this far.

Leo’s second week begins with Samantha revealing that Leo was almost cut. She offers to help him build his technique since he’s never had formal training like many of the players. They meet that night with Tig, who has also offered to help, and Garika, another Iguana that Samantha thinks could use training. They practice penalty kicks. Later in the week, more of their friends join the evening sessions. At the end of the week, the campers go swimming, and Brock holds Leo’s head underwater. A fight ensues, and they’re nearly sent home. Leo also makes it through the second round of cuts.

The following week, the Iguanas start scrimmaging against other teams. Leo continues his night sessions until one night it seems like Samantha has been crying. Tig, who’s been dating Samantha, admits he kissed someone else. He won’t be helping out anymore. Samantha decides to end the evening sessions anyway. Leo also confronts Brock, and they agree to a one-on-one match. Leo wins, earning the respect of Brock and the other players. He also makes the World Cup team for the Iguanas, putting him one step closer to the Academy.

The World Cup begins with a round robin to determine each team’s ranking. The Iguanas lose their two games. The second loss is close, and Leo feels frustrated. Tig reminds him to have fun and think about how much he loves soccer. Eventually, Leo accepts that he has to be himself on the field. He wants to play at the center forward position, but Samantha keeps putting him at midfield. They win their next game.

When the tournament portion begins, the Iguanas win, sending them to the finals against the most challenging team to beat, the Komodos. When they practice ahead of the game, Samantha tells Leo that she wants to play him at the “number ten” (259) position. It refers to a spot in a formation that is where the top playmaker goes, and Leo is that for the Iguanas. A number ten is also a team leader. She warns Leo, though, that he will be going against some of the best players in forward positions, making the chances of his selection for the Academy team lower if he doesn’t perform well. Leo agrees to do it anyway.

The next day is the final championship match. They play at the London Dragons FC stadium. Leo starts to think that this position is the best one for him. The Komodos score first, but eventually, the game gets tied up 2-2. Leo kicks an improbable shot at the very last second of the game, and it goes in. The Iguanas win the World Cup.

The Academy team is announced the following day, and Leo doesn’t make it. He is sad but excited for his friends. He flies home. That night, he receives a call from the Director of Scouting for the Lewisham Knights Youth Academy, offering him a spot on their team. He accepts.