The Fear
By (Author) Tom Palmer
Illustrated by Robin Boyden
HarperCollins Publishers
Barrington Stoke Ltd
30th December 2025
United Kingdom
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Sports and outdoor recreation
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Ball games and sports: Association footbal
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Diversity, equality, equity and
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Self-awareness and self-esteem
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Sports teams and clubs
Childrens / Teenage: Social topics: Poverty / precarity
Paperback
72
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 5mm
270g
Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer.
Kians best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He cant understand why Kians reluctant as hes one of the best players on their estate.
But a bad experience with a former coach has robbed Kian of all his confidence. He wants to support his friend, but he doesnt think he can face the pressure of being part of a team again.
Can Kian overcome the Fear
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.
Tom Palmer was a reluctant reader as a child and credits articles about football with getting him into reading. He is now the multi-award-winning author of many books for young readers, including the Young Quills Award winner After the War and FCBG Children's Book Award winners Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019 Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust's Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his significant contribution to literacy work in the UK. Robin Boyden is the author-illustrator of Gerald Needs a Friend and the illustrator of numerous bestselling middle grade and non-fiction books for children, including the My Brother Is a Superhero series by David Solomons, Leah Williamson's The Wonder Team series, and the Dr Who Team TARDIS Diaries. He lives with his family in Cheltenham.