Football Detective 4: Reading the Game

Ben Blake is a genius right winger. He is really popular at United because he can always read exactly what his team mates are going to do.

But he is not so good at reading books. In fact, he has a secret he has managed to hide from his teachers, his mum, everyone. He can’t read.

But when you are part of a football team you need to read letters and fill in forms, read team sheets. And Ben has to try harder and harder to hide his secret.

Too ashamed to just ask for help. And that starts to put his place in the United team at risk.

 

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Ben Blake

Age: 11

Position: right winger

Best friends on team: James, Ryan

What made you write a story about a boy who can’t read?

I was weak at reading when I was younger. I couldn’t concentrate on all the words. And I meet a lot of children who are the same. Also I read a book by the rugby player, Scott Quinnell, who said he couldn’t read at school and that he used to create trouble to avoid admitting it.

So how come you were weak at reading, but you’re a writer now?

It is because I read a lot of things about what I am interested in. Football. Once I realised you don’t have to read big books or hard books, and that reading Match magazines was fun, I got more confident.

So you don’t have to be good at school to be a writer?

No way. Half the writers I know did really badly at school. They left school with no qualifications. But somehow they got into reading. Then writing. I think reading match reports in newspaper is the thing that did it for me.

Read the first chapter of Reading the Game here.

"I have just read the book in one sitting - I couldn't put it down!! I'm no football enthusiast but the story rings so true. I have worked with severe dyslexics and know the shame some of them experience.  Wonderful that you are creating literature for boys that is exciting, age appropriate but simple to read. Keep going! " 

Barbara Lowe Hampshire Dyslexia Association