THE BEAST BEYOND THE FENCE

Rashford, the renowned Manchester United footballer of Jamaican and Kittitian descent and a lauded child welfare activist, makes his children’s fiction debut in this work inspired by his own childhood and co-written with London author Falase-Koya.

Ever since Marcus lost his soccer ball after he accidentally kicked it over the fence at school, he’s lost his touch for his favorite sport. When he receives an invitation to join the Breakfast Club Investigators, it seems like a great opportunity to retrieve his ball before his cousin, Lola, who gave it to him, returns from America in less than a week. The BCI was created by other kids from Rutherford Secondary School who, like Marcus, gather in the canteen for free breakfasts. No one from Rutherford has ever been known to retrieve a ball that went over that particular fence, and Marcus and the racially diverse BCI members, Asim, Lise, and Stacey, face obstacles—like a stern head teacher and a howling beast—that weaken their morale. The story moves rapidly, with Marcus counting down the days until Lola’s return and figuring out how to balance his old friends with his new BCI connections. The book explores themes like the power of relying on your community, having confidence in yourself, and not fearing life’s changes as the characters grapple with their own problems. Kissi’s illustrations and a variety of font shapes and sizes add zest to this series opener.

Fast-paced and action-packed fun.