A New Knight
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Shortlisted for the 2024 Yabba Awards, Fiction for Younger Readers
Australian Matildas and World Cup superstar Sam Kerr teams up with Aki Fukuoka to bring young readers this fun and inspiring illustrated series about soccer, school, sport, friendship, dealing with bullies and following your dreams.
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After a rough start, Sam Kerr settles into playing soccer for the Knights.ย But thereโs so much to learn โ new rules and positions and strategies โฆ Lately, it seems like soccer is the only thing she can think about.
When she finds out sheโll have to wear a dress (gross) and dance in front of a hundred people at her cousinโs upcoming wedding (terrifying), Sam feels like sheโs all but had enough. So why isnโt her best friend Indi supporting her? And why is school bully Chelsea suddenly a bit โฆ nice?
Will Sam be able to mend her friendships โ and score a few goals in the meantime โ before itโs too late?
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โA fun book packed with cool illustrations. It follows themes of family and perseverance that will totes leave you feeling inspired!โ Total Girl on The Flip Out
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Sam Kerr is the captain of the Australian womenโs national soccer team โ the Matildas โ and a leading goal scorer for Chelsea in the English FA Womenโs Super League. She burst onto the W-League scene as a fifteen-year-old playing with Perth Glory. In 2016, she played for the Matildas at the Olympics in Brazil, and she was the top goal scorer in the 2017 Tournament of Nations. Since joining Chelsea in 2019, Sam has positioned herself as one of the best female strikers in the world. She was named 2018 Young Australian of the Year. In 2021, Sam became the Matildas all-time top goal scorer at the Tokyo Olympics, and in 2023, helped the Matildas achieve their best-ever result at a Womenโs World Cup. IG: @samanthakerr20; @samkerrfootball
Fiona Harris has written the childrenโs series The Super Moopers, Trolls and Miraculous. She was head scriptwriter on ABC3 TVโs Prank Patrol and wrote/co-starred in the TV comedy shows Flipside, Comedy Inc. and SkitHouse. Fiona co-wrote and starred in the international-award-winning web series The Drop Off, with husband Mike McLeish. Their adult fiction novel The Drop-off was released in 2020 and its sequel, The Pick-up, is due out in 2021. Fiona also co-authored Sharni Laytonโs biography, No Apologies, and Marcus Bontempelliโs picture book, both released in 2021. For more information on Fiona Harris visit fionaharris.com.
Aki Fukuoka was born in the valleys of the alps of central Japan and was raised in the rolling hills of the New Zealand countryside. After spending her childhood exploring nature with her four siblings, Aki moved out to the city of Auckland to learn how to cross roads, manoeuvre between pedestrians and gain her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She is currently living in a little wooden cottage house with her husband, four children and animals and works full time as a freelance illustrator. Aki is most well known for her illustrations for the Billie B Brown series.
