Kick

Product Information

Maybe I'm just selfish and cold-hearted but personally, I think that is a pretty poor way to repay him! At the back of the book it says Mitch Johnson’s next novel will be about PTSD (I think) and if that subject matter is treated as sensitively and skillfully as it is in Kick, it will be another classic. It highlights the issues faced by those living in a society where most people are just about scraping enough money together to get by. This is a fast-paced story about big dreams, bravery and fighting for justice up until the final whistle. The book follows the story of a young Budi who lives in the slums of Malaysia, but he has one dream, to play for Real Madrid.

When an earthquake strikes, causing some buildings to crumble, killing Rochy's family and also leading to the death of Budi's grandmother, it is particularly challenging. Apart from the quote, there are barely any hints there to do with the themes it discusses in terms of Indonesian poverty and the ridiculous justice system there (this book goes into really great detail on those points! There is uproar in the factory as the foreman threatens everyone that they will suffer unless and until the thief is identified.Even with his family in poverty, surrounded by crime lords and unsettling people, he plays in the streets of Malaysia until dark. He believes he will save enough to fly to Madrid to watch his favourite team, and he believes the very boots he stitches are worn by his favourite player.

He's going to be a star, instead of sweating over each football boot he makes, each stitch he sews, each box he packages. Budi especially because he is just like a lot of young boys and girls out there, who's lifelong dream is to play pro football and nothing will stop them. He then grows far more confident as a person and that story also teaches Budi to look past all his difficulties - in terms of being poor and having his blood condition - and follow his dreams if that is solely what he wants to do and it will pay off. Budi lives with his parents and his grandmother, who tells him stories of past events in her life and his. I found this book to be really eye-opening and could provide children with insight into what life might be like for children in other parts of the world.I think everyone should read this whether you like football or not, because it is such an important story, tackling real issues, but so full of heart and hope. It’s also an intelligent look at the shadow side of capitalism that holds the role of professional footballer (with its accompanying wealth) up as an aspiration for children around the world, despite their circumstances. To conclude this book provides opportunity for discussions into topics such as; poverty, privilege, imbalances compared to westernised culture and child labour, whilst also providing an enjoyable story for young readers. This has been a great success with our Y6 boys in particular, and I've finally, in a World Cup come-down, got round to reading it.

He doesn't spend pages describing the city they live in through his own eyes, he lets the conversation between the children take us there. His ambition is to be a famous football player for a team like Real Madrid, but Budi’s reality is rather different. The book shows his struggles trying to earn some money to support his family and to make it is a professional footballer. Every day after work, he is out on the street kicking a ball, stone or bottle around with his friends. To make the book better, I would keep all the plotline and keep all the themes but just make the STYLE of the book a bit more adult!Also Budi is a budding (excuse the pun) footballer and plays football whenever he can, commentating on his play in his head. It is focused on ambition; it's focused on following dreams; it's focused on the injustice of a legal system, among many other things. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes football as it is not only about football but also about how children working in a poorer country are treated.

However, the closest that he has come to reaching this dream is working in a factory that makes the football boots worn by his favourite player. Giving young children a glimpse into the life of someone with so little (in both material and opportunity) is important - it can encourage a sense of perspective and gratitude. Keluguan dan kepolosannya membuat dirinya berani bermimpi bahwa suatu hari dia bisa bermain bersama pesepak bola idolanya di Madrid- Kieran Wakefield. One of his jobs is sewing, hence the sewn writing on the cover for the word KICK and the sewn thread design through the book at the opening of chapters. The last thing Budi needs is to inadvertently become involved with The Dragon – the most feared man in Jakarta.He knows that one day he will get the opportunity to go the watch his heroes play, and possibly play alongside them. The author subtly juxtaposes the poverty in the factory and in the society more generally with the excesses of the footballing world which the children so admire. Budi sendiri sudah putus sekolah, karena dia harus membantu keluarganya mencari uang sebagai buruh jahit di pabrik sepatu. We are right there with them, through the horrors they face, but there is humour, and warmth, and a wonderful relationship between the main two children.