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.
"""A good book that I really enjoyed reading ... I like this because it is very exciting but there is a lot of humour too"" -- Reader Review, Teen Titles ""Written with sensitivity and insight, and illustrated by David Shephard, this book comes packed with drama, suspense, some real-life issues, and all the excitement – and ups and downs – of sporting action and shared team spirit. A brilliant book for rugby fans, adrenaline addicts and reluctant readers…"" -- Lancashire Evening Post ""The dilemmas the characters face are well defined and the reader will be drawn into their decision-making in this pacy story with sport and loyalty at its heart"" -- Parents in Touch ""Palmer is a first class story teller ... there’s light and shade in his stories and I thought it was excellent that the ‘baddies’ in these stories aren’t cartoon villains but complex characters in their own right"" -- The Letterpress Project ""Will resonate with anyone who has played a team sport … Skilful storytelling makes Rugby Academy an exciting read, even for non-sports fans, and will appeal to readers with a wide range of interests"" -- BookTrust"