Winner of the Branford Boase Award.

Budi's plan is simple. He's going to be a star.

Budi's going to play for the greatest team on earth, instead of sweating over each stitch he sews, each football boot he makes.

But one unlucky kick brings Budi's world crashing down. Now he owes the Dragon, the most dangerous man in Jakarta. Soon it isn't only Budi's dreams at stake, but his life.

A story about dreaming big, about hope and heroes, and never letting anything stand in your way.

"A brilliant debut." - John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

"A dazzling story of family, fate and football and one game-changing friendship." - Peter Bunzl, author of The Cogheart Adventures

"A fantastically original debut that champions hope, dogged optimism in the face of adversity, and friendship" - M. G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy

"skillfully written and perfectly paced. Mitch Johnston has produced a fantastically original debut that champions hope, dogged optimism in the face of adversity, and friendship." - M.G. Leonard, author of Beetle Boy

"A fast-paced, compelling read about so much more than the beautiful game. It's about the cost of friendship, about having to make agonisingly difficult choices and about keeping hope alive while life delivers some hard blows" - Toppsta reader review