The Penalty - Mal Peet

The story takes place in an unnamed South American country and revolves around the life of Paulo, a young boy who grows up in a poor, rural community. Paulo's life is forever changed when he is forced to flee his home after his family is brutally murdered by a group of soldiers. Paulo finds himself in the city, where he is taken in by a group of street kids who survive by their wits and cunning.

Paulo discovers that he has a natural talent for football and becomes obsessed with the game, seeing it as a way to escape the poverty and violence that surrounds him. As Paulo's football skills improve, he attracts the attention of a wealthy and influential football coach, who offers him a chance to play for the national team.

However, Paulo soon realizes that the coach's intentions are far from altruistic, and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to win, including exploiting and manipulating his players. The novel explores themes of poverty, violence, corruption, and the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy and powerful.

Through Paulo's story, Peet sheds light on the harsh realities of life in many South American countries, where football is often seen as a way out of poverty, but where the risks of exploitation and corruption are ever-present. The Penalty is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that combines elements of sports fiction, social commentary, and coming-of-age drama.