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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I raced through this like I did books when I was a child. I was reading like I did as a child, desperately hoping it wouldn’t break my heart. So wonderful, read it immediately.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My Name Is Leon is an absolutely phenomenal and poignant novel. It is told from the perspective of Leon, a nine year old black boy growing up in England in the 1980's. Leon, along with his baby brother Jake, find their lives upturned when they are entered into foster care, as their mum is too sick to look after them. Here's the catch, where Leon is black, Jake is white AND a baby. Jake is easily adopted... and Leon is left behind. All he has left is a teddy of Jake's and one photo.
We see the way these changes affect Leon, warping his world perspective and maturing him far beyond his years. Leon is a beautiful character. He's a perfect mixture of curiosity and innocence; of wisdom and naivety. His foster carers, Maureen and Sylvia, are equally loveable and relatable. I love the fact that this book dealt with race, adoption, and families.
This book feels so real when you read it - and that's because it is. Kit De Waal has been surrounded by the foster care system her whole life. Her mum was a foster carer, and she then went on to advise Social Services on the care of foster children. I find it so refreshing to read a book that is so well researched and loved this book so much! I give it 4/5 stars.
We see the way these changes affect Leon, warping his world perspective and maturing him far beyond his years. Leon is a beautiful character. He's a perfect mixture of curiosity and innocence; of wisdom and naivety. His foster carers, Maureen and Sylvia, are equally loveable and relatable. I love the fact that this book dealt with race, adoption, and families.
This book feels so real when you read it - and that's because it is. Kit De Waal has been surrounded by the foster care system her whole life. Her mum was a foster carer, and she then went on to advise Social Services on the care of foster children. I find it so refreshing to read a book that is so well researched and loved this book so much! I give it 4/5 stars.
What an absolutely beautiful book! There is an entire world between the covers. I absolutely love the POV writing and overheard conversations- through this I managed to get all the relevant information while reflecting on it with a child's mind. This book is heartbreaking, smart, funny, thoughtful and a pleasure to read!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is a wonderful book, and leon totally took root in my heart. (unless your heart is dead-dead-dead, you will want to take leon into your own home.) holy smokes! i feel de waal did a fantastic job bringing the voice, actions, and feelings of 9-10yo leon to life. de waal cleverly handles a lot of big issues here with so much sensitivity, integrity and authenticity. (post-partum depression, mental health, foster care, multiracial people and sentiments, the UK race riots of 1981, the brouhaha leading up to the marriage of charles & diana, the meaning of family, the importance of sibling relationships, the importance of hearing children...) while a terrific portrayal of a very specific time in london, england (and not to sound totally hokey here), this novel transcends its time and place and is incredibly relevant and necessary today.
there is a great section included by the publisher at the end of the edition i read - it offers book club questions and an author interview. i loved the interview with de waal. and loved learning that leon will be back for readers!! can't. wait.
there is a great section included by the publisher at the end of the edition i read - it offers book club questions and an author interview. i loved the interview with de waal. and loved learning that leon will be back for readers!! can't. wait.
I don't normally write reviews but I absolutely loved this book. Rare to find a book written from a foster child's perspective amidst the backdrop of the riots. Will stay with me a long time.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Heart breaking and heart warming all at the same time.