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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I never hear anyone talking about this book - I suspect I bought it from the cover without really knowing the premise. It made me cry, laugh, and rage. I loved the found family that formed around Leon, which is one of my favorite tropes. The only quibble I had was the audiobook contained a lot of British slang, thankfully I had the US print edition to follow along because some of the slang I had no clue what was being said lol.
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Police brutality
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
A lovely book. About a child whose mother could not care for him. Written by someone who has worked in Social Services and child care so it rings true to me
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book, I loved Leon and really rooted for him throughout the book. Moments were so heartbreakingly sad, but other moments were so sweet and uplifting.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My heart broke for Leon so many times in the course of this book. His emotions are laid out so beautifully on the page and it's wonderfully written. It really captures a child's mindset, from the minutiae of watching raindrops run down a window to half-overheard conversations that lead to enormous misunderstandings. Leon's anger, his sadness and his capacity for love are so raw.
Despite the current of sadness this is really a hopeful story. The characters Leon finds along the way and the different ways love manifests for him almost bring a sense of joy. Sylvia is a prime example and the way their relationship begins to blossom is so lovely. She's a grumpy cow but I did grow to love her!
It was really hard to get over the idea that Leon, as a mixed race boy, was considered unadoptable in the early '80s, while his white younger brother finds a forever family and they're separated so early on. I like to think the events following the book have them finding each other again somehow, otherwise the joy is much harder to hold on to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction
Een onderhoudend, soms aangrijpend boek over de schaduwkanten van adoptie en pleegzorg, maar de vertelstem van de 9-jarige Leon deed het helaas niet voor mij.
emotional
sad
slow-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
Nice read that kept me engaged throughout, was heartbreaking and frustrating in places but enjoyed this book
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
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes