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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Complicated
This book tells the story of Leon, a nine year old black boy, growing up in England in the Eighties, who ends up in care. His mother whom he loves, is incapable of looking after him and his baby brother Jake, and his brother is eventually adopted. Leon finds himself in a downward spiral of confusion and abandonment, and longs to reunite with his family, dysfunctional though they are.
Leon goes to live with Maureen, a straight-talking, no-nonsense woman with years of fostering experience, who is fundamentally kind and loving. Despite Leon's resistance, they strike up a loving and trusting relationship. When Maureen gets sick, her sister, Sylvia takes care of Leon. Sylvia is bossy, foul-mouthed and rough at times, but again provides stability and boundaries for Leon and grows to love him also in her own way. Leon, however, just thinks about his mother and brother, and how to get them back together.
A number of social workers intervene, trying to explain things to Leon, but Leon cannot let go of his pipe dream. He begins to act out and steal things. He doesn't open up to Maureen or Sylvia about how he is feeling, and finds some solace in a local allotment, where he befriends Tufty, a fellow black person, and Mr. Devlin, two gardeners, among a community of other gardeners. There is a lot of racial unrest in the community, and on the night it all comes to a head, Leon inadvertently becomes embroiled in the chaos as it unfolds on the streets. Leon had run away from Sylvia 's house, feeling abandoned and unloved.
This book tells the story of how persistent love will win out in the end. It looks at the world from the eyes of a vulnerable nine-year old in care, and how confused and broken the world can seem. It tells the story of how appearances can be deceptive. Maureen and Sylvia, both rather unpolished and imperfect, were able to love and care for Leon with a fierce and unfailing steadfastness. The men at the allotment whom Leon comes to know have painful pasts of their own. Though they seem tough and often broken, they have a tender understanding and vision which win out in the end. With the backdrop of Eighties England, the colloquial dialogue and the child's point of view all very well realised, Kit de Wal created a true and tender book, insightful and sharp but redemptive and touching.
Leon goes to live with Maureen, a straight-talking, no-nonsense woman with years of fostering experience, who is fundamentally kind and loving. Despite Leon's resistance, they strike up a loving and trusting relationship. When Maureen gets sick, her sister, Sylvia takes care of Leon. Sylvia is bossy, foul-mouthed and rough at times, but again provides stability and boundaries for Leon and grows to love him also in her own way. Leon, however, just thinks about his mother and brother, and how to get them back together.
A number of social workers intervene, trying to explain things to Leon, but Leon cannot let go of his pipe dream. He begins to act out and steal things. He doesn't open up to Maureen or Sylvia about how he is feeling, and finds some solace in a local allotment, where he befriends Tufty, a fellow black person, and Mr. Devlin, two gardeners, among a community of other gardeners. There is a lot of racial unrest in the community, and on the night it all comes to a head, Leon inadvertently becomes embroiled in the chaos as it unfolds on the streets. Leon had run away from Sylvia 's house, feeling abandoned and unloved.
This book tells the story of how persistent love will win out in the end. It looks at the world from the eyes of a vulnerable nine-year old in care, and how confused and broken the world can seem. It tells the story of how appearances can be deceptive. Maureen and Sylvia, both rather unpolished and imperfect, were able to love and care for Leon with a fierce and unfailing steadfastness. The men at the allotment whom Leon comes to know have painful pasts of their own. Though they seem tough and often broken, they have a tender understanding and vision which win out in the end. With the backdrop of Eighties England, the colloquial dialogue and the child's point of view all very well realised, Kit de Wal created a true and tender book, insightful and sharp but redemptive and touching.
The first half of this book was an emotional read, I was full on sobbing by page 50 and thought this book was going to be amazing. The second half was not as strong. The story is about Leon who is a 9 year old mixed race child in 1981, his mother has just given birth to his white half-brother, Jake, and the story is about their neglect and subsequent journey in foster care. Jake is quickly adopted as he is a baby whereas Leon has little hope of ever being adopted. The second half of the book is about the racial tensions of the time and rioting which I didn't really find all that interesting. The ending was cute but overall this was an average read for me.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
When Taylor Swift said that her depression works the graveyard shift she meant this book
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I absolutely love this book, I found Leon’s story extremely captivating, as well as eye opening. I feel lucky enough to have experienced a live Q&A with Kit De Waal, taking home some of the most influential advice and guidance I have ever heard from an author. Thank you for the amazing book.
Someone sent me a free copy of this. I don't remember asking for it (although it's altogether possible - I'm always up for blagging a copy of something I like the sound of). Anyway, it's a cracker of a story - unashamedly tear-jerking, and with some marvellous characters that will stay with you a long long time. I don''t want to say too much more about it - I won't do it justice. Suffice it to say that there is going to be a lot of buzz about this one next year.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Addiction, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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:
Complicated