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rosecahill's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
(Warning - you may need tissues) Emotional period piece about family with a strong child's point of view in the writing
Leon has cared for his mum and his baby brother since Jake was born and his mother began to retreat from the real world. He adores Jakes, he loves his mum, but he can't get her to leave her bed, to buy food.
Leon is 9, born to a white mother and a black father, living in 1980s England. Jake's father is white. When the boys are inevitably taken into care, Leon begins to find stability with Maureen, to become a boy again, but one day a couple come by to play with Jake...
I openly wept at work reading this in my lunch break, the writing of some highly emotional scenes was absolutely heart-breaking. It is written from Leon's very naive yet mature point of view, though not first person, but it is clearly his own thoughts and feelings we are sharing. And it really did feel that de Waal has captured the mind of a nine-year-old boy. Leon is very, very real.
His story is such a sad one, as he struggles to understand why his mum isn't coming for him, why he can't see his brother, what is happening around him. Leon discovers a local allotment with an Afro-Caribbean man and an Irishman, often at odds with each other, he begins to help them grow vegetables, and he is there first-hand when race riots rear their ugly head.
I was born in 1980, and was oblivious to the events depicted here in the early eighties. It is all too real here though - racist and violent police, revolution in the air, hostility and fear. And Leon with his own resentments and hidden worries in the middle of it.
He's a well-crafted little boy, one you'd not look at twice riding his bike down the hill, but one whose story has a lot to tell us about Britain three decades ago, and how much has changed since.
The carers portrayed here are wonderful, human, imperfect, but loving and large (of heart) women. Leon's allotment friends are more than just the stereotypes they are seen as by the police and those around them - with their own stories and lives, that Leon discovers over time.
It's a book with a lot of issues raised, it wouldn't be too much for a teenaged reader, and adults will get a lot from it, the historical detail brought back pictures from my childhood (ghetto blasters, BMX bikes), the story a shockingly sad but ultimately uplifting one.
Review of a Goodreads giveaway copy.
Leon has cared for his mum and his baby brother since Jake was born and his mother began to retreat from the real world. He adores Jakes, he loves his mum, but he can't get her to leave her bed, to buy food.
Leon is 9, born to a white mother and a black father, living in 1980s England. Jake's father is white. When the boys are inevitably taken into care, Leon begins to find stability with Maureen, to become a boy again, but one day a couple come by to play with Jake...
I openly wept at work reading this in my lunch break, the writing of some highly emotional scenes was absolutely heart-breaking. It is written from Leon's very naive yet mature point of view, though not first person, but it is clearly his own thoughts and feelings we are sharing. And it really did feel that de Waal has captured the mind of a nine-year-old boy. Leon is very, very real.
His story is such a sad one, as he struggles to understand why his mum isn't coming for him, why he can't see his brother, what is happening around him. Leon discovers a local allotment with an Afro-Caribbean man and an Irishman, often at odds with each other, he begins to help them grow vegetables, and he is there first-hand when race riots rear their ugly head.
I was born in 1980, and was oblivious to the events depicted here in the early eighties. It is all too real here though - racist and violent police, revolution in the air, hostility and fear. And Leon with his own resentments and hidden worries in the middle of it.
He's a well-crafted little boy, one you'd not look at twice riding his bike down the hill, but one whose story has a lot to tell us about Britain three decades ago, and how much has changed since.
The carers portrayed here are wonderful, human, imperfect, but loving and large (of heart) women. Leon's allotment friends are more than just the stereotypes they are seen as by the police and those around them - with their own stories and lives, that Leon discovers over time.
It's a book with a lot of issues raised, it wouldn't be too much for a teenaged reader, and adults will get a lot from it, the historical detail brought back pictures from my childhood (ghetto blasters, BMX bikes), the story a shockingly sad but ultimately uplifting one.
Review of a Goodreads giveaway copy.
esmem's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Police brutality, and Child abuse
edshara's review against another edition
3.0
Ok this was good but it was about 50-100 pages too long. The plot was interesting and it grabs you right away, but somewhere around the middle, it gets boring. Nothing really seems to be happening and I just kind of wanted it to get to the end.
The characters were a pretty unique group. Their were lots of different personality types and that made for a well-rounded story. It was sad to see Leon’s mom, Carol, struggle with her mental health. It’s hard enough without a good support system, but add on being a single parent and it was understandable to see why things turned out as they did.
My main frustration was, Leon went through so much, being taken from his mother, then separated from his brother and yet he wasn’t really given the help he needed. Even though this book takes place in the 80’s, it was disturbing that Leon wasn’t given more professional help, when his behavioral problems started to develop and especially with his mother’s mental health history. I thought Leon and Jake being separated was just plain evil, regardless of the time period.
The ending did pick up and while I wasn’t happy with everything, it was nice to see how things turned out, especially for Leon.
The characters were a pretty unique group. Their were lots of different personality types and that made for a well-rounded story. It was sad to see Leon’s mom, Carol, struggle with her mental health. It’s hard enough without a good support system, but add on being a single parent and it was understandable to see why things turned out as they did.
My main frustration was, Leon went through so much, being taken from his mother, then separated from his brother and yet he wasn’t really given the help he needed. Even though this book takes place in the 80’s, it was disturbing that Leon wasn’t given more professional help, when his behavioral problems started to develop and especially with his mother’s mental health history. I thought Leon and Jake being separated was just plain evil, regardless of the time period.
The ending did pick up and while I wasn’t happy with everything, it was nice to see how things turned out, especially for Leon.
evespencer's review against another edition
5.0
Such a wholesome book that had me tearful and then smiling in the same chapters. A very honest and somewhat simple story that was a pleasure to read from start to finish.
jesslolsen's review against another edition
3.0
This is a slower paced story so it might not be a good one to read if you don't have a lot of time (I feel it would just drag on too long), but stick with it because the ending does it justice.
For the majority of this book I couldn't understand how anyone would let their child wander the streets on their own and not question what they were up to - I certainly couldn't imagine me not caring about where my son was - but then I realised that that was exactly what my childhood was like growing up in the almost-country. It just made me sad that the whole time I was reading it, I was worried about someone nasty snatching him.
What I took most from this story, was that Family is what you make it. Leon was too young to understand that initially, but by the end he had made found himself in a very unique but caring family, as opposed to struggling to put back his real family. It breaks my heart to think that is a reality for some children, and I hope that it works out right for some of them, even though it also seems hard work. My heart strings were definitely pulled for Leon.
For the majority of this book I couldn't understand how anyone would let their child wander the streets on their own and not question what they were up to - I certainly couldn't imagine me not caring about where my son was - but then I realised that that was exactly what my childhood was like growing up in the almost-country. It just made me sad that the whole time I was reading it, I was worried about someone nasty snatching him.
What I took most from this story, was that Family is what you make it. Leon was too young to understand that initially, but by the end he had made found himself in a very unique but caring family, as opposed to struggling to put back his real family. It breaks my heart to think that is a reality for some children, and I hope that it works out right for some of them, even though it also seems hard work. My heart strings were definitely pulled for Leon.
wanderingmole's review against another edition
4.0
Heart-wrenching tale of a foster kid finding his way. Lovely book.
ejarvis996's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racism, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality
leahcatching's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0