Bookseller Reviews
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Heartbreaking but lovely
If I could do half ratings, this would be more of a 3.5 than a solid 4. I did have a good old cry in the early stages of the book, Leon's situation was abs... READ MORE
A lion-hearted book
The central character in Kit de Waal's My Name is Leon is a child who finds himself in the care system in the early 1980s. His mother seems to suffer from ... READ MORE
Poignant and Insightful
My Name is Leon is a brilliant debut from Kit De Waal that masterfully crafts the naïve yet nuanced internalisations of a young boy, whilst illustrating th... READ MORE
My new favourite book.
Surely this is going to be one of the books of the year. The words tender, heartbreaking, beautiful and bittersweet do not do it justice. The story of Leon... READ MORE
Touching and Marvellous
My Name is Leon is an absolute treasure of a book. I can often be put off by child main characters, but there is no possible way Leon will not capture your... READ MORE
Heartbreaking yet funny
A poignant and memorable story told my 9year old Leon who when his white brother was adopted was left behind in the social care system because he was ... READ MORE
Beautiful
Like a warm blanket on a cold winter's day. This beautiful book will move you to tears at times and make you laugh out loud at others. One of my absolute f... READ MORE
Struggles of a young boy who doesn't fit in.
Leon 9 years old is mixed race,his baby brother is fair haired and blue-eyed and he has to look after him as his mum cannot cope.So much so that she has to... READ MORE
Synopsis
Shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2017
Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2017
It's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV. Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is nine-year-old Leon. He and his little brother Jake have gone to live with Maureen. They've lost one home, but have they found another? Maureen feeds and looks after them. She has wild red hair and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks they can't hear. She claims everything will be okay. But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Jake? Between the street violence and the street parties, Leon must find a way to reunite his family...
'Startlingly funny. Balances the gritty with the feel good.' - The Observer
'Vivid and endearing - a very powerful book.' - Emma Healey, bestselling author of Elizabeth is Missing 'Authentic and beautiful, urgent and honest, this novel makes room in your heart.' - Chris Cleave, bestselling author of The Other Hand
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241973387
- Number of pages: 288
- Dimensions: 198 x 130 x 18 mm
- Weight: 207g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allA special place in your heart...
This book will find a special place in your heart...it is simply brilliant!!
Can't wait to see what this author produces next!
Love is the best medicine
This is a difficult novel to write about because it is so sad. A story of an eight-year-old boy who is separated from his mother was bound to be tough, but... READ MORE
"It is impossible not to fall in love with Leon..."
Heartwarming and heartbreaking by turns, My Name is Leon follows the experiences of Leon, a nine year old boy who is separated from his baby brother Jake ... READ MORE
I'm still thinking about Leon
Leon is nine years old when he and his baby brother, Jake, go to live with Maureen. He knows that his mum can’t look after him very well at the moment, so ... READ MORE
Leon is a character to cherish.
Kit de Waal has packed so much into this beautiful novel. It's just over 250 pages long and has such an emotional impact. I fell in love with Leon on the v... READ MORE
Heart-breaking and heart-warming!
I am little bit heart-broken and a lot impressed.
This was a heart-breaking and at the same time heart-warming tale of a mixed race boy growing up in 1980’... READ MORE
Searching
My Name Is Leon by Kit de Waal is a marvellous debut novel that mesmerised me from the start.
The setting is Birmingham in 1981. I grew up near Birmingham ... READ MORE
Meet Leon...
Kit de Waal's début novel packs in a lot of big issues and deep emotions and has a huge, fit for bursting empathetic heart. This story is about Leon, so is... READ MORE
Five big, fat, emphatic starts!
I LOVED My Name Is Leon.
Leon is 9 when we first meet him and he has a newborn brother called Jake. His mum starts to struggle and the boys end up in the 1... READ MORE
Beautifully Written
This is one of the books I just couldn't put down! Waal captures the heart and soul of Leon in every page. The book is beautifully written from the perspec... READ MORE
A heart wrenching book .
I recently read this book for my book group and decided to give a copy of it to a young friend studying to become a social worker .Leon is a young boy in c... READ MORE
Moving and powerful insights into racism and adoption in Britain
An outstanding example of fiction which has emerged from real life experience, this book represents a powerful way to open up the issues of racism, adoptio... READ MORE
Novel set in 1980s ENGLAND
This novel is convincingly set against the backdrop of 1981, when Curly Wurlys were a thing, BMX bikes were the must-have item for youngsters, sporadic str... READ MORE
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