LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2017.
This is such a gorgeously expressive novel, it just sings with intensity, and is impossible to put down. Nine year old Leon loves his little brother Jake and his mum, he looks after them both as best he can, when Leon and Jake have to go and live with Maureen, Leon hatches a plan. Kit de Waal writes with a beautiful, sincere energy, the simplicity of the tale told from Leon's point of view allows a complicated backdrop of emotions to shine through. At times my heart absolutely ached, yet there are also proper laughter blurting moments, and I just wanted to gather everybody up into a huge, squashy hug. The 80’s, with it’s curly wurlys, royal celebrations, and riots is the perfect setting. A gloriously motley collection of characters come to life, each and every one of them is indispensable, and each affected me in some way. ‘My Name is Leon’ is a stunning, eloquent, stinging paper-cut of a read, I fell in love with it, and in turn, it left me full of hope.
Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2016
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Liz Robinson
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My Name Is Leon Synopsis
A STUDENT EDITION
It's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. Amid tumult and change, nine-year-old Leon tries to find his place. 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 . . .
This education edition includes teacher-designed guided reading questions. For more information, including interviews with author Kit de Waal and activities related to studying My Name is Leon, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/teaching-resources
WINNER OF THE IRISH NOVEL PRIZE
'Startlingly funny. Balances the gritty with the feel good' Observer
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781405977920 |
| Publication date: |
24th October 2024 |
| Author: |
Kit de Waal |
| Publisher: |
Penguin Books an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
288 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Family Drama
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Press Reviews
Kit de Waal Press Reviews
'A brother chosen. A brother left behind. And a family where you'd least expect to find one Publisher's description Tender and heart-breaking' -- Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
'A beautiful story told with compassion, urgency and wit' -- Stephen Kelman, author of the Booker-shortlisted 'Pigeon English
Vivid and endearing - a very powerful book' -- Emma Healey, bestselling author of 'Elizabeth is Missing
'Leon is pure goodwill in a wicked world, and he won't leave you when you put this unique book down. Authentic and beautiful, urgent and honest, this novel does what only the best do: it quietly makes room in your heart. At the end of the story I couldn't bear to close the book on Leon. I felt I was abandoning him. I wanted to talk about it straight away with someone else who'd read it, and I know a great many readers will feel the same.' -- Chris Cleave, bestselling author of 'The Other Hand'
Author
About Kit de Waal
Kit de Waal was born in Birmingham to an Irish mother, who was a foster carer and a Caribbean father. She worked for fifteen years in criminal and family law, was a magistrate for several years and sits on adoption panels. She used to advise Social Services on the care of foster children, and has written training manuals on adoption and foster care. Her writing has received numerous awards including the Bridport Flash Fiction Prize 2014 and 2015 and the SI Leeds Literary Reader's Choice Prize 2014. My Name is Leon is her first novel. She has two children.
Author photo © Justine Stoddart
More About Kit de Waal
