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
Head to our 'Black Lit Matters' list to find more must-read novels by black writers.
A STUDENT EDITIONIt'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-resourcesWINNER OF THE IRISH NOVEL PRIZE'Startlingly funny. Balances the gritty with the feel good' Observer
| Primary Genre | Family Drama |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
A STUDENT EDITIONIt's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. Amid tumult and change, nine-year-old Leon tries to find his place.
My Name Is Leon features in the following genres: Family Drama, Book Club Recommendations, Debuts, eBooks of the Month, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Sharing Diverse Voices, Fiction, Recommendations, General Fiction
Paperback. £9.89, down from the £10.99 cover price. In Stock.
My Name Is Leon was written by Kit de Waal and published by Penguin Books an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd
My Name Is Leon has 288 pages
£9.89, reduced from £10.99. In Stock.
