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Leon is a 9-year-old boy in 1980's London. His mother, who is on her own, has a new baby. Leon is biracial. His mother and brother are white. Leon is a loving, gentle boy who does his all for his mother as she slips into post-natal depression. As things deteriorate, social services come in and Leon and his brother are put in foster care.
Maureen, the foster mother, is a working class woman, middle-aged, and not in great health. She is affectionate and cares deeply for the boys. Rather that get i ...more
Maureen, the foster mother, is a working class woman, middle-aged, and not in great health. She is affectionate and cares deeply for the boys. Rather that get i ...more
My Name is Leon is a book to be admired. The plot is topical and interesting. It even does not pander to the reader and I liked that but it had one glaring fault.
The novel's main theme focuses on mixed race children and adoption. The main protagonist, Leon is an example. His dad is from the west indies, but abandons his white mother when he finds out that she has had a child from a white man. Eventually both Leon and his brother are fostered.
From then onwards My Name is Leon is about Leon trial ...more
I don’t have a great track record when it comes to books written from a child’s perspective. They can be a hit or miss as I often find the POV contrived and unbelievable. I’ve been making my way through the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist for this year and decided to read My Name is Leon before diving into De Waal’s new book The Trick to Time.
I was a bit hesitant after reading the synopsis, knowing how most foster care stories go. De Waal has first hand experience with the foster system. Her ...more
I was a bit hesitant after reading the synopsis, knowing how most foster care stories go. De Waal has first hand experience with the foster system. Her ...more
thoughts coming shortly
Apr 20, 2016
Marcia
marked it as to-read
Aug 16, 2016
Kristina
marked it as to-read
Sep 06, 2016
Maia
marked it as to-read
Jun 28, 2017
Risa
marked it as to-read
Jul 11, 2017
Erin
marked it as to-read
Aug 30, 2017
Navi
marked it as literary-fiction-tbr
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review of another edition
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2017-purchases-tbr
Nov 12, 2018
Grace
marked it as to-read
Jan 23, 2020
RJ - Slayer of Trolls
marked it as maybe
Feb 12, 2020
Pants McGee
marked it as to-read
Mar 09, 2020
Anita
marked it as to-read
