A TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A brother chosen.
A brother left behind. And a family where you'd least expect to find one. Leon
is nine, and has a perfect baby brother called Jake. They have gone to live with
Maureen, who has fuzzy red hair like a halo, and a belly like Father Christmas.
But the adults are speaking in low voices, and wearing Pretend faces. They are
threatening to give Jake to strangers. Since Jake is white and Leon is not. As
Leon struggles to cope with his anger, certain things can still make him
smile – like Curly Wurlys, riding his bike fast downhill, burying his hands
deep in the soil, hanging out with Tufty (who reminds him of his dad), and
stealing enough coins so that one day he can rescue Jake and his mum. Evoking a
Britain of the early eighties, My Name is Leon is a heart-breaking story of
love, identity and learning to overcome unbearable loss. Of the fierce bond
between siblings. And how – just when we least expect it – we manage to
find our way home.
Author Biography
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.
Shortlist, 2016 Costa First Novel Award