This is the poignant story of a little boy trying to make sense of a situation in which his mom is taken away and his precious baby brother is given to strangers.
Leon is 9, but has already learnt to take care of himself and his beautiful but unstable mother, Carol, whose taste in men is a disaster.
He instantly adores his perfect baby brother, Jake. When Carol spirals into depression and prescription drug addiction and is hospitalised, the boys are placed in foster care with warm, motherly Maureen, who has fuzzy red hair like a halo and a belly like Father Christmas.
Leon’s father has disappeared, on the run from the cops, while Jake’s dad is a married man, who wants nothing more to do with Carol or the baby.
Jake is chosen for adoption and Leon is left behind. This might sound as if a true tear jerker is set to unfold, but the author deftly sidesteps any soppy tendencies.
Instead she wisely opts for a grittily realistic slice-of-life novel, set against the backdrop of early 1980’s working class Britain, as Princess Di’s wedding and the Birmingham race riots dominate the news.
Exploring the neighbourhood on his bike, Leon discovers a motley assortment of characters who work in garden allotments, growing vegetables. He is befriended by the rough diamond, Tufty, who shares his West Indian roots, and the irascible Mr Devlin, ex-IRA member. They provide him with a sense of belonging, and teach him the healing power of gardening.
Presented in a simple, understated, no-frills style, the story is told through the eyes of the 9-year-old Leon. This is always a bit of a risk for an author, but Kit de Waal pulls it off beautifully.
Although no goody two shoes, Leon doesn’t feel any bitterness towards his mom, or blame her at all. He never gives up hope of finding Carol and Jake and of looking after his family again.
De Waal’s debut novel is written from personal experience. She was born in Birmingham to an Irish mother, who was a foster carer, and a Caribbean father, and worked for many years in criminal and family law. All of this adds up to an authentic and believable portrayal of her fictional subject matter, as she explores social and political issues with empathy, compassion and a light touch.
Written straight from the heart, My Name is Leon is a lovely tribute to the resourcefulness and resilience of children who survive and rise above sad beginnings.
And to the kindness and generosity of spirit of the adults who give them love, a home and a family. * My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal is published by Penguin Random House