Plot in My Name is Leon - AQA

• My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal is a novel told through the eyes of Leon, a boy who is about to turn nine years old.

• It was published in 2016 but the narrative takes place in 1980s Birmingham.

• In the novel, Leon and his brother Jake are placed in foster care when their mother, Carol, is unable to take care of them. What follows is a detailed exploration of Leon’s life and his feelings as he tries to find safety, love and stability.

Remember

Even though the characters and events draw on parts of Kit de Waal’s life experiences as a family lawyer and as part of a family who fostered children, this novel is still fictional.

Follow the timeline to revise 10 key moments from the novel.

The story begins with the birth of Leon’s baby brother, Jake. Leon is overjoyed about Jake’s arrival. Carol seems less interested in Jake and leaves the hospital room, foreshadowing later events by leaving Leon alone with the baby.

Leon, Jake and their mother Carol are soon home, and the tone changes. Carol receives a visit from a man called Tony, who appears to be Jake’s father. Carol has been trying to contact him, but he is in another relationship and makes it clear that he does not want to see Carol or Jake.

At the start of the school summer holidays, Carol becomes increasingly unwell and is not looking after herself or her children. Leon takes responsibility for caring for baby Jake, including feeding him and changing his nappies.

Eventually Leon runs out of money for food, and he asks their neighbour, Tina, for a pound. Tina is suspicious and goes into Carol’s home, where she discovers the family living in squalor. Tina calls the ambulance and social services.

Leon and Jake spend the night at Tina’s flat, and the next evening they are taken away by social workers.

Leon and Jake have been taken into foster care and now live with a woman called Maureen, who has fostered many children before. She is kind and caring, and her home is safe and clean. Leon starts to build a relationship with Maureen. They celebrate Christmas together.

After Christmas, Maureen tells him that Jake might be adopted. Soon after, Jake is adopted by another family and Leon is not given his address. Maureen reassures Leon that he will be staying with her.

A social worker visits to discuss Jake’s adoption and Leon’s wellbeing, and when they are not looking Leon steals a report from the social worker’s bag. It is about Carol and it reveals a history of addiction and mental health problems, as well as comments that suggest she is not interested in seeing Leon or Jake.

Maureen and Leon go to visit her sister Sylvia, and Maureen feels unwell. Sylvia tells Maureen to see a doctor.

Leon then has a supervised visit with Carol at Maureen’s home, which is the first time in nearly a year that Leon and Carol have seen each other. Carol tells Maureen that she was diagnosed with post-natal depression and feels devastated at the news of Jake’s adoption. Leon gives Carol the only photo he has of Jake. Carol leaves with a stranger in a sports car.

Maureen becomes unwell in the middle of the night and Leon calls the ambulance, which saves Maureen’s life. Leon moves in with Maureen’s sister, Sylvia. Sylvia has taken Leon in as a favour to Maureen while she is recovering in hospital.

A social worker named Judy, who Leon nicknames Zebra because of her hair colours, visits Leon and Sylvia. Zebra is professional and caring, and explains to Leon that his stay with Sylvia is only temporary and why Leon is not able to live with Carol.

Zebra then gifts a BMX bicycle to Leon, who immediately uses it to explore his new surroundings. He sees a Black man wearing yellow sunglasses on a racing bike, who he nicknames the Wasp Man.

The next day, Leon goes out on his bike in search of the Wasp Man. He finds a large allotment. The Wasp Man turns out to be a man called Tufty, who doesn’t ask Leon’s real name but calls him “Star”. Leon also meets Mr Devlin, Castro and other adults at the allotment.

Leon starts visiting the allotment regularly and learns about plants.

Leon has a short visit with Maureen, who is recovering in hospital.

Sylvia is called in to Leon’s school to discuss his behaviour and attitude. Leon is praised for his artwork but criticised for his swearing and lack of attention and effort in class.

Leon visits Carol at the Family Centre, where the conversation again turns to Jake. Leon tries to imitate Jake to make them both feel better.

Leon has a short illness. Two weeks later, he rides to the allotment and the police are there, investigating local riots. Leon witnesses the police act violently towards Castro and Tufty when they say they were not involved.

A different social worker comes to Sylvia’s house to speak to Leon about how he is managing. The social worker refuses to answer Leon’s questions about Jake. In anger and frustration, Leon runs out and makes a mess of Sylvia's bathroom.

Leon celebrates his 10th birthday. One of his presents is a letter from Jake’s new family, including a photo of Jake with his new address on the back. Leon starts making plans to find Jake and reunite with Carol.

The next day, Leon cycles to the allotment and finds Castro hiding from the police in Tufty’s shed. Castro is drunk and threatens Leon, who then finds Tufty.

Leon starts collecting items for his plan to find Jake. He steals a knife and an old gun from Mr Devlin and baby food jars from the supermarket. He hides everything in his rucksack.

Maureen leaves hospital, although she now needs Sylvia to take care of her for a while. Leon overhears them talking about moving to the seaside and wrongly thinks that they are planning to move without him. A news report on the TV is live at the scene of nearby riots against unemployment and police behaviour.

Leon cycles to the allotment with his rucksack that night. Tufty and Mr Devlin are arguing. They spot Leon hiding in the allotment and Leon threatens them with a knife when Devlin demands his things back and an apology. Leon then runs off.

Leon runs into the direction of the riots. He is surrounded by the smell of smoke and men and boys running and shouting everywhere. He is lost and does not know the way to Jake's new home.

Leon points the wooden gun he has stolen from Mr Devlin at the police, who are behind riot shields, and at the other men, demanding to be taken to Jake’s address. Tufty and Mr Devlin call out for him and get the gun. The three of them are injured by flying bottles and then Tufty is attacked by a policeman. The policeman is then stopped by Leon who recites some of Tufty’s poetry as a distraction.

Leon takes Tufty and Mr Devlin back to Sylvia's house. Maureen and Sylvia look after them.

There is a jump forward in time. Maureen takes Leon to Bristol to meet with Carol. She leaves Carol and Leon to talk. Carol tells Leon that she is not able to look after him, but that Maureen will. Carol promises to meet Leon whenever he likes. Maureen tells Leon that she has officially adopted him.

The final chapter is set at Sylvia’s house on the day of the royal wedding between Prince Charles (now King Charles) and Lady Diana. Sylvia is running the street party and Tufty and Mr Devlin are there as guests. There is the suggestion that Sylvia and Mr Devlin are in a romantic relationship. Leon continues to go to the allotment and keeps learning about plants and gardening.

The novel ends with him thinking about Jake and planting some seeds.

Test your knowledge of My Name is Leon by taking this multiple-choice quiz.