“A brother chosen. A brother left behind. And a family where you’d least expect to find one”
It’s 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV and Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is young Leon. 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, a belly like Father Christmas, and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks can’t hear. Maureen feeds and looks after them, and claims everything will be okay. But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Joke? The adults are speaking in low voices, and wearing pretend faces. They are threatening to take Jake away and give him to strangers. Because 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.
Comments from other readers:
“Sensational book. Written from unique viewpoint as a nine year-old. Really brings home how children think.”
“I found this book very touching as it is written from the perspective of a child. His emotions as he goes through the process of being a foster child. This book has made me think of fostering possibly in the future.”
Filed Under Uncategorized Posted by devcore on 26 January 2021
