My Name is Leon

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. The narrative takes place in 1980s Birmingham.

My Name is Leon has one main character: Leon, a 9-year-old boy from Birmingham. There are a number of secondary characters in the novel: Carol, Maureen, Sylvia and Tufty.

A theme is a big idea that can be found throughout the text. Three of the main themes in My Name is Leon are belonging, responsibility and loss and grief.

My Name is Leon is a realist novel in the literary fiction genre. The story is told in a linear way, which means the chapters follow on from each other in a chronological order.

In the AQA exam on My Name is Leon, which is part of Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry, you will be presented with a choice of two essay questions. This is a closed book exam.

Get skilled up for your GCSE English Literature exam with this exam skills podcast series