Rollercoasters: My Name is Leon

Nine-year-old Leon loves his new baby brother, Jake. He learns to bathe, feed and sooth him while his mother sleeps upstairs. But now the grownups are saying his mum can't cope and are threatening to split the brothers up and tear Leon's world apart. Before long, Leon and his new brother are taken into the care of strangers. They are thrust into an uncertain and turbulent world, and Leon becomes vulnerable to the prejudices against the colour of his skin. But he is self-reliant and stubborn, and finds freedom riding his BMX on the streets. Soon enough, he begins to see the saplings of a community forming in unexpected places. Amongst the undulating circumstances of his life and the social upheaval of 1980s Britain, Leon's resilience forges on. He is determined to rediscover family and find hope in his future. My Name is Leon is an AQA GCSE set text from 2023 onwards and is suitable for teaching at KS3 and KS4. It explores complex themes of family, loss, growing up, and racial prejudice. This educational format includes additional content at the end of the book, including an interview with the author, novel insights, language and style, and a vocabulary list. There is also a freely available resource pack with a knowledge organiser for students' use, as well as a teaching guide with suggested lesson plans and activities.