My Name Is Leon Flashcards
(16 cards)
Leon can feel the cloud coming. It creeps over his eyes.
Theme: Mental health, emotional trauma, childhood anxiety
In-depth Analysis:
• Metaphor of the “cloud” symbolises Leon’s depression or dissociation — he’s emotionally overwhelmed.
• “Creeps” gives it a sinister, uncontrollable quality — emotions aren’t just feelings to Leon; they’re invasive forces.
• Reflects how children can feel powerful emotional shifts without understanding them — the adult world ignores this.
• Can also be seen as a moment where Leon shuts down to protect himself, a survival response to trauma.
He wants to say, ‘I’m not like the rest of them. I look after people
Theme: Identity, care, responsibility, injustice
In-depth Analysis:
• Shows how Leon defines himself by his ability to protect and nurture, especially after being separated from Jake.
• He feels a deep moral integrity, despite being treated like a problem by adults and institutions.
• The contrast between how he sees himself vs how society sees him (especially as a young Black boy) adds tragic weight.
• Highlights how Leon is forced into adult roles, while actual adults often fail to protect.
They think because I’m little I don’t know things
Theme: Voice of children, powerlessness, misunderstanding
In-depth Analysis:
• This quote critiques how institutions dismiss children’s understanding, especially in the care system.
• Leon is emotionally intelligent and observant, yet consistently excluded from decisions about his own life.
• The tone is resentful but clear, showing Leon’s growing awareness of how unfair the system is.
• Links well with the theme of unheard voices — the system talks about him, not to him.
There’s a rage in his belly now, not just about Jake, but about everything.”
Theme: Anger, injustice, race, powerlessness
In-depth Analysis:
• The physical imagery of rage “in his belly” implies something boiling and uncontrollable.
• It’s no longer just about Jake — Leon’s anger is expanding into something more political and universal.
• Shows how personal grief evolves into social anger — over race, abandonment, systemic failure.
• This is a turning point: Leon is no longer just a lost boy; he is becoming conscious of the wider world’s injustice.
His hands are dirty and he doesn’t want to touch the baby
Theme: Innocence, shame, responsibility
In-depth Analysis:
• A small, symbolic moment. Leon, who once cared for Jake, now feels unworthy — a sign of internalised guilt or shame.
• His dirty hands reflect the emotional and psychological burden he carries.
• Suggests a loss of innocence — he sees himself as “damaged,” even though he’s a child.
• Could also reflect how the care system has made him feel “contaminated” or unwanted
He doesn’t want to forget his mum, but he wants to forget.
Theme: Love, trauma, memory, conflict
In-depth Analysis:
• Highlights Leon’s internal conflict — he loves his mother but also wants to escape the pain she caused.
• The repetition of “forget” reveals the emotional complexity of memory — it’s not simple for children in trauma.
• This line captures the core of Leon’s struggle: how to move on without feeling disloyal.
We don’t bomb people in their beds like you Irish people
Bacon sarnie
Leon stealing explained
• Context: Throughout the novel, Leon is shown to be a victim of a broken system. He’s moved from place to place, with no say in where he lives or who cares for him. He’s powerless, both as a child and as a Black boy within a system that fails him.
• Analysis: Stealing becomes one of the few ways Leon can exert agency. By taking what he wants, Leon is making a statement about the injustice of his situation. It’s a way for him to feel that, for once, he has power over something — however small — in a world that continually takes from him.
Or
Stealing can act as a distraction from emotional pain. It’s not about the value of the stolen object, but about the temporary relief it gives Leon. It allows him to feel something, whether it’s the brief thrill of taking something or the illusion of control over his circumstances.
Quotes from Leon stealing - He opens his hand and looks at the pound coin in his palm, shiny and new, like a prize
Context: This is a key moment when Leon steals money. The coin becomes a symbol of control for him, offering him a brief moment of relief or a feeling of power in an otherwise powerless world.
Significance: The coin isn’t valuable in a material sense, but it holds a symbolic power for Leon. It’s a small victory for him in a life where he’s often been powerless and abandoned.
Leon stealing - He could feel the tin of beans in his pocket, warm and comforting
Context: Leon steals a tin of beans, feeling the item as though it were a form of security or protection.
Significance: The warmth of the tin represents how Leon’s stolen items provide him with a sense of comfort in his otherwise emotionally barren world. These stolen items may not be needed physically, but they are crucial for his emotional survival.
I’m not your mum, Leon. But I’ll look after you. - Maureen
Context: Maureen makes this distinction to Leon when she takes him in. While she can provide care, she knows she can never fully replace his biological mother.
• Significance: This quote reveals Maureen’s sense of responsibility as a foster mother and her awareness of the boundaries of her role. It also shows Leon’s longing for his mother, despite the potential flaws in their relationship.
He’ll be fine. He’s a tough kid. - social care worker
Context: A social worker dismisses the emotional needs of Leon, assuming that he can handle the trauma of being separated from his family.
• Significance: This quote reflects how adults in the care system often overlook the emotional needs of children like Leon. It underscores the disconnect between the bureaucratic care system and the real, emotional challenges that children face when they are torn from their families.
He doesn’t look at me like I’m a problem, like I’m something that needs fixing
Significance: This quote highlights how Tufty provides Leon with a safe space away from the emotional turmoil he faces with adults who either ignore or scold him. Tufty’s non-judgmental and patient attitude mirrors that of a father figure, offering Leon the emotional support and stability he desperately needs. The absence of shouting and criticism shows that Tufty, while not his biological father, still plays a significant role in nurturing and guiding Leon in ways that other adults fail to do.
Mofis
Plants and growing
- stability
- water and renewal
First person narrative
The use of first-person narration draws the reader closely into Leon’s emotional world. Since we experience the story through Leon’s eyes, we gain direct access to his innermost thoughts, feelings, and anxieties. This helps us understand his confusion, sense of loss, and search for belonging in a way that is raw and personal. Leon’s experiences of abandonment, loneliness, and his longing for his family are felt intensely because the reader is placed directly into his mind.
• For instance, when Leon reflects on being separated from his brother Jake or his mother, we experience his deep sense of grief and helplessness firsthand. These feelings are conveyed directly through his narration, making his emotional journey all the more poignant.
