My name is Leon. Chapters 4-6

Question 1

MNIL Chpt 4: Who is Tony?

Answer 1

Jake’s dad

Question 2

MNIL Chpt 4: Leon watches a lot of TV and uses characters he has seen on series and in films on TV as points of reference; what kind of character does Leon describe the man at the front door as being like?

Answer 2

A bad guy from James Bond

Question 3

MNIL Chpt 4: How does Tony describe Carol’s brain?

Answer 3

A ‘rusty motor’

Question 4

MNIL: Chpt 4 What does Leon’s description of getting an Action Man for his birthday in July and then dreaming about getting another one at Christmas suggest about Leon’s life?

Answer 4

His family has very little money, and cannot buy lots of toys

Question 5

MNIL Chpt 4: In this extract from the Chapter which section suggests how Leon feels? “Leon and Carol both hear it at the same time. They hear the man’s voice go from soft to hard. Leon can tell Carol hears it because she jerks her head like he’s slapped her. Leon stands up and holds his Action Man in both hands.”

Answer 5

Leon feels tense, and is worried of what might happen next

Question 6

MNIL Chpt 5: What does Leon do when he feels angry with Carol because she leaves him in charge?

Answer 6

Steal coins from her purse

Question 7

MNIL Chpt 5: Why does Jake stop wearing a nappy?

Answer 7

All the new nappies are gone

Question 8

MNIL Chpt 5: Why does Carol’s room smell like Jake’s nappy?

Answer 8

Carol has wet the bed

Question 9

MNIL Chpt 5: Why does Leon go to see Tina?

Answer 9

To borrow money

Question 10

MNIL Chpt 5: Why did Tina and Carol have a row?

Answer 10

Carol borrowed some money and did not repay Tina

Question 11

MNIL Chpt 5: Who is the ‘Zebra’?

Answer 11

One of the social workers

Question 12

MNIL Chpt 6: Why does Leon think Jake is still asleep when he wakes up at the foster house?

Answer 12

Jake is not crying

Question 13

MNIL Chpt 6: What makes Leon go downstairs?

Answer 13

The smell of breakfast

Question 14

MNIL Chpt 6: What does Maureen call Jake when she sends Leon off to have a bath?

Answer 14

His nibs

Question 14

MNIL Chpt 6: What is the foster lady’s name

Answer 14

Maureen

Question 15

MNIL Chpt 5: In the opening of Chapter 5 which phrase might forshadow the idea that Leon’s life might be about to change? “As soon as the summer holidays start, things get jangled up at home. Leon can go to bed whenever he wants and sometimes he can even go to sleep on the sofa because his mum doesn’t notice.”

Answer 15

Things get jangled

Question 16

MNIL Chpt 5: In the opening of Chapter 5 which phrase might forshadow the idea that Leon’s life might be about to change? “As soon as the summer holidays start, things get jangled up at home. Leon can go to bed whenever he wants and sometimes he can even go to sleep on the sofa because his mum doesn’t notice.”

Answer 16

The bubbles come right to the top and Leon can not see the water

Question 17

MNIL Chpt 5: Leon lists a system or routine he follows to look after Jake. He says “Change the nappy (remember to use the white cream or by the second morning the baby’s bum is sore). Feed the baby but be careful goint downstairs …” What does Kit de Waal use the brackets and further on phrases like “be careful” to suggest about how often Leon is looking after Jake?

Answer 17

Leon has been looking after Jake a lot and for some time - we can see this because the subordinate phrases suggest he has learnt by experience from things going wrong.

Question 18

MNIL Chpt 6 Leon expects to hear Jake crying but instead he hears “the lady singing a nursery song and Jake … laughing”. How is Kit de Waal using our sense of sound here - what message does it suggest?

Answer 18

It emphasises the contrast between how life was for Leon in the flat and how it is here in the foster house

Question 19

MNIL Chpt 6: The foster lady asks Leon about Jake’s routine? She must have more experience with babies than Leon - why might she really be doing this?

Answer 19

To reassure Leon that she knows he has cared for Jake and is still important in Jake’s life