Clifford-Motopi’s second novel, after his debut To and Fro, is also a middle grade novel exploring themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendships.
Leon is the middle child in a family of seven children! His dad likes rules, his mum likes order and the seven children love chaos. He feels that he does not have a real place in the family, not with the older ones and definitely not with the young ones. The mood is set early when he is not allowed to look after his best friend’s cat when he goes to live in Alaska. ‘In my big family I hardly ever get what I want, or get my own way.’ P 13. Leon is devastated but a new student, Victor, arrives at school who takes up some of the space left behind.
This is more or less the plot – Leon trying to get his own way for once but rarely succeeding to a greater or lesser extent. His musings and comments on this are many and varied. He has tantrums. When another vote goes against him he ‘runs from the room…to my bedroom. I shove the door open and slam it shut. I pace. Heart hammering. Feet stomping. Fists clenched. Mind racing. I feel lost with nowhere to go’, p 184. This is because the family have decided to keep Wilfrid, a stuffed cat belonging to Victor.
I found Leon’s reactions to everything over the top. Maybe that is an expression of the frustration he feels, he certainly is grumpy most of the time. He does change throughout the story becoming a more understanding and accepting human being. Clifford-Motopi is adept at describing different feelings and complex family interactions which is the real strength of the story.
Children will recognise and understand Leon’s struggles and enjoy reading about his attempts to be heard in his big family. No matter what shape or size your own family is this novel will make you look at yourself and your family in a new way.
