We are very excited to be hosting the amazing Kit de Waal for a BBC Bookclub recording with James Naughtie.

Kit will be discussing her book “My Name is Leon” 

This event is ticketed but free. Please email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to reserve your ticket

Timings

• Doors open from: 6:15pm
• Talk begins: 6.30pm sharp

About the book

It's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV.

Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is nine-year-old Leon. He and his little brother Jake have gone to live with Maureen.

They've lost one home, but have they found another? Maureen feeds and looks after them. She has wild red hair and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks they can't hear. She claims everything will be okay.

But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Jake? Between the street violence and the street parties, Leon must find a way to reunite his family.

About the author

Kit de Waal was born in Birmingham to an Irish mother, who was a childminder and foster carer and a Caribbean father.

She worked for fifteen years in criminal and family law, was a magistrate for several years and sits on adoption panels. She used to advise Social Services on the care of foster children, and has written training manuals on adoption, foster care and judgecraft for members of the judiciary.

MY NAME IS LEON, her first novel was published in 2016 and shortlisted for the Costa Book Award. She has two children and lives in the West Midlands.

If you have any questions regarding the event or to request additional accessibility accommodations please contact hello@rarebirdsbooks.com