Genre
Contemporary Fiction
Setting and Context
It is set in the 1980s in the city of Birmingham.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is narrated in the third-person from the perspective of Leon.
Tone and Mood
The tone is poignant, reflective, and empathetic. The mood is somber and bittersweet.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Leon. The antagonist is racial prejudice and the foster care system.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is Leon's struggle to navigate the challenges of being a young boy of mixed race in foster care. He is also dealing with family dynamics, personal emotions, and societal biases.
Climax
The climax occurs when Leon enters Mr. Devlin's shed and hears the confrontation between him and Tufty.
Foreshadowing
Leon finding delight in simple things foreshadows his ability to find moments of happiness in difficult situations.
Understatement
"The sheets on his new bed in Sylvia’s house. They’re pink."
This understates the strangeness that Leon might feel about the pink sheets on his new bed.
Allusions
"When Lady Diana comes on, Sylvia always turns up the volume."
This allusion refers to Princess Diana—a well-known figure at the time.
Imagery
"He pushes it through the path that leads between the houses, crouching down beside it like it’s moving all on its own"
The narrator uses imagery to vividly depict Leon's cautious movement as he pushes his bike through the path.
Paradox
Even though Leon's mother loves him and his brother, she struggles to take care of them adequately due to her challenges.
Parallelism
"Down and up, down and up, down and up, to the very top of the hill"
The repetition creates a parallel structure emphasizing the movement of Leon's bike ride.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
“A rasp of wind hisses on the broken glass.”
The narrator personifies the wind by giving it human-like qualities.
