The Empty shed in the allotment gardens
The empty shed in the allotment gardens where Leon stores his stolen items symbolizes his hopelessness after being separated from his family. After Jake's adoption, Leon feels empty and lonely. To express his frustrations, Leon gets angry and starts to steal items and store them in the empty shed in the allotment gardens. Leon believes that if caught, he will be chased away, thus getting an opportunity to look for his family.
Seeds
The seeds represent the two sides of Leon's racial and cultural identity. When Leon meets Tufty and Mr. Devlin, they teach him how to plant seeds and cultivate the garden. While cultivating the garden, Leon comes to terms with his internal conflicts and own identity. Leon internalizes that seeds might look tiny, but if well cultivated, they become gigantic plants. With this in mind, Leon accepts his identity and looks forward to excelling.
The symbolism of responsibility
Throughout the text, Leon symbolizes responsibility. Leon is only 9 years old but knows how to care for his younger brother and mother. Leon knows his mother is psychologically unstable and cannot care for him and Jake. Consequently, when Jake is born, Leon takes all the duties of preparing food, washing clothes, and ensuring his younger brother and mother are okay.
