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Call Me Lion

Book
Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester

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By Camilla Chester

avg rating

29 reviews

Ten-year-old Leo dreams of performing in the West End. His love of dancing is getting him through the Luton heatwave, but his selective mutism is putting his spot in the end-of-summer dance show on the line.
When chatty Richa moves in next door, Leo finds it easy to bond with her. She talks enough for the both of them … at least to begin with. But when he learns her secret it’s clear that Richa needs Leo’s support as much as he needs hers.
With Richa’s help, will Leo be able to follow his dreams? Or will Leo’s inability to talk cost him their friendship?
A heart-warming story of courage and determination in the face of adversity, perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson, Stewart Foster and Elle McNicoll.

Reviews

13 Oct 2024

I fell in love with Lion and Richa from the start! What a wonderful friendship! I admired Richa and she didn't let me down and Lion was so sweet. HIs siblings were caring and sensitive to him; stood in for parents.

I loved it!

11 Sep 2024

I like the story of this book

26 Aug 2024

I liked how lion corrected his mistake

12 Aug 2024

I really enjoyed this book and it has a powerful message about friendship and how best to support children with selective mutism. Dancing is a strength of Leo's but it takes Richa (who has a secret of her own) to engage and encourage him to be brave enough to overcome one of his barriers.

11 Aug 2024

This is a lovely story which explores selective mutism, struggles with reading and building friendships. I think it is a brilliant story to have on school shelves. It is a quick read and well worth making time for.

06 Aug 2024

the book is nice

05 Aug 2024

I love the book because it shows how it might feel to have Selected Mutizum.

05 Aug 2024

It’s one of my favourite books. It has a happy ending!

31 Jul 2024

Call me Lion is a book about a boy named Leo who has SM (Selective Mutism). People who have SM can physically talk, and do talk at home with their close family, they just can’t talk to strangers or people they don’t know very well at school. Leo starts at just jive, a summer dance program. He loves to dance and is very good at it. At the same time Richa, who talks A LOT, moves in next door. Leo is sure that she’ll eventually abandon him like all of his other friends did. But when he finds out her deepest secret, he realises that Richa might need him just as much as he needs her! Richa also joins the dance program Just Jive, and loves going there everyday with Leo, but Leo’s Selective Mutism is putting his spot in the end -of-summer dance show on the line. Will Leo dance with Richa? Read the book to find out!

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Camilla Chester, and I really enjoyed it. I already knew what Selective Mutism was but this helped me learn more about it. I think it’s a great book to read if you’ve never heart of Selective Mutism, but also if you know a lot about it already! Furthermore, I think it is a truly inspiring book to read, especially for children who have Selective Mutism or know someone that does. If anybody is wondering, the book has 169 pages, and I would recommend it to anyone that’s 7+!

Happy Reading!!! ~

28 Jul 2024

I like it

22 Jul 2024

A wonderful and captivating story that explores themes of conquering loneliness, standing up to bullies, facing fears, and discovering true friendship

13 Jul 2024

I really liked it

09 Jul 2024

it was great I really liked it It kind of seemed like I was reading David
Walliams I LOVED EVERYTHING

01 Jul 2024

Beautiful book!

26 Jun 2024

Very cool book.

15 Jun 2024

It was brilliant!

29 May 2024

This story is about a boy who has selective mutism and make a friend called Richa.

29 Oct 2023

I enjoyed this and I thought it was sympathetically written in terms of the character but I felt that the plot was a little unbelievable in places. That said, I liked the characters and I think children would enjoy it.

29 Oct 2023

A great read, bringing up the issue of selective mutism. I loved the way Cal's confidence grew as he met Risha and how dance gave him the outlet he needed to express himself.

04 Oct 2023

This is just beautiful. Such a sensitive and accurate portrayal of 'selective' mutism and a beautifully touching friendship and family. I love this book. Love it.

01 Oct 2023

What a brilliant book! Bringing another neurodivergent character to life in a knowledgeable and sensitive way, this book is the perfect choice for developing empathy. I loved how the two main characters needed each other to deal with their respective challenges.

18 Sep 2023

I like this book because Leo is different from others.

30 Aug 2023

I loved the incite into SM - portrayed realistically and in terms children will understand. I also loved the story of a friendship where both characters learnt about themselves.
A great read for Years 2-4 audience & one to read aloud.

21 Aug 2023

When I first started this book I knew next to nothing about selective mutism, I think it was probably something I’d only even heard of a handful of times if that. However by the end of the book, through the careful and extremely well researched words of the author I felt I’d learnt a great deal.
The two main characters Leo and Risha are brought together when Risha moves in to the house next door to Leo. Although Leo can’t talk to her, Risha more than makes up for it as she never stops talking and they soon realise that they have quite a bit in common establishing what becomes a firm friendship as they help and support one another through their difficulties. Both of them feel so real, they’re a wonderful pair and are easy to identify with. Their extended families were also brilliantly portrayed, with the amazing smells of Risha’s heavily pregnant mums Gugerati cooking and her little toddler brother, the bickering of Leo’s older brother and sister, and his soppy dog the book feels alive. A definite read with lots to learn and talk about filled with the perfect balance of laughter and tears.

19 Aug 2023

Beautiful.

03 Aug 2023

I loved this book so much I made my mum read it! This is a great book about a boy named Leo who has selective mutism. One day a new family moves next door, Leo soon tries to make friends with one of the kids but worries she will reject him. They soon start going to dance class together. This book is a must read for any ages! 5/5 stars

25 Jul 2023

I loved Richa, she loved and wanted to be friends with Leo, despite him not being able to talk to people.

15 Jul 2023

I liked the book because its about frendship

26 Jun 2023

MairiG

I found ‘Call Me Lion’ through a WBD/ Empathy Lab event. Enjoyed the easy writing style and the two central characters, Leo and Richa… 📚

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