I Am Lenny Brown
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By Dan Freedman, and and, Kajsa Hallström
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2 reviews
There’s more than one way to find your voice . . .
Lenny Brown is eight years old and can’t talk. Except to his mum and his dog, Rocky.
When Lenny has to move house and start at a new school, it feels like his whole life is changing, and not for the better. Will he be able to make friends and find a way to fit in?
But when Lenny finds a different way to express himself, everyone is in for a big surprise as they find out just how amazing he can be . . .
‘An absolute cracker of a book’ – Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls.
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Lenny Brown is eight years old and apart from to his mum and his farting dog Rocky, Lenny can’t speak to anyone. At home he’s chatty, but at school he’s silent. Lenny has a wonderful teacher, Mr Robbins who understands and supports him, then suddenly he has to move house and school.
My name is Lenny Brown is beautifully written and I quickly fell in love with Lenny. His struggles felt real, especially his fear and panic of moving to a new school where no one would understand him and his needs. The description of Lenny’s feelings at changing schools are so simply put, yet it’s so powerful and the simplicity makes it even more so, “His stomach was in knots and tangles. His thoughts were muddled and jumbled.”
The relationship that Lenny has with his mum is wonderful, she is so patient with him and so understanding. I think their most moving conversation comes half way through the book when Lenny asks “Do you think I’ll ever be… normal?”
“Lenny” said mum… “I’m going to tell you a secret… and I want you to remember it for the rest of your life. OK?... There is no such thing as normal… we are all just, us.”
The reason for Lenny’s selective mutism, is heart breaking and understandable but watching Lenny grow through the pages is a joy. As he tackles his loneliness, finds the courage to speak and for the first time make friends is amazing, I felt so invested!
Quite liked it
