Nenn mich Löwe

by Camilla Chester, Irina Avgustinovich (Illustrator)

Es sind Sommerferien, und eine Hitzewelle hält die Stadt in Atem. Der zehnjährige Leo staunt nicht schlecht, als er beim Trampolinspringen Gesellschaft bekommt: Richa ist gerade in das Haus nebenan gezogen und redet wie ein Wasserfall. Zu Leos Überraschung stört es sie überhaupt nicht, dass er auf keine ihrer Fragen antwortet. Als sich Leo schließlich ein Herz fasst und ihr in einem Brief erklärt, warum er nicht spricht, reagiert Richa ganz anders als erwartet. Allmählich begreift Leo, dass seine Freundin ein großes Geheimnis hütet: Sie kann nicht lesen. Kann Leo ihr helfen und gelingt es ihm mit ihrer Hilfe, sich seinen großen Traum zu erfüllen, auf einer großen Bühne vor Publikum zu tanzen?

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

191 pages, Hardcover

Published February 16, 2023

Reviews

[Catherine Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle children's novel, giving a good understanding of the impact that Selective Mutism can have on someone who suffers with it, and how easily it can be misunderstood. Having helped the author in her portrayal of SM, I can say I am pleased with the end result!

[Cristy Villemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge, huge praise for Call Me Lion, I will forever remember this incredible story.

This story was just so heartwarming and full of life lessons not only for kids but for grownups as well. I have never read a book like this before and it absolutely charmed me. Our protagonist Leo loves to dance and to perform his moves in front of an audience in the West End, would be a dream come true. There is one thing holding him back and that is his selective mutism, the only ones who know about this is his family.

While having fun on his trampoline, Leo meets his new chatty but friendly neighbor Richa. They become fast friends even if Leo doesn't talk as much. They find a lot of things in common, like the love of dancing and together will try to enter the dance competition. At first Richa is nothing but supportive, but after she confines in Leo about a big secret, things go wary real fast. With the help of Leo's family and a little bit of help from technology everything is possible to save their friendship. Absolutely loved Leo's and Richa's friendship, Richa was so unconditional and loving. Personally this book would be fantastic for schools to read because it will teach kids acceptance, friendship, and solidarity towards other.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this delightfully touching children’s book. The story of Leo and his struggles with SM (Selective Mutism) were fascinating and informative, as well as touching. The main characters Leo and Richa are brought to life realistically and with real depth. These children both face adversity and struggles with school and yet find a way to connect and support each other - such a strong friendship bond.
As a newly retired teacher I feel strongly that this book is not only an interesting read, but could also help both children and teachers understand more about what SM is like from the inside (a quite unique perspective), as well as the value and strength of ‘real friendship’. I may also have shed a couple of emotional tears as the ending neared!
Camilla Chester is an excellent children’s author and I will be recommending this book along with her three previous novels.

[EM WATSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, inclusive, thoroughly absorbing story with a message that is far, far greater than its target age group. A must-read for all, that I am sure will please readers and listeners of all ages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Leo, Lion to his family because of his bountiful orange hair, his life without friends, changes forever.
Having SM, Selective Mutism, Leo plays alone. He desperately wants a friend. But he has no friends bar his dog, Patch. After all, as one of his classmates said, 'you can't be friends with someone who can't talk — fact.'

What people don't see, don't know or understand, is that his SM is not something he can control. It controls him, at least with people that he doesn't know well and trust, like his family. Leo has a gift, a talent for dancing, and he practices every day in summer on his trampoline, and in the holidays at a dance club. He is a boy on a mission to one day dance in The Lion King theatre show.

When a new family moves in next door, their daughter, Richa, bounces quite literally on her own trampoline into his life. Brash, bold and talkative enough for them both, she seems everything Leo isn't. And yet she is also everything he hopes for — a possible friend. At least until she realises he can't talk and that the girls at school are more fun and abandons him. But him not being able to respond doesn't put her off, and together they begin a journey borne out of a common passion for dance that culminates in a local dance competition.

I really can not praise this story enough. Written in Leo's own voice, and spread over a few weeks of school holidays and during a heatwave. It follows Leo and Richa, their families and schoolmates as they deal with life, friendships, ignorance, prejudices and most of all, the very real challenges that their own unique situations pose.
A plot twist partway through the story left me stunned, and completely in awe of the writer's skill. As I mentioned at the beginning, this book is far, far greater than it might appear at face value, and we thoroughly enjoyed it, had tears in our eyes, and would wholeheartedly recommend it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully beautiful with ample amounts of cuteness too.
Stories as wonderful as this one reaffirm why I adore reading books for all age groups.

On a personal note, I am over the moon at the representation in this book.
There is no standard for what a “normal” family should look like, so it’s great to see a single mum with fantastic kids and not the usual portrayal.
I love it being in Luton. Just nice to have places I recognise and know.
And the best thing is the highlighting of a disability that isn’t as well known. Selective Mutism.
I have to be honest and say, I never even knew this was a thing and so very grateful to have my eyes opened to it.

The main characters are the oh-so-adorable Leo aka Lion and his new neighbour, Richa. Who is the sweetest girl possible. These two form the loveliest friendship that blossoms throughout the summer holidays. However, it isn’t all smooth sailing. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for you all, but I can promise your heart will feel so many emotions, and if you are like me, you may even get a little misty-eyed.

Two characters that nearly steal the show are Lion’s brother Ryan and sister Brianne. They are probably the best siblings ever! The love they have for Lion is gorgeous and very protective over him. I couldn’t get enough of the bond they have.

The last thing I have to say is about the writing. It’s accessible to everyone. It’s easier for oldies (like me lol) but it’s perfect for the targeted audience.
Wonderful descriptions that bring the images to life. “Piled on top of her head like an ice-cream sundae”* is just one example of that kind of imagery.

And my final thought, crisps in! Lol

Thank you so much Love Books Tour, for adding me to this awesome tour & the gift of an ebook in return for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book about friendship and overcoming your fears and loneliness. I absolutely loved this and just know that I'll be thinking about the main characters, Leo and Richa for a long time to come.

Leo, who is affectionately known as Lion due to his hair and love of dancing and wanting to perform in the Lion King stage play is a child who has Selective Mutism, and struggles to talk except for quietly and only in the company of family at his safe place, at home. He's an instantly likeable character who I was rooting for from the start.

Who couldn't use a Richa in their lives? She's such a wonderful character with a vibrant personality, which compliments Leo's character so well.

I found myself moved to tears by their struggles at times. This is a sensitive handling of Selective Mutism, and I found myself learning more about the condition through Leo's character and relationships with family and other children throughout the story. What a heart-warming read, and one I'd certainly recommend to others.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo is a young boy with selective mutism. While he wants to talk, laugh, and do his favourite thing of all - dance, his SM prevents him. Bullying at school has lead him to believe no-one will ever be his friend but when Richa loves next door he realises that true friends will be there for you no matter what.
Leo has a wonderful and supportive family, teenagers aren't often represented in such mature, caring ways. Patch the dog is loving and Leo's first friend.
Richa has a heart of gold, her unwavering support of Leo has him blossoming.
A truly beautiful tale of being different and forever friendships.

[Hannah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call Me Lion would be a good resource for all ages of primary school students, with the story being important for understanding and inclusion of those who have selective mutism. Earlier years would enjoy the story being read to them, with those in later years being able to read the story themselves.
Leo is ten and has selective mutism ('SM'), he loves to dance but his SM means that he struggles to make friends. Richa moves in next door and the two develop a friendship that helps them both.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many his age, Leo dreams of performing in The Lion King on the West End, but unlike many…Leo has selective mutism. He loves to dance, but performing in front of anyone who he won’t talk to, that’s not happening. However, Richa moves in next door and she shakes up Leo’s world. She’s chatty and everything that he needs in a friend right now. Can Leo and Richa weather the storms of friendship together? Or will his selective mutism cause an unsolvable rift between the pair?

Call Me Lion is a heart-wrenching tale of found friendship dealing with the sensitive issue of selective mutism. It’s not that Leo won’t talk, it’s that he can’t – the anxiety builds up and makes it extremely difficult for him to do so. The author handles such an issue so delicately, explaining the ins and outs in ways that children will grasp and most children can deal with such issues in incredible empathetic ways – I imagine this will be the case here. It’s so important to have stories that deal with real world issues and the diverse range of people (including conditions such as selective mutism) and I am so grateful that more and more children will get to read books that show themselves.

Leo and Richa’s friendship is central to the story. Richa is a fantastic character, extremely chatty, but instantly likeable and I enjoyed how the author navigated Richa finding out about Leo’s selective mutism. She felt very real and the way that she dealt with Leo and their friendship feels exactly how I might see children behave at school. Her fierce protection of him is wonderful to witness. Additionally, Richa’s secret (I won’t spoil it) is very real for many children and there was no judgement from Leo. The last line in the story between the pair really tugged at my heart – there were tears!

Finding your family is never easy, especially not when you have selective mutism, but Call Me Lion shows that good friends will never judge. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Firefly Press and NetGalley for the e-book review copy.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pure delight from start to finish, this lovely children’s book cannot help but light up your day.

Leo, our main protagonist, is a ten-year-old boy with puffy orange hair that has earned him the nickname of Lion (short for Dandelion).

Leo, a solitary and troubled boy, suffers from Selective Mutism, which means he cannot talk out loud in public spaces or in any situation in which he feels unsafe. Considered an oddity by others around him, Leo has a wonderful and compassionate family, and a deep and primal love for dancing, but with no friends outside the home, and a seriously constrained existence, Leo is both lonely and somewhat despairing of ever having a “normal” life.

All of this changes, wonderfully and heartwarmingly, when Leo meets Richa, the charming little girl who moves in next door, quickly finding a place squarely in both Leo’s, and the reader’s, heart.

Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), Leo and Richa’s story is sweet and so lovely that this reader couldn’t help but to walk away from its lump-in-the-throat ending touched and more than a little spellbound.

With its gentle pacing, endearing characters, and tender exploration of themes and messaging such as the power of friendship; the soul-stirring resonance of compassionate diversity, (leonine) bravery and the always-possible life-line of hope, this is a book to share with a cherished child - a treasure any eight to twelve-year old would surely love to experience and welcome into a permanent place in their library.

A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[CorniHolmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als ich zum ersten Mal von dem Kinderroman „Nenn mich Löwe“ hörte, stand für mich sofort fest, dass ich ihn lesen möchte. In das Cover habe ich mich auf den ersten Blick verliebt und der Klappentext klang nach einer total schönen Geschichte. Ich ließ das Buch also nur zu gerne bei mir einziehen.

Der 10-jährige Leo ist ein liebenswerter und kluger Junge. Er hat eine wunderbare Mutter, zwei tolle große Geschwister und einen treuen Hund. Und er hat einen großen Traum: Er möchte eines Tages in dem Musical „Der König der Löwen“ auftreten. Was Leo aber nicht hat: Freunde. Wie gerne hätte er einen richtigen Freund, aber sein selektiver Mutismus lässt diesen Wunsch in eine scheinbar unerreichbare Ferne rücken. Leo schafft es nicht vor anderen Menschen zu sprechen, nur zu Hause, innerhalb seiner Familie, wo er sich beschützt, geliebt und verstanden fühlt, kann er normal reden. Doch dann zieht die gleichaltrige Richa während der Sommerferien in das Nachbarhaus ein und zu Leos Überraschung scheint es sie nicht zu stören, dass er auf keine ihrer Fragen antwortet und nie ein Wort zu ihr spricht. Richa plappert genug für sie beide. Die zwei Kinder freunden sich an und nehmen gemeinsam während ihrer Ferien an einem Tanzkurs teil. Leo möchte seiner neuen Freundin unbedingt erklären, warum er nicht sprechen kann. Er schreibt ihr daher einen Brief, aber Richa reagiert irgendwie ziemlich anders als erwartet. Sie vertraut ihm schließlich an, dass sie nie das Lesen und Schreiben gelernt hat. Als Leo dies erfährt, wird ihm klar, dass Richa seine Unterstützung genauso sehr braucht wie er ihre. Kann er seiner Freundin bei ihrem Problem helfen? Wird es ihm mit Richas Hilfe gelingen, sich seinen Traum zu verwirklichen? Wird er den Mut finden, vor Publikum zu tanzen?

Als ich mit dem Lesen begann, ist mir bereits nach der ersten Seite klar geworden, dass ich mit „Nenn mich Löwe“ etwas ganz Besonderes in Händen halte – etwas, das ich von Anfang bis Ende lieben werde. Mein erster Eindruck sollte mich auch nicht getäuscht haben: Für mich hat sich der Debütroman von Camilla Chester als ein neues Herzensbuch entpuppt. Bei diesem Buch hoffe ich sehr, dass es den Weg in die Hände vieler Leser*innen finden wird. In meinen Augen hat es ganz viel Aufmerksamkeit verdient.
„Nenn mich Löwe“ erzählt eine berührende, mitreißende und sommerliche Geschichte über Vertrauen, gegenseitigem Verständnis und Respekt und das Anderssein. Über Missverständnisse, Einsamkeit und die herausfordernden Momente des Lebens. Über das Überwinden von Ängsten und den Mut, an sich selbst und seine Träume zu glauben. Es geht um die einzigartige Bindung zwischen zwei Kindern, die uns zeigen, was wahre Freundschaft wirklich bedeutet und das Verständigung keine Worte braucht.

Geschildert wird alles aus der Sicht des 10-jährigen Leo in der Ich-Perspektive. Mit ihm hat die Autorin einen bezaubernden und außergewöhnlichen Protagonisten erschaffen, ich habe ihn sofort fest in mein Herz geschlossen. Da man durch die Erzählweise ganz dicht dran ist an Leos Empfindungen und Gedanken, erlebt man seine Emotionen und seine Art zu denken und zu fühlen hautnah mit. Seine Erzählungen lesen sich oft herzzerreißend, zugleich aber auch wunderschön. Mir tat es so leid zu sehen, wie sehr Leo unter seinem selektivem Mutismus leidet. Er möchte so gerne mit anderen Leuten kommunizieren, kann es aber einfach nicht. Er wünscht sich nichts mehr, als einen richtigen Freund, damit er sich endlich nicht mehr so einsam fühlt, aber wie soll das gehen, ganz ohne Worte?
Leo lässt sich aber nicht unterkriegen. Sein Spitzname „Löwe“, den er eigentlich durch seine blonden Haare bekommen hat, da sie aussehen wie eine Pusteblume, hätte genauso gut auch von dem Tier stammen können. Leo ist stark und mutig wie ein Löwe und verliert nie Hoffnung, wofür ihn zutiefst bewundert habe.

Mit der gleichaltrigen temperamentvollen Richa hat die Autorin einen ziemlichen Gegensatz zu unserem Ich-Erzähler entworfen. Während Leo meist schweigt, redet Richa oft ohne Punkt und Komma. Während er sehr ruhig ist, sprudelt sie förmlich über vor Energie. Und während er gerne liest, hat sie noch nie ein Buch beendet. Denn Richa kann gar nicht lesen und schreiben. Mitzuerleben wie sich die beiden Kinder annähern und lernen einander zu vertrauen, wie sie sich ergänzen und gegenseitig bei ihren Problemen helfen, lässt einen richtig das Herz aufgehen.

Neben unseren beiden jungen Held*innen fand ich auch Leos Familie absolut großartig. Seine Mutter und seine beiden älteren Geschwister Rob und Becka sind immer für ihr Nesthäkchen da. Sie verstehen Leo, unterstützen ihn vorbehaltlos und lieben ihn so wie er ist. So eine verständnisvolle und hilfsbereite Familie sollte einfach jeder haben.

Ob das Ganze wirklich realistisch dargestellt wird, kann ich, die vorher kaum etwas über selektiven Mutismus wusste, nun natürlich nicht sicher sagen. Ich gehe aber fest davon aus, dass dem so ist. Es fühlt sich einfach alles so echt an. Ich habe Leos Handeln und das Verhalten der anderen Charaktere jederzeit nachvollziehen können und eine Menge Neues dazu gelernt. Und obwohl sich die Handlung mit ernsten Dingen befasst, hat sie mich richtig glücklich gemacht und immerzu ein Lächeln ins Gesicht gezaubert. Camilla Chester ist es hervorragend gelungen, schwere Themen auf eine authentische und zugleich sehr leichte und liebevolle Weise zu verpacken. Für Kinder ab 9 Jahren ist das Buch auf jeden Fall geeignet und auch für den Schulunterricht kann ich es mir nur zu gut vorstellen. Deutlich älteren Leser*innen kann ich Camilla Chesters Debüt aber ebenfalls nur ans Herz legen. Es ist definitiv für Jedermann, ganz egal welchen Alters, eine bereichernde und kostbare Lektüre.

Auch das Ende fand ich unglaublich schön, da es die Geschichte perfekt abschließt. Dazu dann noch die zauberhaften schwarz-weiß Zeichnungen von Irina Avgustinovich an den Kapitelanfängen machen dieses Buch zu einem echten Schatz.

Fazit: „Nenn mich Löwe“ ist mal wieder so ein Buch, das ich am liebsten vielen Menschen in die Hand drücken möchte, damit sie es lesen und hoffentlich so sehr lieben und verstehen wie ich. Zwischen diesen Seiten steckt einfach so viel Wundervolles. „Nenn mich Löwe“ ist ein herzerwärmendes, wertvolles und löwenstarkes Buch, das auf eine gleichermaßen ehrliche und einfühlsame Art und Weise die Themen selektiver Mutismus und Analphabetismus behandelt. Es erzählt von einem unvergesslichem Sommer und einer ganz besonderen Freundschaft, die auch völlig ohne Worte auskommt. Von mir gibt es eine große Herzensempfehlung und sehr gerne 5 von 5 Sternen!

[Frauke Seeßelberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch “Nenn mich Löwe“ von Camilla Chester handelt vom 10-jährigen Leo, genannt Löwe, einem Jugen, der unter selektivem Mutismus (SM) leidet. Dadurch kann er nicht immer das tun, was er möchte, wie beispielsweise mit Menschen außerhalb seiner Familie sprechen. Deshalb geht Leo davon aus, dass er niemals einen Freund haben wird. Doch dann zieht eine neue Familie nebenan ein und er lernt Richa kennen. Die teilt nicht nur seine Leidenschaft fürs Tanzen, sondern ist auch aufrichtig an Leos Freundscjaft interessiert. Aber sie hat auch ein belastendes Geheimnis, das sie bald mit Leo teilt und wodurch ihm klar wird, das nicht nur er ein Päckchen zu tragen hat…
Mir hat das Buch stellenweise gut gefallen: Cover und Inneneinband sind wahnsinnig schön illustriert von Irina Avgostinovich. Leo hat sehr liebevolle große Geschwister, die immer für ihn da sind. Und auch wenn die Botschaft des Buches weder neu noch besonders originell ist, ist es doch interessant, so von einem doch eher weniger bekannten Phänomen wie dem SM zu erfahren. Leider gelang es mir insbesondere am Anfang des Buches schlecht, mich wirklich in Leo hinein zu versetzen. Wirklich gestört hat mich, wie oft ausschließlich negativ über andere Menschen gesprochen und mit ihnen interagiert wurde, angefangen von der nach Parfüm stinkenden, wenig empathischen Mutter einer Mitschülerin bis zu Richas „nervigem“ kleinen Bruder und ihre hochschwangere (und so wohl zu nichts zu gebrauchenden?) Mutter.
Mein Fazit: Wer seine Kinder über SM aufklären möchte, der schafft mit diesem Buch eine gute Gesprächsgrundlage. Wer komplexe Charaktere und einen originellen Plot sucht, wird hier eher nicht fündig.

[Hana (myjourneywithbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

Leo is ten years old. He has an older brother and sister, a dog called Patch and a love for dancing. He also suffers from selective mutism, a condition that makes it impossible for him to talk in certain situations, even when he really wants to. Then chatty Richa moves in next door, and Leo hardly dares to believe it when she is actually interested in being his friend, even when he is unable to talk to her. He still worries she will eventually abandon him but when he learns that Richa has her own secret, Leo realises that he might be able to help her as well.

Call Me Lion is a heartwarming story, especially so for the first person narration from Leo's point of view. In his own words, we learn what selective mutism is and how it works. Leo's struggles and the obstacles he has to overcome will make the reader more aware of what life is like for someone like Leo and after reading this book, were you to ever come across someone like him, you would be better able to understand how to be more compassionate towards them.

Leo's friendship with Richa was beautifully portrayed and it was refreshing to see his touching relationship with his older siblings and how they look out for him (even though they're always fighting with each other🤣).

Call Me Lion is definitely a middle grade book I'd recommend, especially with its important message.

[Coraly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wenn ich mal Therapeutin werde, möchte ich dieses Buch in meiner Praxis haben und Kindern mit Selektivem Mutismus zum Lesen mitgeben.

Das Buch handelt von Leo, genannt Löwe, der gerne tanzt und in den Sommerferien eine neue Nachbarin bekommt: Richa. Richa ist ein sehr aufgewecktes und freundliches Mädchen, das sich mit Leo anfreundet. Da Leo Selektiven Mutismus hat, kann er nicht mit Richa sprechen und traut sich auch nicht beim Tanzkurs aufzutreten, obwohl er insgeheim davon träumt mal für „Der König der Löwen“ auf der Bühne zu stehen.
Als Leo Richa in einem Brief von seinem SM berichtet, erzählt Richa ihm ein Geheimnis: Sie kann nicht lesen.
Als der Auftritt der Tanzschule naht und Leo sich nicht traut mit Richa aufzutreten kommt es zum Streit. Können die beiden ihre Freundschaft ohne Worte retten?

Ich fand, dass Leos Beschreibung vom SM sehr gut wiedergibt, wie es mir Kinder in der Vergangenheit schon erzählt haben. Es hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen, dass immer wieder Leos Gedanken und Ängste so deutlich und verständlich dargestellt werden.

Gute Kinderbücher zu psychologischen Themen sind so wichtig.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Call Me Lion. A gorgeous book full of love and empathy and understanding.
I learned a lot from its representation of selective mutism, and other difficulties people experience and I'm sure it'll really help some children.

It's also a beautiful story, and at times quite an emotional one too. Leo and Richa are wonderful and I really liked the supporting cast, especially Leo's supportive, protective, bickering siblings Ryan and Brianne.

There's another element of representation that I was thrilled to see, and that was a boy dancing, being good at dancing, loving dancing, coming alive through dancing. As a man who loves to waltz, salsa and tango, let's keep normalising this please!

This is such a sensory book too! It came alive with sounds and smells, from Ryan's overpowering spray to the smell of sun cream, from the jangling of bracelets to the pumping disco beat. And the feel of a sweltering heatwave was palpable throughout!

With Call Me Lion, Camilla Chester has produced a powerful hit of a book with a beautiful tale

[Alice magical library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is a young with Selective Mutism, a fit is putting his end of summer show on the line. And when very chatty Richa moves in next door, he is 100% sure that she will abandon him eventually just like all of his other friends. But when their bond grows stronger and stronger, Leo realises that he needs Richa as much as Richa needs him…

I really enjoyed this book. I have never read a book with the main character having Selective Mutism before, so it was very interesting to read and I think it is to raise social awareness about it. Selective Mutism is a condition where people want to talk but can’t talk. It is quite hard to explain, but this book makes the explanation very easy to comprehend and understand. I liked Richa and Leo as they fit really well together like pieces in a puzzle. I would definitely recvomend this book for anyone who is 6 and over.

[Nets · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written book explores childhood anxiety disorders and how the right friendships can help in dealing with them.

We follow Leo, or Lion as his family call him, and the way he copes with Selective Mutism. He doesn't make friends easily until Richa enters his life and helps in so many ways.

I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop and grow into something that is more than friendship. They begin to teach each other how to overcome the obstacles they have both struggled with and seeing the ways they go about that.

My favourite quote....

"I don’t think of reading as always marching forward. To me, it’s a bit like swimming. Just because you can swim up and down in the deep end, it doesn’t stop you from wanting to jump around in the shallow end too."

[Lellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet and inclusive middle grade read that follows Leo (nicknamed "Lion") who suffers from social anxiety and selective mutism and his unlikely friendship with his new neighbor Richa, an Indian girl who loves to talk but has her own problem. The two bond over what they have in common: liking the same shows and dancing. And together they help each other start the journey to overcome their anxieties.

It's a very quick and enjoyable read that's great for kids. I especially like the story in the acknowledgements of how it came to be.

Thank you to Love Book Tours for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Suzie Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read this wonderful story early, in preparation of an author visit to the school where I am a governor. It's perfect for KS2 in the UK but will have huge appeal to readers of all ages because it deals with someone with secret shame - and who doesn't have that? However, for a child with Selective Mutism (we do) or anyone wanting to understand it, this empathetic story is like having the best cheerleader on your side. Warm, funny - and occasionally heart-rending, this is my MG pick of the year. I'm buying 3 copies for our school library.

[Aislinn O'Loughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet & sensitively written story about selective mutism, friendship and the power of following your passions, Call Me Lion is a warm and huge-hearted read that kids & adults alike will adore! It's informative without being preachy, and educational without every sacrificing the story - plus, the main character Leo loves to dance, a such a rarity for boys in kid's fiction I think it deserves a shout out all by itself. I absolutely adore this book, it's such a fast and zippy read yet still packs an emotional punch. A brilliant debut!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, heartwarming story with wonderful characters. It gives an insight into a child’s experiences of selective mutism, which is so often misunderstood. Thank you Camilla Chester for involving those with SM in every step of the book’s journey. It’s fantastic to have this representation, which will make such a difference in raising awareness as well as being a great story that will make you laugh and cry.

[Barbara Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This week I walked home from Chester’s book event in Waterstones Inverness clutching her debut novel with Firefly Press. Call me Lion shines a sensitive and engaging light on a child with selective mutism. I found myself utterly drawn to Leo in all his anxiety and rooted for his friendship with bubbly Richa next door. A book about fears, yes, but also about joy, fun, friendship and dancing – all set in a heatwave of high summer. I loved it. Ideal for ages 7-11.

[Sareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished reading this book, I just wanted to recommend it to everyone. I think this would be a super story to read aloud to a class. This is truly what is meant by a 'heartwarming' story. Before reading it I had heard a little about SM but this book gave me a lot more of an insight into what it must be like to live with it.
This is a story full of warmth, sunshine, dancing, love, kindness and fun.

[Sarah Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sweet, emotive story. A super easy read too.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are a teenager or an adult you will enjoy Call Me Lion. The characters and the story are utterly engaging and its a genuine read that you wont want to put down. It raises awareness about the struggles of selective mutism in a way that is wonderfully delivered, and even if you are only slightly introvert you will ‘get’ this book and relate it to moments in your life. I loved it.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Call Me Lion is a touching and thoughtful book about a boy with SM (Selective Mutism)
I really enjoyed getting a look into the thoughts of the main character and seeing how he struggles with his SM and the affect it has on him and his relationships.
Overall a great book to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

[Laura Attwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful children’s novel.
This story was so special and heartwarming. It is told from the perspective of Lion, a ten year old boy with selective mutism. As a child I had selective mutism myself and Lion’s character was so well-written, you can really see that the author had taken their time to understand the condition and portray it in a kind and empathetic way.
A definite 5/5

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and engaging story and a wonderful vehicle for parents, carers and children to discuss SM in particular, and all those human traits that make us "different" from whatever passes for "normal".

[Janine Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story, explaining what Selective Mutism feels like to the child. Sensitively told. My boy can relate to the main character and enjoyed reading this book. Should be available in all primary schools.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Really informative and thoughtfully written, I think it will be a comfort to kids struggling like Leo (even if not necessarily from SM). A great heartwarming story of friendship and overcoming difficulties- 5 ⭐️