Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - My Name Is Why

My Name is Why is honestly an incredible memoir. Lemn Sissay's story itself is an affecting one of overcoming extreme adversity, but it is made all the more engaging by the excellent structure of the book. Interspersing Sissay's first-person narration with social worker reports, and letters between various other people involved helped create a sense of the disparity between child and authority and the lack of control Sissay had over his own life as a young man. One thing I particularly liked was towards the end of the novel, when he included messages from other people who had been placed at the Wood End accommodation and had also experienced the abuse and dehumanisation. This reminds the reader that so many children were put through this torture, and may not have found fortunate lives. While my take-away throughout the book was how admirable Sissay's self-reflection and ability to move on has been, he was by no means self-pitying, or blowing his own trumpet. He was highlighting the consistent dehumanisation and dismissal of young people's needs in the 'care' system (which sometimes seems a misnomer).
As I listened to the book in audio form, I experienced Sissay's narration of his own book, which was wonderful. There is something really special about the writer of a memoir reading it to you, so I am glad I got to experience it.

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michelles_book_nook's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ TW: racism, institutional trauma, mental health, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse and brief mentions of self harm ⚠️
This book had me welling up with tears so badly 😭 This book follows Lemn who was placed in care in the 60's during a particularly horrible time for young mothers and his heartbreaking story of his life and how he had to fight to succeed despite the cruelty and failings he had to endure at the hands of the care system. There are truly no words to explain the things that take place within this book but unfortunately this is a true story not only for Lemn but for so many other children raised in care. And despite this being a harrowing and emotional read it is also one of hope. Also, stories like this are really important to discuss and document so that they can be used as learning experiences and not allowed to occur ever again. Overall, I highly recommend giving this quick read from the new 2022 collection a go but please make sure to read the trigger warnings first.

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abbie_'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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epellicci's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

My Name is Why is a beautifully written and heartbreaking journey through the betrayal by social services of Lemn and hundreds of children like him living in care in the UK. This memoir pairs Sissay's painful discovery of, and reaction to, the records that the Wigham Local Authority kept of his time in the care system, with his own accounts of what was really happening. Unsurprisingly the book is poetic, but also concise. There is a no-nonsense impression in Sissay's writing which feels very honest, and paired with the subject matter, raw. Listening to it in audiobook form, I found it incredibly lyrical, and a testament to Sissay as a poet. Rightfully hurt and angry, at times it was difficult to get through. Throughout Sissay's youth, the people who were meant to protect him overwhelmingly failed to do so, often twisting the narrative to pin the blame on him while he was still just a child.
The book ends quite abruptly which I found slightly disappointing. It felt a little bit like by the end, Sissay had run out of steam, although you can hardly blame him given what reliving his youth must be like. An otherwise impressive but dark book.

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carolined's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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beccasbookcase's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

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justcallmeeej's review

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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