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townofherons's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use
eve81's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
amyvl93's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Important is a word that feels overused when it comes to non-fiction. However, when it comes to the poet Lemn Sissay's memoir My Name is Why it feels like the best one to use, especially for anyone who works in and around social care and government.
My Name is Why follows Sissay's childhood in care. He is born in 1967 to an Ethiopian unmarried mother, who was in England to study and was sent to a mother and baby home and practically forced to give up her child. He was given a new name and put into foster care with a white family he saw as his family, and is wrenched away from the only home he has known in his early teens into increased institutionalisation.
Sissay weaves his own memories alongside actual documents from the council (Wigan) that were his 'corporate parents'. This gives a stark insight into how social workers and more senior officers in the council discussed Lemn as a child; including ruminating on how his 'colour' means people treat him with undue additional attention, and by extension that he somehow needs to feel less warmth. As new placements are sought, the difference in opinion between Lemn, his social worker and those with more power is painful to read - the moment an Educational Psychologists judgement is put aside is truly jawdropping, as is the reveal of his mother's contact to the local authority. It is painful to see Sissay continually defined by his worse moments, and not allowed to experience genuine teenagehood.
The book ends abruptly but with a sense of hope, and also urgency that children in the care of the state deserve just that, care.
My Name is Why follows Sissay's childhood in care. He is born in 1967 to an Ethiopian unmarried mother, who was in England to study and was sent to a mother and baby home and practically forced to give up her child. He was given a new name and put into foster care with a white family he saw as his family, and is wrenched away from the only home he has known in his early teens into increased institutionalisation.
Sissay weaves his own memories alongside actual documents from the council (Wigan) that were his 'corporate parents'. This gives a stark insight into how social workers and more senior officers in the council discussed Lemn as a child; including ruminating on how his 'colour' means people treat him with undue additional attention, and by extension that he somehow needs to feel less warmth. As new placements are sought, the difference in opinion between Lemn, his social worker and those with more power is painful to read - the moment an Educational Psychologists judgement is put aside is truly jawdropping, as is the reveal of his mother's contact to the local authority. It is painful to see Sissay continually defined by his worse moments, and not allowed to experience genuine teenagehood.
The book ends abruptly but with a sense of hope, and also urgency that children in the care of the state deserve just that, care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
e11lla's review against another edition
emotional
sad
5.0
Amazing awful book. A great book, really highlights the bad in the care system. I'm sorry that any child had to go through it. But reccomrnd reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Police brutality
pran's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism
michelles_book_nook's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Self harm
bridget_t's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm
sygritte's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
carolined's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
tasleemreads's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Trigger warnings: Racism, mental health, physical, and sexual abuse.
This story is soul shattering. What's unsettling about this, is that this is a memoir with accounts, case notes, doctors notes and school reports constantly reminding you of the distressing facts of what Lemn Sissay, a black child in the failing and dangerous care system of 1970's Britain, had to live through.
This story shares harrowing trauma and abuse that, those who have survived, are carrying or trying to heal from today. This book will have you overflowing with rage and sorrow. A boy stolen from his Ethiopian mother, placed into a care system that simply, could not care less.
There are many quotes that will make your heart hurt, here are two:
✨ This was the beginning of the end of open arms and warm hugs. This was the beginning of empty Christmas time and hollow birthdays. This was the beginning of not being touched. I'm twelve. And this is my fault. This is what I have chosen. The journey [from Lemn's foster family home to the care home] took about forty-five minutes, or forty-five seconds. Or forty-five years.
✨ Insomuch as the foster child is a cipher to the dysfunction of a family and also a seer. But the responsibility is too great for a child and so he finds himself manipulated and blamed for what he exposes by the simple virtue of innocence. The wrath this innocence incurs is deep and dark.
Lemn Sissay was forced to sacrifice his childhood and rely on his own self advocacy to survive. It starts with Lemn being stolen from his mother, renamed (and disgustingly name after) a social worker who refused to acknowledge his birth name or his birth mothers right to have her son returned to her. Lemn had his name, identity and heritage stolen from him. The memoir also shares details of the mistreatment he endured as a black child in his white foster families home and the abuse in institutional care systems. It is astonishing how Lemn survived his childhood and has managed to reflect and share his story in such a graceful way. There are strong trigger warnings, but if you are able to pick this up, please do. Lemn's story is essential.
This story is one I will never forget. At the beginning of every chapter and the end of the book, there are stunning works of poetry which Lemn has written and shared. Lemn has continued to create poetry and work to support children in care. His work, both on and off paper, is sensational and breathtaking.
This story is soul shattering. What's unsettling about this, is that this is a memoir with accounts, case notes, doctors notes and school reports constantly reminding you of the distressing facts of what Lemn Sissay, a black child in the failing and dangerous care system of 1970's Britain, had to live through.
This story shares harrowing trauma and abuse that, those who have survived, are carrying or trying to heal from today. This book will have you overflowing with rage and sorrow. A boy stolen from his Ethiopian mother, placed into a care system that simply, could not care less.
There are many quotes that will make your heart hurt, here are two:
✨ This was the beginning of the end of open arms and warm hugs. This was the beginning of empty Christmas time and hollow birthdays. This was the beginning of not being touched. I'm twelve. And this is my fault. This is what I have chosen. The journey [from Lemn's foster family home to the care home] took about forty-five minutes, or forty-five seconds. Or forty-five years.
✨ Insomuch as the foster child is a cipher to the dysfunction of a family and also a seer. But the responsibility is too great for a child and so he finds himself manipulated and blamed for what he exposes by the simple virtue of innocence. The wrath this innocence incurs is deep and dark.
Lemn Sissay was forced to sacrifice his childhood and rely on his own self advocacy to survive. It starts with Lemn being stolen from his mother, renamed (and disgustingly name after) a social worker who refused to acknowledge his birth name or his birth mothers right to have her son returned to her. Lemn had his name, identity and heritage stolen from him. The memoir also shares details of the mistreatment he endured as a black child in his white foster families home and the abuse in institutional care systems. It is astonishing how Lemn survived his childhood and has managed to reflect and share his story in such a graceful way. There are strong trigger warnings, but if you are able to pick this up, please do. Lemn's story is essential.
This story is one I will never forget. At the beginning of every chapter and the end of the book, there are stunning works of poetry which Lemn has written and shared. Lemn has continued to create poetry and work to support children in care. His work, both on and off paper, is sensational and breathtaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs