Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - 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.

Content Warnings