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A review by tasleemreads
My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay
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