‘My Name is Why’ by Lemn Sissay Review

'My Name Is Why' is a deeply personal and emotional book that takes the reader on a journey through the author's childhood and young adulthood. The book begins with Sissay's birth and early years before he was adopted by a white British couple and then consequently placed in the foster care system.

The abusive and confusing relationship with his foster parents initially left Lemn with the feeling that it was his fault for having been put back into care - an abandonment and betrayal so severe; it is a wonder Lemn has been able to carve out the emotionally vulnerable and resilient life he leads. He even illustrates in the book how other victims of the care system are not so lucky with the messages he received from people who were also in care homes. These messages are heartbreaking and reveal the far-reaching effects of childhood abuse.

Despite the hardships he faced, Sissay also writes about the moments of kindness and love he experienced, mainly from his caseworker Norman Mills, and the ways in which he was able to find hope and purpose through his love of writing and poetry. The book, through Lemn's Rastafarianism, is a reflection on identity and the struggles of feeling disconnected from one's past and culture.

The book is both heartbreaking and hopeful and a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.