A horrifying account of the British "care" system. The author, the illegitimate child of an Ethiopian student, tells of his initial fostering....the breakdown (for no very clear reason) and his return to the system when the family "want rid." Loth to face more rejection from a family, he shunts between a couple of children's homes before pretty typical teen behaviour cause him to be sent to a an abusive and jail-like institute.
When you read these accounts, the natural reaction is to wonder if it isnt exaggerated; if the victim isnt minimizing his own wrongdoing.
Sissay has his case notes, and a lot of the narrative is just sections of these..."Eighteen years of records written by strangers" The true horror of these is really what form the book- forget the casual discrimination encountered by classmates - and just see the institutionalized different treatment of kids in care to those in normal homes. Follow the "contented child with a winsome smile" (in foster care) to the depressed and troubled youth in almost-jail after being rejected.
Sissay has since become a published poet (his poems punctuate the story).
This is a truly sad and awful book, highlighting the failure of our uncaring care system. ( )

This is an important book. It really hit home when the author pointed out the most people can draw on shared family memories - he has none. Only the official documents which it took him 30 years to get hold of. ( )

I have been wanting to read My Name Is Why (Canongate) by Lemn Sissay since it was longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize in June. This is a highly emotional dive into his childhood when at the age of 12 he was suddenly ejected from what seemed a happy foster family household. The story of his life in various homes in a not fit-for-purpose care system is told by both Lemn and through the reports written up by social workers who visited and were responsible for his wellbeing. Lemn’s love of life and gift for language shines through brilliantly, and it is heart-breaking to see the effect that an individual involved with foster children’s welfare can also have with a less thought through flick of a pen. ( )