My Name Is Why - Non Fiction - Paperback - Number One Sunday Times Bestseller - Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize
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Title:
My Name Is Why
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
Overview:
At seventeen, after years bouncing between foster care and residential homes, Lemn Sissay discovers the truth about his birth certificate and his name. My Name Is Why is his intimate, unflinching memoir of finding identity, voice, and belonging. He writes with the lyricism for which he’s celebrated, weaving childhood memory with sharp social observation as he confronts the care system, race, and the elusive meaning of home. Born British and Ethiopian, he traces how love, loss, and tenacious hope shape a life, and how creativity becomes a lifeline. This is not merely a coming‑of‑age story; it’s a rigorous examination of belonging in a society that often misreads young people in care. Sissay’s candid reflections invite readers to consider what it means to be seen, to be heard, and to craft a personal narrative when the world tries to assign you a label. Accessible, provocative, and deeply moving, the memoir speaks to book clubs, students, and anyone seeking a powerful testament to resilience, identity, and the human capacity to rebuild.
What Makes This Book Stand Out:
What elevates My Name Is Why is the seamless blend of personal history and social insight delivered in a voice that feels both intimate and authoritative. Sissay writes with a poet’s cadence, turning difficult memories into resonant imagery while never softening the hard truths about neglect, institutional systems, and the search for belonging. The memoir traverses intersectional terrain—care experiences, race, and the ache for home—yet remains highly readable, emotionally piercing, and emotionally intelligent. It transforms private struggle into universal questions about identity, family, and resilience, inviting readers to witness a life lived with candour and courage. This book rewards thoughtful reading, group discussion, and continued reflection long after the last page is turned.
Who This Book Is Perfect For:
Perfect for readers who crave deeply personal memoirs that illuminate social issues with grace and grit. It appeals to fans of lyrical prose, those exploring identity and belonging, and anyone seeking an honest account of growing up in care. It’s a strong pick for book clubs, students studying modern British poetry and memoir, and gift buyers looking for a meaningful, thought-provoking title that sparks conversation about home, family, and resilience.
Key Highlights:
- The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller
- Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize
- Praised by The Times as Extraordinary
- Described as Beautiful by Dolly Alderton
- Called Shattering by The Observer
- Regarded as Unputdownable by The Sunday Times
- Powerful, as described by Elif Shafak
About the Author:
Lemn Sissay is a British‑Ethiopian poet and author whose work spans poetry, memoir, and performance. He writes with honesty and lyric warmth, rendering personal experience into accessible, resonant storytelling. My Name Is Why stands as a cornerstone of his prose, celebrated for its courage, clarity, and emotional range. Sissay’s voice invites readers to consider questions of identity, care, and belonging through a compassionate, unflinching lens, making his memoir both internationally acclaimed and widely beloved by readers who value literary depth with social resonance.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
If you’re searching for a memoir that combines lyrical craft with hard-hitting truths, this title delivers. It offers an intimate look at one man’s journey to understand his name, his origins, and his place in the world, while also shining a light on the often unseen experiences of young people in care. The writing is strikingly accessible—poetic without being obscure—making it ideal for both personal reading and group discussion. Owning this single, powerful narrative also adds a thoughtful, conversation-starting gift to any reader who appreciates resilience, identity, and the redemptive power of creativity.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
