Poor: Grit, courage, and the life changing value of self belief

From an impoverished childhood shaped by her parents' addictions to becoming a prize-winning academic, this is the incredible memoir from an inspiring voice, told with devastating candour, humour and warmth.THE NUMBER 1 BESTSELLERWINNER OF BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR, IRISH BOOK AWARDS‘Hands down, definitely, one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s an amazing story and brilliantly written as well’ Adrian Chiles, Saturday Live, BBC----Like young girls everywhere Katriona O’Sullivan grew up bright, enthusiastic, curious. But she was also surrounded by abject poverty and chaos.After becoming pregnant and homeless at 15, what followed was five years of barely surviving. Yet today Katriona is an award-winning academic whose work explores barriers to education for girls like her.What set Katriona on this unexpected path were the mentors and supporters who truly saw her. The teachers who showed her how to wash in the school toilets or turned up at her door to convince her to sit at least one GCSE. The community worker who encouraged her to apply for training schemes. The friend who introduced Katriona to Trinity College’s access program while she was a cleaner. Simple acts that would help her turn her life around.Told with warmth, clarity and compassion – compassion for her parents, for her younger self, for others – Poor is both an astonishing personal testimony and an impassioned plea for the future of our children.Praise for POOR:'One of the best [books] I have read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet' Guardian‘Powerful – Katriona is a legend’ Barry Keoghan‘Raw, passionate and resolutely honest – I’ll never forget it’ Annie Mac'I read poor in one sitting I found it so compelling . . . moving, uplifting, brave, heroic' Nuala McGovern, Woman's Hour, BBC Radio Four'Moving, funny, brave and original - just like the author . . . absolutely incredible' Roísín Ingle, Irish Times Women's Podcast‘One of the books of the year’ Patrick Kielty, Late Late Show, RTÉ One 'Full of insight . . . so important' Fi Glover, Times Radio'One of the most important books I have ever read … a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds' Lynn Ruane, Irish Times'Fearless, funny and searingly honest' Adil Ray OBE'Raw and remarkable' Irish Independent'A book of empowerment and hope' Patricia Scanlan

We love a rags-to-riches story, and we love to see someone triumph through sheer grit. But the story is rarely that simple. My story isn't, anyway. It is extraordinary to think of how lucky I have been. As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O'Sullivan making anything of her life. She became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless. Five rackety years followed - barely coping, drinking to escape - until Katriona, now living in her father's native Dublin, hit rock bottom. Poor is the extraordinary story - moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. During her schooldays there had been teachers who looked out for her - beacons of stability in a chaotic childhood. They planted seeds of self-belief. In Dublin when she sought help, she found mentors whose encouragement revived that self-belief. She got clean, got a flat and a job as a cleaner and, eventually, got into Trinity College. Today Dr Katriona O'Sullivan is an award-winning lecturer whose work explores barriers to education. Despite her professional success, and happiness in her marriage and as a mother, Katriona lives with the indelible legacy of her early years. Her book is a stirring argument for the importance of looking out for our poor kids, of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.