Poor Synopsis
'We love a rags-to-riches story, and we love to see someone triumph through sheer determination. But the story is rarely that simple. My story isn't, anyway.' As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O'Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping. This is the extraordinary story - moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revived those seeds in adulthood. Now an award-winning lecturer whose work challenges barriers to education, Poor stands as a stirring argument for the importance of looking out for our kids' futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities. 'Deeply moving and thought-provoking' Louise O'Neill 'Fearless, funny and searingly honest' Adil Ray OBE 'A book that can change society' Lynn Ruane 'Poor shows the strength of Katriona O'Sullivan's unbreakable spirit - she is a beacon of light' Patricia Scanlan
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Katriona O'Sullivan Press Reviews
Full of insight into a life lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty . . . so important . . . we'd highly recommend -- Fi Glover - Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio
I read [Poor] in one sitting I found it so compelling. An amazing story . . . moving, uplifting, brave, heroic -- Nuala McGovern - Woman's Hour, BBC
Moving, funny, brave and original - just like the author . . . absolutely incredible -- Róisín Ingle - Irish Times Women's Podcast
One of the best books I have ever read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet - Guardian
One of the most important books I have ever read . . . a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds -- Lynn Ruane - Irish Times
[A] story for the unheard and unseen that is fearless, funny and searingly honest -- Adil Ray OBE Raw and remarkable - Irish Independent
A book of empowerment and hope -- Patricia Scanlan An important contribution to our understanding of poverty and its impact - Business Post
An incredible read - Business Post
Phenomenal -- Louise O'Neill Katriona has taken her life and turned it into a call for action. She has given us all of her in her radically honest memoir and all who read it must meet that honesty with action. Poor is a book that can change society, and we must all level up to change it with her. -- Lynn Ruane They should put it on the leaving cert . . . an extraordinary book -- Brendan O'Connor - RTÉ Radio One
Absolutely brilliant. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is, as far as I'm concerned, the book of the year! -- Pat Kenny - Newstalk
A fascinating story of overcoming great adversity, so well told -- Matt Cooper - Today FM
If I was a student who could be lectured by her, I would feel beyond privileged ... I really do recommend the book. -- Jane Garvey - Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio
The remarkable story of her ascent from the trenches [of poverty] and her determination to inspire others . . . a vivid retelling of Katriona flourishing, despite her beginnings - BBC News West Midlands
Just finished this brilliant book ... it strikes at the heart of the damage we as a society are doing to children living in poverty. -- June Shannon - Twitter
'A deeply affecting tale of resilience.' - The i newspaper
