by Michael Oher
First published 2011
Michael Oher was a homeless child running through Memphis projects, dodging child services and bouncing between foster homes. He grew up surrounded by poverty, addiction, and despair that had trapped his family for generations. Oher set goals to escape this cycle and latched onto football as his way out. He worked relentlessly to transform his athletic ability into opportunity. The young man knew he could not succeed alone. His adoptive family, the Touhys, and other mentors provided the positive influence he desperately needed. Oher shares stories of heartbreak and determination that only he could tell. He reveals his private thoughts during the journey that made him famous through The Blind Side movie. This memoir shows how he progressed from Memphis streets to the NFL while emphasizing the crucial role of supportive relationships in achieving dreams.
Genres: african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity, rags-to-riches
Setting: Memphis
Period: 21st-century
272 pages · Hardcover · Gotham
Content warnings: addiction, child-abuse