An interesting audiobook, and told with a genuine voice on a topic that I thought would be interesting. However, it turns out that hearing the life story of someone who is not in the public eye is not as interesting to me as I hoped it would, and I also found that audiobooks just do not grab my attention. That being said, I appreciate the author sharing his story.

While I don't bother with many memoirs, audiobook or traditional read, I did find this one to be worth the listen. I thought it was a poignant read that touches one some mature topics and was rather informative. It's definitely great to have the narrator be the author himself.

This book was very episodic and featured chapter by chapter installments detailing Salimu's time in high school, his struggles, and accomplishments. It's very conversational and accessible, but doesn't have the same depth of insight, reflection, and thematic development other memoirs usually include and readers may expect. I'm glad Salimu has overcome his hardships and has found success, and I hope he is successful in his goal of empowering others. If you are an avid memoir reader, this may not be for you as it is primarily plot driven (this happened, then this, then this), but if you are looking for the high school account of a motivational speaker on how he overcame hardship and was able to succeed, this is the book for you.

Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

Great narrator and very interesting story!
I enjoy the narrator's self-reflection and how the story is described.

(Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

First things first, I have to mention that I listened to the audiobook of it, which was a totally unique experience. Being a memoir narrated by the author himself, he really put a lot of emotion into telling the story of his life. His narration really made the book come to life.
Nonetheless, I still found that the book dragged quite a bit for me (which might as well have been my own fault).
I did come into this book expecting it to be empowering, and it did that very well. But that was kind of all that it had going for me. That, and the fact that I had the chance to find out about the real-life experience of a poor person of colour, a person that manages to push through societal norms and get himself out of the rut that many people which are in his situation end up never escaping.
I feel weird to rate memoirs most of the time, or to point out whether they were good or bad, simply because memoirs are someone's actual life story. I would be rating someone's life and that's not really my thing.
What I can objectively say about the book, though, is that the writing style is very simple and it manages to convey the atmosphere of the places the author lived in. The personal development that the author went through also kind of shows up in small but perceptible changes in writing.
The message the book holds is also very important, not to mention the simple fact that we generally need to acknowledge experiences different from our own in today's society. So I would really recommend this book to anyone, especially the audiobook, because the author's narration really makes it worth the while and adds an even deeper emotional level to it,

Got the audiobook from Netgalley. I thought this was a good story of working hard and overcoming disadvantage. The authors voice felt genuine if a little bit too much sometimes. Its a good listen. I like when an author reads their work, particularly since this was a memoir, you get a better feeling for their lived experience.

There are some books that are so good and so will written that you can't put them down. This is one of those books.

One thing that Mr. Selimu does really well is find the humor in harrowing circumstances. Even when he's couch surfing and looking for his next meal, Selimu makes a little joke that defuses the horror of the s situation. I haven't seen this done well since The What is the What by Dave Eggers.

Selimu also shows how important it is to have role models. While Selimu often jokes that he's solely responsible for his success, G Man and Dr. Ramsey, a football coach and teacher, figure prominently in many parts of the book. Selimu isn't afraid to give them credit when it's due. That shows his heart and character, and is why this is such a heart warning book to read.

I fully recommend this book. If you can get it in audiobook, even better. Mr. Selimu is a great narrator and able to bring everyone in the book to life.

I loved the narrator who read this book. They had such a powerful voice and I think they were perfect for this retelling. I also loved hearing how the narrator fought through adversity. It was really inspirational and would recommend to anyone wanting an uplifting read.

Wow. This book knocked me off my feet more than once. I believe memoirs have a way of connecting with the reader in a much more personal and intimate way. There are many subjects that affect us as a society and are very difficult to talk about, yet a memoir has a way of helping the reader lay down their defenses and preconceived notions in order to be more opening to listen to another human being's experience. This book is raw and honest, which is all integral to the story. The author tells about his life, including a tough childhood touched by parental mental illness, homelessness, drug use, community violence, etc. Some of the topics may triggering to people who have experienced traumatic events (or have loved one who have done so). Overall, a thought-provoking , eye opening, and enthralling read. Readers will particularly enjoy the audio version, which makes the telling of story up a notch, as it is narrated by the author.

Underprivileged Overachiever is very special to me. It is the first book under the autobiography/memoir/biography genre I have completed in my life for, no other book under this section I had started moved me enough to finish it. But this was different. It was like listening to my friend sharing his life with me(listened to the audiobook). To top the experience, the book was narrated by the person who had been in every inch of the situation narrated in the book.

Every time Yohance was mentioned in the book I would say to myself "rhymes with Beyonce, starts with a Y". Many books talk about people in similar situations as mentioned in the book but this was so real and unapologetic that at times I did have tears in my eyes. The author just made me imagine the life that I knew someone was living somewhere in the globe.
The author's life made me feel sad, happy, worried, proud, courageous and so much more that I just can't describe. I believe people broken and still carrying a smile on their face and fighting every second without giving up are the most beautiful people. This is a memoir of one such person.

Of the many things that hit me hard, I just want to mention a few things that will stay with me from this memoir forever. The first is when Yohance mentions that the enemy is poverty and hunger and not each other. The second moment that would stay with me is the moment when Yohance shares his request for prayers at the FCA meet with a small group where he asks them to pray that he gets to eat dinner every night.

5 stars for this raw, real, unapologetic, moving, inspiring memoir and the emotional ride presented in the authors' voice. I would want everyone to read this book(even better if you get to listen!!)for we would understand the value of everything we have in our lives and maybe become more empathetic.

PS: I loved the epilogue and "I didn't skip right away to the epilogue!"
PPS: Thanks for making 'If' by Rudyard Kipling even more special.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of an exceptional child defying the odds and succeeding. The author and his family are homeless throughout the book and are barely making ends meet. It should not be the responsibility of a 16-year-old to provide for their family. Similarly, a child should not have to work their withers off to have a roof over their head. To me this book wasn't an inspirational story, it was a upsetting reminder of the systemic failures of the country.

I would like to apologize for not downloading the audio book file on time. I got busy for the past several weeks due to pandemic. Hope you stay safe.

This made for an excellent audiobook! It's read by the author himself and really adds to the authenticity and intimacy of the story which was extremely powerful, heart wrenching, moving and every term in between. Yohance is the quintessential success story. He was fortunate enough to have people in his life who helped him along the way but at the end of the day, it was his drive that allowed him to claw his way out. I look forward to hearing the rest of the story in books 2 and 3.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc!

Underprivileged Overachiever is such an important read. This book dives into the life of Yohance Salimu, a high school student who makes nearly impossible strides to make it through each day. He hones in on the pursuit of his dreams and what it will take to get there. Despite all the things against him in life, his efforts, his network of mentors, and his hardships propel him into the life he desperately desired. The story isn't that he accomplished so much; it's in the details of the day-to-day struggles he faced and how they molded him.

The chapters are short and sweet. Easy to read; Easy to listen to as an audi0book. I prefer the audiobook; I enjoyed hearing him tell his story and listening to the different inflections in his voice revealing his emotions.

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

Don't get me wrong, this was an interesting story. I just had troubles following some of the details and some of the graphic content was a bit much for me.

Looking for an excuse to stay late at Crenshaw highschool, a young Yohance Salimu joins every extracurricular activity under the sun. If school never ends, it might be possible to avoid the several hours bus ride to a homeless shelter only to do it all again in the morning. Or maybe, Salimu can manage to dodge the custodians and late working staff and catch a few hours of sleep in the school hallway for another night. At the very least, it’s a way to avoid facing the harsh reality that extreme poverty is always lurking in “the Jungles” of Baldwin Hills Los Angeles, an infamously violent neighborhood waiting to consume it’s next victim. Instead of succumbing to the nearly inevitable odds, Salimu’s strategy allows him to snowball otherwise minor opportunities like Taco Bell runs after robotics club and access to lockers from football into fewer hungry nights and clean laundry. In this way, Salimu manages to eke out a high school career filled with more than day-to-day survival. He also manages to obtain an internship at Aerospace Corporation and eventual acceptance into the United States Air Force Academy. Perhaps the most remarkable trait of this memoir is the confidence of the author. Even while recounting unimaginable, sometimes humiliating situations Salimu’s charismatic, larger-than-life- personality shines through leaving the reader hooked on every word. Never humble, Salimu weaves original poetry and well-placed humour throughout with the art of a true story teller. Although this memoir has only one true character, Salimu also manages to make the reader feel a connection to his boisterous but caring coach and “nerdy version of Santa Claus” mentor offering these characters as a hopeful and humorous reprieve to otherwise dire situations. It is clear that Yohance Salimu was destined to tell this story that is so painful yet equally important for youth who are struggling to get by and those with the opportunities to mentor.

Thoughts: This is not a stand alone read for teens. It contains graphic descriptions of adult situations including sexual assault and violence for which support should be provided. However, Salimu’s story is one that needs to be told. Young adult listeners will easily connect to the author’s gregarious personality in print. However, Salimu’s narration in the audiobook version adds even more authenticity to his words.

I'm thrilled that I listened to everyone else's advice and decided to listen to the audiobook. I can't picture just reading this story. Yohance reads his own story, which provides an element of closeness that you would miss while reading. The emotions you hear in his words help propel his story.

While there is language, sexual themes, and a CW of rape, all these are necessary and never feels done for shock factor. Yohance's story is a powerful one, and one that needs to be heard. It's a story many teens and adults can relate to or learn something from.
His spirit and determination and not letting his socioeconomic status stop him from achieving his dreams is admirable.
His ego and cockiness is hysterical, and I love that he acknowledges it as a coping mechanism.
His humbleness and thankfulness of those who helped him and looked out for him is heartwarming.

I can't wait for the next two books and hope his inner voice is yelling at him to get on it! :)

This is a book about overcoming the trouble life throws at you to become successful in spite of it. The author is the narrator which makes the telling more emotional and real. Also, this is a book I would recommend to any inner-city high school student. I would recommend it to you get students however there are some language/adult situations that would not be appropriate for this age level. Looking forward to seeing what else this author has to say!

I was able to listen to this audiobook, read by the author, and I must recommend that you listen to it over reading it. The only thing I think I missed out on by listening was viewing the pictures at the beginning of each chapter. Having Yohance (Rhymes with Beyonce!) read his story to you in his own words makes it much more dynamic. I think him relaying his story made it for me, even when the flow or details in the story were lacking.
This book is raw and real, which means it discusses some heavy topics. Poverty, hunger, gangs, violence, rape, mental illness and deceit can all be found within the pages, BUT you will also find perseverance, tenacity, intelligence, honesty, love, and mentorship.
Yohance is one of 18 siblings who grows up in the Jungles of Los Angeles. After becoming homeless, he works tirelessly in school to not only make a way for himself in the world, but to provide for his family. He lived with multiple friends in short stints and spent time in shelters whenever he had to. He joined as many clubs as possible in order to not have to go “home” at the end of the day when he had no home to go to. This is a true “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” memoir that tackles hard things in a way that makes you feel as if you spent a few hours with Yohance over coffee.
While there were parts that I wish were more detailed or seemed forced, it is evident that you are watching this story unfold through the author’s eyes, and that there is some license in that.
I look forward to reading the next two installments of his story, whenever they come around.