A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

This illuminating, gripping story is told in a way that i almost could not bear: a true story that reflects the hellish life of a child soldier, forced to commit unspeakable acts in the jungle wastelands of the african bush. no professional writer could ever pen such a memoir, no matter how good their skill. this was written with the heart and soul of a survivor. i marvel at the will to...more

This illuminating, gripping story is told in a way that i almost could not bear: a true story that reflects the hellish life of a child soldier, forced to commit unspeakable acts in the jungle wastelands of the african bush. no professional writer could ever pen such a memoir, no matter how good their skill. this was written with the heart and soul of a survivor. i marvel at the will to survive and how we can overcome terrible tragedies when i read such reports. i agree with walt whitman who said that " there is no more heaven or hell than there is here on earth". to open our eyes is not always easy because sometimes we do not want to see the truth that confronts us. but it is always good for us to know the reality of what is going on in this world- the good and and the bad,alike.   hide

I have to admit that I had my doubts about the validity of this book. From the start the level of violence and graphic descriptions of countless massacres, make it overwhelming. I mean... 10% of this would have been more than enough to get your guts churning. But then I became embarrassed by my doubts! Am I that shallow, to believe only what I see? Only what I can myself imagine? ...more

I have to admit that I had my doubts about the validity of this book. From the start the level of violence and graphic descriptions of countless massacres, make it overwhelming. I mean... 10% of this would have been more than enough to get your guts churning. But then I became embarrassed by my doubts! Am I that shallow, to believe only what I see? Only what I can myself imagine? Isn't that why Pol Pot stayed in powers as long as he did? People just didn't believe it. I ended up completely invested in Ishmael's journey and how this little boy went from an innocent kid who enjoyed music and reciting Shakespeare, to an undiscriminating killer capable of burying people alive, to a voice of his generation, who spoke in front of the UN. This book is about child soldiers in Sierra Leone, but it's almost more about the versatility of human character. Are people good or evil? Can we feel any sympathy to those who commit despicable acts of violence? How evil do you have to be to kill innocent civilians? Let's just say that we are capable of both, easily. So much depends on our circumstances...   hide

Poignant, heart-breaking, inspiring. An unassuming first-person account of the unspeakable day-to-day suffering of Sierra Leonians at the hands of their own countrymen, not to mention fellow human beings during the civil war. Detailing how a nation's political corruption reaches the very heart of the country, its children being manipulated as faceless weaponry on both fronts...more

Poignant, heart-breaking, inspiring. An unassuming first-person account of the unspeakable day-to-day suffering of Sierra Leonians at the hands of their own countrymen, not to mention fellow human beings during the civil war. Detailing how a nation's political corruption reaches the very heart of the country, its children being manipulated as faceless weaponry on both fronts of a perverted war. Ishmael bears a message that cannot be ignored. I would recommend this memoir to everyone.   hide

Excellent. Harrowing. The contrast that Beah draws between traditional village life and the coming of the rebels is heartbreaking. I can barely put it down. This book is harrowing. The horrid things this boy was exposed to at an early age are appalling. In contrast, he also talks about times before the war came, and the warmth, hospitality, and traditional values of his village and others before...more

Excellent. Harrowing. The contrast that Beah draws between traditional village life and the coming of the rebels is heartbreaking. I can barely put it down. This book is harrowing. The horrid things this boy was exposed to at an early age are appalling. In contrast, he also talks about times before the war came, and the warmth, hospitality, and traditional values of his village and others before the rebels came to mess it all up. That makes the atrocities all the more stark. It's a beautiful and horrifying book. I'm having a hard time putting it down. It seems besides the point to say that he is a wonderful writer too.   hide

Just finished reading this book last night as 24 Redemption was starting on Fox. The begining of the show is almost word for word in the spirit of what Ishmael tells us here in his memoir. This is a powerful telling of what happens when you give children weapons. Many of us during Nam drank or smoked to get through it. You see we were only teenagers at that time. The average age of the American...more

Just finished reading this book last night as 24 Redemption was starting on Fox. The begining of the show is almost word for word in the spirit of what Ishmael tells us here in his memoir. This is a powerful telling of what happens when you give children weapons. Many of us during Nam drank or smoked to get through it. You see we were only teenagers at that time. The average age of the American soldier was 19. These boys are even younger. I can only imagine the things they went through to stay alive. War is ugly and Ishmael does not glorify it here. Read this and then find a way to be a peacemaker.   hide

In his disturbing, but ultimately hopeful memoir, Ishmael Beah describes his experiences as a boy growing up in Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war. His harrowing journey changes him (with frightening speed) from a boy who quotes hip-hop lyrics and Shakespeare monologues and loves to dance to a "lost boy" wandering from village to village without a family. When...more

In his disturbing, but ultimately hopeful memoir, Ishmael Beah describes his experiences as a boy growing up in Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war. His harrowing journey changes him (with frightening speed) from a boy who quotes hip-hop lyrics and Shakespeare monologues and loves to dance to a "lost boy" wandering from village to village without a family. When rebel forces destroy his village, he is separated from his family. After spending several months trying to survive on his own, he is recruited by the national army . At the age of twelve, he becomes a soldier. For the next three years, he is immersed in a nightmare of drugs and senseless violence and takes great pride in his ability to torture and kill his enemies. The national army and the rebels are like two rival gangs, caught in an endless, unthinking cycle of vengeance and brutality. When Beah is 15, he is taken to a UNICEF-sponsored rehabilitation center. At first he is angry about being taken from his unit, but he gradually begins to reclaim his humanity and come to terms with his past. A powerful and heartbreaking memoir of war. A must read.   hide

Summary of Book: Beah’s autobiographical account of his miraculous transformation begins with describing himself as an ordinary child that loved American hip-hop and had dreams of making the music scene with a rap band that included his older brother and friends. In 1993, his childhood is interrupted when the civil war separates him from his family at age twelve and after many struggles...more

Summary of Book: Beah’s autobiographical account of his miraculous transformation begins with describing himself as an ordinary child that loved American hip-hop and had dreams of making the music scene with a rap band that included his older brother and friends. In 1993, his childhood is interrupted when the civil war separates him from his family at age twelve and after many struggles learns to kill for the government’s army by the age of thirteen. Beah continued to fight for two years until he is saved by a rehabilitation center sponsored by UNICEF. Although reluctant at first, Beah eventually warms to rehabilitation. At the rehabilitation center, Beah becomes a gifted speaker that leads him to be chosen to speak at a United Nations conference in New York City. Beah would fly to New York City and become very good friends with Laura Simms who described herself as a storyteller. Not long after his return to Sierra Leone, the war enters the capital and sends the seventeen year old Beah running again. This time Beah would not run to the bush, he escapes to the Untied States with the assistance of his friend Laura. Discussion Section: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is an autobiography of an incredible young man that students may find fascinating. I was given the privilege of hearing Ishmael speak at SUNY Potsdam last year and believe his story is one that would be appreciated by students that are not familiar with the hardships faced by children in other cultures. Students will be able to relate to Ishmael’s love of hip-hop music, playing soccer, and playing with his friends. His autobiography starts with an ordinary child playing with his friends unaware of the impending tragedies that he will soon face. Students will not only gain knowledge of a different culture, they will understand that the many of the differences are due to circumstances that are beyond their control. My goal would be to have students relate the similarities between their own culture and Ishmael’s, instead of focusing on the differences that often divide us.   hide

That is, hands down, one of the most difficult books I've ever read: today's wars are fought by children soldiers. The first few pages, literally gave me a tension headache and I kept getting those headaches in anticipation by merely thinking about the book. I was actually seriously going to stop but for some reason kept going and now and I'm glad I did, for this is a story everyone needs to...more

That is, hands down, one of the most difficult books I've ever read: today's wars are fought by children soldiers. The first few pages, literally gave me a tension headache and I kept getting those headaches in anticipation by merely thinking about the book. I was actually seriously going to stop but for some reason kept going and now and I'm glad I did, for this is a story everyone needs to know in the hopes that one day all children get to enjoy and live their childhood.   hide

Reviewed by Rachel - The Class for TeensReadToo.com Imagine, you live in a village; you know, the ones without electricity and plumbing? You get water from the river for your mother so she can cook dinner but, when you come back, the village is ablaze and everyone is running. Not just running in one direction but everywhere; screaming, yelling, falling down dead. This is what causes Ishmael...more

Reviewed by Rachel - The Class for TeensReadToo.com Imagine, you live in a village; you know, the ones without electricity and plumbing? You get water from the river for your mother so she can cook dinner but, when you come back, the village is ablaze and everyone is running. Not just running in one direction but everywhere; screaming, yelling, falling down dead. This is what causes Ishmael Beah's childhood to be lost. Beah starts out as a quiet, peace-loving boy who suddenly is on the run from all the destruction and terror with his older brother, Junior, and some friends. After months of wandering on paths and in the forest, they come to a farm outside of a village. Beah finds out his family is in the village and as a group they start walking. Then the rebels attack and his family is dead. Torn, tired, and angry, Beah will eventually lose everything he cared about; his family, his health (both mentally and physically), and almost his life. As a boy soldier recruited by the Sierra Leone Army he changes drastically. Drugs, energy stimulants, and other illegal acts (in the United States) cause him to kill without thinking, never even cringing at the sight of death and basically causing him to feel almost inhuman. A LONG WAY GONE is Ishmael Beah's memoir based on his experiences and the tragic events of his life. I loved this book because it was a huge eye-opener about the war in Sierra Leone and how it affected everyone, even children. I also believe that everyone should read this book at least once in their life time. Maybe then people can help those who have become boy soldiers or anyone affected by a war. Maybe A LONG WAY GONE could change the world, make it a more peaceful place; that is what I hope can happen.   hide