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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A Long Way Gone was a harrowing and haunting read as you might expect given the subject matter. It is a memoir of Beah’s time as a child soldier during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Fleeing the rebels that killed his family he wandered the countryside, sometimes alone and sometimes with a small group, seeking food, shelter and survival. At age 13 he was taken in by an army unit. By supplying him with drugs, training him in gun use, brainwashing him and threatening him with death they taught him to kill and required him to do so. He spent the next three years doing just that and it seemed the drugs enabled him to do so with no feeling whatsoever. At age 16 the United Nations arranged for his release and sent him to a rehabilitation unit. It was during his time there, and no longer having ready access to drugs and suffering withdrawal symptoms, that the horrors of the acts he witnessed and was forced to commit, became very all too obvious, taking a major toll on his health.
This was not an easy read and there are many acts of unspeakable violence recounted in graphic but dispassionate detail. But it is an important read. Sadly Beah’s journey from a mischievous, rap-loving Shakespeare quoting child to a drug-fuelled trained killer is not unique. Thankfully his story ended well, but there are many other children still in his predicament. Reading this book not only reminds us of the plight of child soldiers but also highlights the crucial work done patient, skilled and compassionate people working to free and rehabilitate them.
This was not an easy read and there are many acts of unspeakable violence recounted in graphic but dispassionate detail. But it is an important read. Sadly Beah’s journey from a mischievous, rap-loving Shakespeare quoting child to a drug-fuelled trained killer is not unique. Thankfully his story ended well, but there are many other children still in his predicament. Reading this book not only reminds us of the plight of child soldiers but also highlights the crucial work done patient, skilled and compassionate people working to free and rehabilitate them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence
This is so hard to review. It was well written and told well. But this a horrifying true story of Beah's experiences as a 12 year old forced into war. It made me cry. I couldn't read it straight through because it was so awful. I wanted to pluck all of those boys out of Sierra Leone and take the somewhere safe so they could just be children. I am heartbroken after reading this. But it is a very important book to read.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
I thought this was a very tragic story, amazing triumph for ishmael in spite of his circumstances.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
This book was one of the most shocking and important books that I have ever read. It really made me think about what it means to be a child soldier, and how people cope with adversity. Read it. Seriously.
So sad. Hard to believe this is possible. Amazing to hear about the resilience of children.
Ishmael Beah’s memoir of his experience in the 1990s civil war in Sierra Leone. He recounts both his civilian experience and his experience as a boy soldier.
This read is absolutely devastating and hopeful. I really loved how Beah chose to end his piece, it’s very well done.
I had questions about several of the things he shared, but again I end up appreciating this memoir in whatever form because I believe the story is so important—even if the experiences of others are blended in, maybe it’s something even more of a story because of that. Beah has defended his piece, and whether his memory is faulty or not I think Beah shares lots of very important truths.
This read is absolutely devastating and hopeful. I really loved how Beah chose to end his piece, it’s very well done.
I had questions about several of the things he shared, but again I end up appreciating this memoir in whatever form because I believe the story is so important—even if the experiences of others are blended in, maybe it’s something even more of a story because of that. Beah has defended his piece, and whether his memory is faulty or not I think Beah shares lots of very important truths.
Powerful story of courage and strength.
It took courage to go through the healing process, to go and live with family that he'd never met before; to go to America and speak (even though his uncle didn't believe in him); and when the rebels attacked again to leave the country for a better life because even though his friends around him gave in to becoming soldiers again, he realized he didn't want that for his life and he realized he wanted better for himself.
It took courage to go through the healing process, to go and live with family that he'd never met before; to go to America and speak (even though his uncle didn't believe in him); and when the rebels attacked again to leave the country for a better life because even though his friends around him gave in to becoming soldiers again, he realized he didn't want that for his life and he realized he wanted better for himself.