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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
This was a very moving story. How could it not be?
Beah doesn't focus so much on the actual acts of violence he committed as a child soldier. Instead, the story is more about the path to and the repercussions of this life. Separation from his family, distrust from the other adults he encountered, hunger, and anger at the RUF for the devastation they caused all culminated in his emergence as a child soldier. He had no choice.
I never realized that the government troops in Sierra Leone had also resorted to using child soldiers just as the RUF had. I guess it makes sense though. The regular army may not have been as barbaric in their practices of recruiting child soldiers, or perhaps it is excluded from the book, but the drug abuse and brain-washing are definitely the same tactics. Beah is lucky that he landed with a commander who recognized his potential and made certain that he was removed from the frontlines as soon as an opportunity to do so presented itself.
This began the long process of drug detox and PTSD treatment necessary for Beah's re-entry into society. He is also extremely fortunate that UNICEF was able to find a family member willing to take on someone with such a traumatic past.
The importance of stories and rap music intertwine this work and I am sure that I will go back through it to examine how these influence and enrich the narrative. Beah is to be commended for extracting himself from these circumstances and for his efforts to reconcile himself with his past. I recommend this book to anyone who thinks that their lives have been so traumatic. It serves as a reminder that things could be sooooooo much worse.
Beah doesn't focus so much on the actual acts of violence he committed as a child soldier. Instead, the story is more about the path to and the repercussions of this life. Separation from his family, distrust from the other adults he encountered, hunger, and anger at the RUF for the devastation they caused all culminated in his emergence as a child soldier. He had no choice.
I never realized that the government troops in Sierra Leone had also resorted to using child soldiers just as the RUF had. I guess it makes sense though. The regular army may not have been as barbaric in their practices of recruiting child soldiers, or perhaps it is excluded from the book, but the drug abuse and brain-washing are definitely the same tactics. Beah is lucky that he landed with a commander who recognized his potential and made certain that he was removed from the frontlines as soon as an opportunity to do so presented itself.
This began the long process of drug detox and PTSD treatment necessary for Beah's re-entry into society. He is also extremely fortunate that UNICEF was able to find a family member willing to take on someone with such a traumatic past.
The importance of stories and rap music intertwine this work and I am sure that I will go back through it to examine how these influence and enrich the narrative. Beah is to be commended for extracting himself from these circumstances and for his efforts to reconcile himself with his past. I recommend this book to anyone who thinks that their lives have been so traumatic. It serves as a reminder that things could be sooooooo much worse.
When I was about 15, one of my high school teachers introduced us to many stories about Africa, stories about war, stories about world issues. Since then, I’ve had more than a soft spot for these. I added this book to my to-read list over 2 years ago. To the best of my memory, Goodreads recommended it to me.
So much time had passed since I shelved this book that I wasn’t sure if I would still enjoy it. The topic of this novel—child soldiers in Sierra Leone, the true story from a man who was once a boy living that reality—will never stop being interesting to me, but I wasn’t sure what I’d make of it.
After I read it, my thoughts were still conflicted. On one hand, the writing of this novel is somewhat plain, and there are not that many stand-out lines, in spite of the stand-out topic. The narration is unemotional, even-toned. At several points, I waited for a deeper connection with the people in the story, for some exploration into the author’s feelings. These moments never came.
On the other hand, perhaps that was the point. This is not a blockbuster film. It’s not overtold, it’s not melodramatic. It just is. One can’t read it expecting to see the “characters” go through a linear, orchestrated development, and the “protagonist” is not a hero, but a teenage boy. He is hurt, he is confused, he is overwhelmed, but he’s just a kid, or maybe in this book, he’s just a soldier—he learns to play that role too well to truly experience his emotions at that age.
I’m not sure what the intention was. At the end of the day, if this book had focused on the emotional and psychological after-effects of war on the author, I would have enjoyed it more.
So much time had passed since I shelved this book that I wasn’t sure if I would still enjoy it. The topic of this novel—child soldiers in Sierra Leone, the true story from a man who was once a boy living that reality—will never stop being interesting to me, but I wasn’t sure what I’d make of it.
After I read it, my thoughts were still conflicted. On one hand, the writing of this novel is somewhat plain, and there are not that many stand-out lines, in spite of the stand-out topic. The narration is unemotional, even-toned. At several points, I waited for a deeper connection with the people in the story, for some exploration into the author’s feelings. These moments never came.
On the other hand, perhaps that was the point. This is not a blockbuster film. It’s not overtold, it’s not melodramatic. It just is. One can’t read it expecting to see the “characters” go through a linear, orchestrated development, and the “protagonist” is not a hero, but a teenage boy. He is hurt, he is confused, he is overwhelmed, but he’s just a kid, or maybe in this book, he’s just a soldier—he learns to play that role too well to truly experience his emotions at that age.
I’m not sure what the intention was. At the end of the day, if this book had focused on the emotional and psychological after-effects of war on the author, I would have enjoyed it more.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
read for world in war & crisis 1949-today course
This book was gruesome and upsetting. It is horrible to think of how many children went through what Beah went through.
Beah is an incredible writer. The way the book is set up and written is so wonderful; the fact that he talked about his family first before mentioning the war really made me sympathetic towards Beah, rather than disliking him because of what he did.
Like the quote on the cover of the novel says, "Everyone in the world should read this book".
Beah is an incredible writer. The way the book is set up and written is so wonderful; the fact that he talked about his family first before mentioning the war really made me sympathetic towards Beah, rather than disliking him because of what he did.
Like the quote on the cover of the novel says, "Everyone in the world should read this book".
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
Read June 2024
4.25/5 STARS - REALLY REALLY ENJOYED IT
A Long Way Gone showcases the devastating impacts of war but the true power of forgiveness, strength, and resilience through tough times. Love for others is evident in this powerful memoir that will forever change your life.
Positive messages: 4/5
Characters learn to be resilient and strong through difficult circumstances. They learn to hold onto hope for the future and find light, even when the darkness seems to try to overtake them. Forgiveness and deep relationships with others are evident throughout the novel.
Positive role models: 3.5/5
You can tell that Junior has a sweet, compassionate heart and that he cares for his brother very deeply and wants the best for them both. In many circumstances, you see Junior giving up something of his for his younger brother, Ishmael.
Ishmael’s Uncle ‘Tommy’ sacrifices a lot to take care of Ishmael and Junior.
Esther shows compassion and empathy, along with understanding and kindness toward Ishmael, even when he doesn’t deserve it. She shows him love and care in the hardest of circumstances and listens to what he has to say.
Laura Simms connects with Ishmael and provides encouragement through storytelling and connects deeply with others.
Friendship—deep friendship—is evident in this novel. Many characters express love toward others.
Some characters take killing lightly and kill many people during the novel. They don’t show empathy toward those that they kill.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 4/5
Some soldiers are said to be drinking and smoking, along with gambling. Different alcoholic beverages are mentioned. Characters occasionally will consume an alcoholic beverage, however, it is not a part of the plot and just a normal part of their daily lives. A character starts to smoke marijuana and sniff ‘brown brown’, which is cocaine mixed with gunpowder. The same character gets addicted to an unknown drug. It shows the negative effects that come with taking drugs such as body shaking, uncontrollable sweating, losing hearing, losing eyesight, no sleep, etc. Characters go to cocaine and other alcoholic beverages for relief.
Language: 2.5/5
F**k is used once.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 4.5/5
There is a lot of blood and shooting, which is described. The main character observes an entire family being shot to death and other individuals being shot as well. Rebels ‘initiate’ children by having them kill others by shooting them. The rebels take these acts lightheartedly and laugh as they kill an old man, amused by his death. The main character gets intense dreams about death, shooting, and other acts of violence. He gets migraines often that are incredibly painful. A boy is shot to death and it described his eyes filling with blood instead of water and turning the white part red. A man has his throat slit (which is described) by a young boy. Child soldiers are used to killing and do it often, some of which are described in detail and others only mentioned.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 1/5
Ismael is undressed and sitting naked on the sand while his things are being inspected. However, they give him back his pants after examining his belongings. There is some touch on the aspect of romance but the novel focuses more on the impacts of war, brutality, and overcoming than a love story.
What Parents Should Know:
There is lots of educational value in this novel that will enlighten teens and adults. Ishmael recalls his time as a child soldier in Sierra Leone and readers will get insight on what that experience was like, along with the impact of the war on the community, on families, and on individuals as well. You will understand more deeply the country’s many challenges it has faced, traditions, and more about its history. Readers will become more familiar with different dialogue and phrases used in different parts of Sierra Leone, such as Mende and Temne. There are many different global perspectives, such as Western and African, brought up which will make teens more aware of the different views on many topics. The story is inspirational as well because it shows how you can overcome and be resilient, even when your world feels like it is crumbling. The book encourages readers to value freedom and to hate injustice and violence toward others.
“‘I pray to the gods and ancestors that your family will always be together, even when one of you crosses into the spirit world.’” (Beah 45, Hardcover) On page 72, it also says, “‘May the spirit of the ancestors be with you, children.’” Kanei, a side character in the novel, believes that there are ghosts. As you can see, there are different beliefs about the afterlife that come up throughout the novel. It may be helpful to have a discussion with your teen about the different points of view and the Christian point of view, backing it up with evidence.
Age Range Recommendation: 14+ YA/A
Reading Level (by grade): 9-12th
Read June 2024
4.25/5 STARS - REALLY REALLY ENJOYED IT
A Long Way Gone showcases the devastating impacts of war but the true power of forgiveness, strength, and resilience through tough times. Love for others is evident in this powerful memoir that will forever change your life.
Positive messages: 4/5
Characters learn to be resilient and strong through difficult circumstances. They learn to hold onto hope for the future and find light, even when the darkness seems to try to overtake them. Forgiveness and deep relationships with others are evident throughout the novel.
Positive role models: 3.5/5
You can tell that Junior has a sweet, compassionate heart and that he cares for his brother very deeply and wants the best for them both. In many circumstances, you see Junior giving up something of his for his younger brother, Ishmael.
Ishmael’s Uncle ‘Tommy’ sacrifices a lot to take care of Ishmael and Junior.
Esther shows compassion and empathy, along with understanding and kindness toward Ishmael, even when he doesn’t deserve it. She shows him love and care in the hardest of circumstances and listens to what he has to say.
Laura Simms connects with Ishmael and provides encouragement through storytelling and connects deeply with others.
Friendship—deep friendship—is evident in this novel. Many characters express love toward others.
Some characters take killing lightly and kill many people during the novel. They don’t show empathy toward those that they kill.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 4/5
Some soldiers are said to be drinking and smoking, along with gambling. Different alcoholic beverages are mentioned. Characters occasionally will consume an alcoholic beverage, however, it is not a part of the plot and just a normal part of their daily lives. A character starts to smoke marijuana and sniff ‘brown brown’, which is cocaine mixed with gunpowder. The same character gets addicted to an unknown drug. It shows the negative effects that come with taking drugs such as body shaking, uncontrollable sweating, losing hearing, losing eyesight, no sleep, etc. Characters go to cocaine and other alcoholic beverages for relief.
Language: 2.5/5
F**k is used once.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 4.5/5
There is a lot of blood and shooting, which is described. The main character observes an entire family being shot to death and other individuals being shot as well. Rebels ‘initiate’ children by having them kill others by shooting them. The rebels take these acts lightheartedly and laugh as they kill an old man, amused by his death. The main character gets intense dreams about death, shooting, and other acts of violence. He gets migraines often that are incredibly painful. A boy is shot to death and it described his eyes filling with blood instead of water and turning the white part red. A man has his throat slit (which is described) by a young boy. Child soldiers are used to killing and do it often, some of which are described in detail and others only mentioned.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 1/5
Ismael is undressed and sitting naked on the sand while his things are being inspected. However, they give him back his pants after examining his belongings. There is some touch on the aspect of romance but the novel focuses more on the impacts of war, brutality, and overcoming than a love story.
What Parents Should Know:
There is lots of educational value in this novel that will enlighten teens and adults. Ishmael recalls his time as a child soldier in Sierra Leone and readers will get insight on what that experience was like, along with the impact of the war on the community, on families, and on individuals as well. You will understand more deeply the country’s many challenges it has faced, traditions, and more about its history. Readers will become more familiar with different dialogue and phrases used in different parts of Sierra Leone, such as Mende and Temne. There are many different global perspectives, such as Western and African, brought up which will make teens more aware of the different views on many topics. The story is inspirational as well because it shows how you can overcome and be resilient, even when your world feels like it is crumbling. The book encourages readers to value freedom and to hate injustice and violence toward others.
“‘I pray to the gods and ancestors that your family will always be together, even when one of you crosses into the spirit world.’” (Beah 45, Hardcover) On page 72, it also says, “‘May the spirit of the ancestors be with you, children.’” Kanei, a side character in the novel, believes that there are ghosts. As you can see, there are different beliefs about the afterlife that come up throughout the novel. It may be helpful to have a discussion with your teen about the different points of view and the Christian point of view, backing it up with evidence.
Age Range Recommendation: 14+ YA/A
Reading Level (by grade): 9-12th
Heartbreaking, but brilliantly written by a 30 year-old survivor of the civil war in Sierra Leone. I just wish he had another book detailing his life after he leaves Sierra Leone.
Parts of this book were so horrific I forgot it was a memoir. Extremely well written.