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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It's fairly short and ends somewhat abruptly, but it is an important read for anybody. I have never finished a book so quickly. I took it everywhere I went in case I had the opportunity to get in a few more pages.
There is some controversy surrounding the veracity of some of the stories in the book. Even if the author did not personally experience all of the horrors depicted, someone did. And that's worth telling. The experiences that these boys went through as young children (my brother is the same age so I used him as a frame of reference) is haunting.
I highly recommend this book to anybody. But make sure you get into the right mindset first or it will be an extremely tough read. I would also suggest doing a little research into Sierra Leon area and history, either before or after reading, to help grasp what was going on.
There is some controversy surrounding the veracity of some of the stories in the book. Even if the author did not personally experience all of the horrors depicted, someone did. And that's worth telling. The experiences that these boys went through as young children (my brother is the same age so I used him as a frame of reference) is haunting.
I highly recommend this book to anybody. But make sure you get into the right mindset first or it will be an extremely tough read. I would also suggest doing a little research into Sierra Leon area and history, either before or after reading, to help grasp what was going on.
This is an insightful first-hand account into Sierra Leone's troublesome past. The author does a great job explaining why teens and kids are forced to pick a side in a civil war, because they have no other choice . The horrors that people have to endure and commit to survive are really heart breaking.
My sister once told me this was her favorite book from school so of course I made my class read it this year. Very intense, engaging and well-written. I just didn't like how quickly it ended, it didn't feel finished yet.
A very moving book, the horrors of war and the children who are caught in the conflict very effectively illustrated. I had to finish the book in a few sittings.
Really devastating and powerful story. An important read.
4/5 stars because of the pacing of the book. The first half was the span of about a year, the rest was several years, and it ended very abruptly.
4/5 stars because of the pacing of the book. The first half was the span of about a year, the rest was several years, and it ended very abruptly.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Amazing story of a child soldiers journey... From the time of his innocence, to his full involvement in mass murders, to his final escape... It's moving to read the intimate words of everything he went through... An important story to read to truly understand why child soldiers exist and the injustice behind the African wars.