A review by almaro
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

4.0

Ishmael Beah's memoir offers a powerful and heartbreaking firsthand account of life as a child soldier. While the existence of child soldiers is widely known, reading Beah's story—detailing his capture, indoctrination, and the arduous process of rehabilitation—brings a visceral understanding of their experiences. Beah skillfully balances necessary context and detail, allowing readers to empathize with the atrocities he and others endured without overwhelming them with graphic descriptions. My only disappointment was the abrupt ending. I would have appreciated an epilogue providing closure, particularly regarding his journey to the United States and the fate of his cousins.