pamelas 's review for:

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

4.0

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I was a little worried this book would be too grim. While it certainly had some very grim and gruesome parts, it's overall message was one of hope. Ishmael Beah tells just enough of his experiences as a boy soldier to give the reader a good picture of what he went through, but he does not dwell on them--indeed, he fast forwards through two years of his life as a soldier. This was an excellent way to present his life, and this shows exactly what Ishmael is--he is much more than the boy soldier he was. Ishmael not only survives his ordeals, but surpasses them. I hope he can continue to heal the deep, psychological scars he bears and continues to work to keep other children from being victimized the way he was. I hope we can all work to find ways to make the world a better place for all children.