A Long Way Gone: The True Story of a Child Soldier (edit title)

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Liked It Rated 5 stars “Awesome account. Never really stopped. You can't help but relate to this kid who is subjected to endless tragedies, yet manages to remain strong and survive.” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 3 stars

  “A Long Way Gone: by Ishmael Beah
  
  A Long Way Gone is a memoir of the life of Ishmael Beah during his adolescence as an African boy soldier in Sierra Leone during the 1990’s. He describes the struggle and hardships of his life throughout the novel as though the reader is experiencing it firsthand. The plot follows the story of Ishmael and his brothers as they seek for redemption and salvation from the war. Ishamel’s perspectives of child warfare are explicitly coherent in this novel, which gives the reader an interesting insight on developing countries in Africa. Ishmael escaped the war and moved to New York City where he attended both high school and college and is now an aspiring author. A Long Way Gone deals with universal themes of morality and human sacrifice, which will spread awareness and move readers around the world.
  
  Alex Mays”

  Alex M wrote this review Wednesday, September 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 5 stars

  “Awesome account. Never really stopped. You can't help but relate to this kid who is subjected to endless tragedies, yet manages to remain strong and survive. ”

  Jeff M wrote this review Sunday, May 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 0 stars

  “Autobiography of a former child soldier in Sierra Leone. Apparently it was a bestseller in the US: haven't seen much about it here.
  
  Pretty powerful stuff, written in an accessible style. However, I have some niggling doubts about the authenticity of some of the detail. For instance, it seems a bit of a coincidence that after being separated from his parents for months, that they should be attacked by rebels just hours before he was to enter their new village; and that his very first patrol should have a dramatic firefight. Could be just the fallability of memory over timing though.
  
  The sections where he discussed readapting to civilian life feel pretty authentic though. Worth a look.”

  TheophileEscargot wrote this review Tuesday, April 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No