Book Review: A Long Way Gone

Ishmael Beah grew up in a world much different than most people. He grew up in Sierra Leone, Africa. There were constant dangers surrounding him and his family. There was civil unrest, predators, rebels and hundreds of other dangers they dealt with on a day to day basis. Africa was right in the middle of a rebellion of epic proportions, the rebels had so much power that African army didn’t dare show its face around them. Ishmael and his family had to live through these rough times. Until they were too overtaken by the rebels as so many other towns had been before them. They were split up and only Junior and Ishmael were together.
Junior was Ishmael’s older brother. He watched and guarded over his younger brother. He kept him safe when they were wondering about by themselves trying not to get captured by the rebels. Junior was cool, and calm, he was the level-headed one who kept them together and kept them on the right path. Ishmael is the younger brother and the author. He follows his older brother’s every move and knows that they must stay together. Although they wind up being split apart Ishmael knows he must continue on.
The story unfolds as Ishmael comes across other boys and continues his journey on with them hoping to find his family once again and not be captured of killed by the rebels. The boys stop at villages looking for family, food and shelter. They are reduced to stealing and scavenging for food. They usually have to either sleep on verandahs or in trees. They must run and hide at any sign of a gunshot or of a rebel approaching them. They are captured by villagers who think they are a part of the rebel cause, each time coming up with ways to prove their innocence. Danger lurks around every single turn and on every path.
Few people can relate to these experiences, this is something that no child should ever have to endure. We get to look through the eyes of Ishmael Beah and see what he saw, what he did, and what he lived through. It sends a powerful message that he truly was, “A Long Way Gone”.

Memoirs: A Long Way Gone

"If fear alters your behavior, you're already defeated." Brenda Hammond. In "A Long Way Gone" the boys face many different situations that bring them within inches of death. These boys have learned to control their fear and how to avoid these situations and still keep their heads on straight. If they let fear conquer them, they wouldn't be alive anymore. If fear kept them from thinking clearly and altered the way they move and escape they would be killed. By overcoming the fear they have within themselves they have survived as long as they have. Fear is something these kids frankly, don't have time for. They needed to grow up real fast and learn how to survive, and they did. They adapted to the horrors around them and have kept themselves alive this long. They have pushed their fears aside and managed to stay alive.