A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah
By Sam Larson, English 12a, 09/02/17
Summary
A Long Way Gone is a powerful story about a young boy named Ishmael Beah who lives in Sierra Leone, Africa which is caught up in a civil war. Ishmael tries so hard to avoid the war, but he is forced to enlist to fight in an army at the age of twelve.
Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah is the author and lead character in the book.
Child Soldier
This is an example of a child soldier in Africa.
Map of Sierra Leon
Sierra Leone, Africa was the country where this story occurred.
Family
Family was the most important thing to Beah and he was heartbroken when he lost his Father, Mother, Brother, and Grandparents.
Key words
Family - Family is super important to Beah.
Ak-47 - He only felt comfortable when he had a weapon.
Child Soldier - Beah was a child soldier who had to fight to survive.
Rehabilitation - He went to place where he got off drugs and prepared for society.
Music - Music was very important to Beah, It reminded him of home and his brothers.
Quotes From Reading
- These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past. P.20.
- I had my gun now, and as the corporal always said, "This gun is your source of power in these times. It will protect you and provide you all you need, if you know how to use it well. P. 124.
- When I was very little, my father used to say, "If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die. P. 54.
Interview Q/A
Beah wants America to realize that war is nothing like the movies and that it is terrible. Ishmael goes on to the news and writes his book to help people realize what is going on in his country. When he wrote his book and it went public I think he felt he had done something good for his country. The main reason he wrote his book was to give the opportunity for people to see just how bad it can get and how you can lose everything. The country in my opinion can not get any worse than when that was all going on but I honestly do think the country is doing better economically and politically but it does have problems still.
Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Official)
Song Explanation
I chose this song because when he is telling this story I think he wishes that he woke up and saw what was actually happening.
Citation
- "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Official Site." A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Official Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
- Beah, ByIshmael, Asked Byjakara F #609833Answered ByAslanon 2/10/2017 1:08 AM, Jakara F. #609833, Asked ByKeisha M #608706Answered ByAslanon 2/7/2017 9:14 PM, Keisha M. #608706, Asked ByLarry R #608299Answered Byjill D #170087on 2/7/2017 1:56 AM, and Larry R. #608299. "A Long Way Gone Summary." GradeSaver. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
- "Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
- AloeBlaccVEVO. "Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Official)." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
Overall Impression
"A Long Way Gone" to me was an amazing novel that really showed a how strong even a young boy can be. Beah had the will to survive and some luck that got him through a horrible situation and now he is raising awareness for the "child soldier" issue. In my opinion the story was kinda hard to fallow at first because the author would jump from past to future without really giving any hint he was doing so. The it was a great book that I would recommend to anyone.