Title: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Author: Ishmael Beah
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 229
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: At the age of 12, Beah is swept up in Sierra Leone's civil was when his village is attacked and his family is killed. He is eventually pressed into service as a soldier for 3 years, until he is extracted from the army by UNICEF and placed in a rehabilitation camp. The book describes his memories of being a child soldier, and his process of coming to terms with what he did as a soldier as he re-enters normal society.
Thoughts: This is a hard book. The things that we humans are capable of, both good and bad, are simply shocking to me, and I think that this book really highlights the bad. It also highlights our amazing ability to adapt to very difficult circumstances. The things that Beah and other soldiers did, indeed had to do to survive, are beyond comprehension for someone like me who has lived an extremely sheltered life. Frankly, I didn't enjoy reading that section, although that's not necessarily a good reason not to read it. The second half of the book, which deals with his rehabilitation, I enjoyed more; probably most people would feel that way.
Disclaimer: This book is has extremely graphic depictions of war-time violence.
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