(#17) / A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider / by Ishmael Beah / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

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

ISBN-13: 978-0374531263 / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

p. 229 / Price $9.60 (Amazon)

2007

Body of Content

Summary: The book “A Long Way Gone” tells the autobiographical tale of a young, 13-year-old boy whose life and country become saturated with turmoil and violence with the outbreak of civil war in the country of Sierra Leone.  After the destruction of his village, and the unknown fates of his family, Ishmael travels with a group of friends – trying to escape the violence that befalls his country.  But ultimately, Beah is captured by the governmental forces that are fighting the rebels – and they enlist him as a child soldier in the conflict.  Under the sway of political propaganda and the cloudy effect of powerful drugs (mostly cocaine and methamphetamines), Beah struggles through the story – committing violence and killings as a soldier.  The story is both commentary on violence and human rights – and ultimately, a struggle of a boy trying to reclaim his humanity.  

Critique: The story is gripping, heart-wrenching, and unapologetic in its description of wartime violence. [Spoiler Alert]  But, the story does not stop there.  Although the story provides undisturbed candor into the thoughts and actions of a boy soldier, Beah’s rescue from a horrific situation leaves the reader with a paradox – the insane evil resting within humanity – and the opposite – the innocent-laden goodness within humanity.  Beah literally commits dozens of murders within the wartime novel.  But, he finally flees to America – adopted by a journalist whom he had previous met at a UN conference – and now speaks on human right issues.

Beah’s portrayal (of an innocent child – turned into a killer – and finally able to recover his humanity) is a redemption story as much as it is a survival tale.  But the duality – the paradox of humanity – is a theme throughout the book.  And that paradox – of goodness and evilness – is a theme of a French theologian by the name of Blaise Pascal.  Beah’s story is one that explores the actions possible by human beings as a race – and as an individual person.  Like Pascal, there is both great concern and great hope for the human race within A Long Way Gone.  Beah’s story touches on many subjects throughout the book’s journey, but the philosophical issue of human ontology rests as a major theme – that turns a theoretical exercise into a first-hand account of war and redemption.              

Teaser: Ishmael’s homeland is devastated by a civil war.  Suddenly, he flees his home – only to find myself conscripted into an army – as a child soldier.  Can Ishmael hope to regain what he lost?  

Information about the Author: The author, now 31 years old, was born in Sierra Leone.  During a civil war in his home country, Beah fought as a child soldier.  After the war, an American journalist adopted him – and he now lives in New York City.  Currently, Beah works for the Human Rights Watch – within a committee specializing in issues related to children.  In his past work with the United Nations, he has met with notable leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela (Wikipedia, 2011).

Upon the release of the book, Beah spoke with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.  The host reflects, “I’ve rarely read a book that’s made my heart hurt” (Daily Show, 2007).  The author responds to the fragileness of life and the ease of becoming a killer and the difficulty of returning to society (Daily Show, 2007).   

Supplemental Material

Genre: Autobiography / Historical Nonfiction / Adventure

Curriculum Ties: History – child soldiers, imperialism, African history, United Nations / Theology – ontology, paradox of humanity, Pascal, “Problem of Evil”   

Booktalking Ideas: 1) How could a child become a soldier in a national conflict? 2) Does Ishmael ever find other members of his family?  

Reading Level: This book is certainly towards the upper bracket of high school – but I contend that it is thoroughly a teenage-intended book – with a teenage protagonist, short length (229 pages), and simple writing style.  Thus, the book is best for ages 16-19.

Challenge Issues and Defense: The subject matter is raw and the premise is dark.  The best defense strategy looks at the intentions of the work – as it does not seek to glorify violence, but instead, expose it for the inhumanness that it represents.  The book also received numerous awards, including a number three mention in an article by Times for Top Ten nonfiction books of 2007 (Grossman, 2007).

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: “A Long Way Gone” is a powerful book in own right – a book that I had my high school juniors read for their European history class. 

Last Thoughts

References:

Grossman, L. (2007). Top ten nonfiction books [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com

/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1686204_1686244_1691772,00.html

The Daily Show. (14 February, 2007). Ishmael Beah [Video]. Retrieved from

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-14-2007/ishmael-beah

Wikipedia. (2011). Ishmael Beah [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael_Beah

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Sixpence None the Richer / Album – “Divine Discontent”