Journal #3 - Mikayla

            It’s surprising how these drugs like cocaine, brown brown and sniffing gun powder can be so effective and last for so long. It’s hard to believe how senseless and mindless these boys are when they are intoxicated. They barely feel any pain or remorse for what they have had done to themselves and to others.

I really enjoyed the way the book turned around in this section. The fighting scenes aren't necessarily my favorite because it is difficult to picture them and fallow them. It was nice to finally see the light for Ishmael’s future when the UNICEF representatives came, although Ishmael was extremely reluctant to join.

I understand from Ishmael’s point of view why he was so stubborn and negative about it. Even though what he and his army were doing was wrong, he had become part of a family and routine which were the only things he had left.  They had also taken away his gun which was his sense of security which can be frightening to somebody who had been through so much trauma and violence. I would also hate how they say ‘It’s not your fault” every time a boy acts out.

It was entertaining to see how the two groups of boys first reacted to each other that first night, starting off by threatening each other just because Alhaji asked the other boys where they were from. Clearly they were all on edge.

The patience and personal skills nurse Esther has is so admirable. It must be so hard for her to watch these boys suffer but so rewarding to watch they heal. I can only imagine how happy Ishmael was when he got his Walkman and music. It had been such a big part of his life before the war and it was like we were reading about the young Ishmael again.