Review Response - Natacha

In my opinion, I think this book review by William Boyd is very well written. He explains the history of child soldiers in all different parts of Africa. He also talks about the book in a very detailed manner without spoiling it for readers who have yet to read it.
I like how Boyd explained the different types of drugs and guns such as "brown brown", a mix of cocaine and gun powder. By making his review really descriptive I think it gets people really interested and makes them want to know more about Ishmael's journey . I also enjoyed how he makes Ishmael sound like an innocent child and doesn't accuse him of being a killer, certain cridicts wouldn't necessarily make him sound innocent.
In the end I really enjoyed this review and they is nothing I disagree with. William Boyd definetly covered everything from the history of the war to  after when Ishmael moved to the U.S.A. I wouldn't change anything about this review.

Journal #4 - Natacha

 The last few chapters of this book were my favourite and the most interesting in my opinion. Throughout the whole book Ishmael had to say goodbye to the people closest to him and almost every new person he met during is journey as a boy soldier. Even when he finally found family and it seemed that nothing else would go wrong, the town was attacked and he had no choice but to leave. This book is so well written, and extremely descriptive that you're almost able to feel what Ishmael felt at the time.

I really loved how fast Ishmael was able to make so many new friends and how he was able to go to New York City. I didn’t like Mambu at first because he was intimidating, but as time passed he seemed to become a good friend to Ishmael. I was very happy when Ishmael’s old friend Mohamed showed up.

The story is in his point of view, and you feel as if you are going through the same experiences that Ishmael did. For example, when Ishmael told us that he never saw Mambu again because he was sent back to war, he never saw Alhaji again because he was sent to another children’s center , and when he said “It was the last time I saw her. I loved her but never told her.” Referring to Esther, This line was so sudden and a rather simple ending to their friendship. As the reader, you know read about everything Ishmael went through and you know that he was always stubborn towards Esther but for the first time he says he loved her. Alhaji, who he spent so much of his war days with and was by his side for so long was never seen again, which is pretty sad because they went through the toughest times together. This book literally makes you feel a pain inside yourself. This book book makes readers so emotional, while reading it you will laugh, you will tear up, you feel happiness, you will sympathize and you will learn.

This book is, by far, the best book I have ever read and I would re-read it. 

The Ishmael Beah Foundation

Ishmael created a foundation to stop child soldier enrollment. Check out his site: www.beahfound.org

Journal #3 - Natacha

         In this section of the book Ishmael starts his journey as a boy soldier. His lieutenant, Jacobi, gives them their orders but also decides to give them drugs and convince them that killing is alright or normal. Marijuana, cocaine and brown brown are just some of the drugs that Ishmael and the others boys became addicted to over the time. They caused the boys to not be able to sleep properly and to think differently. It disgusts me that grown adults would give kids so young drugs, not to mentions most kids at that age should even know what drugs are or be any where near drugs. The lieutenants have convinced Ishmael and the other soldiers that the rebels are responsible for killing their family so that they feel the need to retaliate and punish the rebels by killing them. In chapter fourteen, Ishmael kills a rebel prisoner by slitting his throat. He felt no remorse in committing this act of pure violence which shows how his character has changed and how he had lost his morals.

    Later in the book the boys get taken by some in-city soldiers who bring them to a compound which turns out to be a UNICEF rehabilitation centre called The Benin Home. As the workers try to help the boys by feeding them, they start to rage because they're going through withdrawal. After fighting against the nurses and doctors, Ishmael finally gets injected with a sedative to calm him down and so he can get some sleep. I congratulate the nurses and doctors who risked their lives to help the boy soldiers recover. I wouldn't be able to stay as patient as the workers at the rehabilitation centre.
   This portion of the book is just the beginning of Ishmael's recovery and I'm happy that he is given a second chance in life. 

Questions and Answers -Natacha

Questions

1. Why did Ishmael change his mind about Esther?
2. Music comes back as Ishmael goes through rehabilitation. What role does it play and is it different than it was earlier in his life?
3. Describe the children's response to rehabilitation? Would you work with children in this rehabilitative setting if you were given the chance?
4. Does it surprise you that Ishmael spends a small portion of the book describing his journey as a child soldier?
5. Describe the contest Ishmael wins to be promoted as junior lieutenant.
6. What are a couple of things that motivate Ishmael in this portion of the book?
7. Describe Ishmael by giving a couple of character traits.
8. Do you think the title is appropriate for the story?
9. Why do you think the rebels are so violent? Do you think there's another way they could have gotten their point across without starting a war? How?
10. Describe Esther by giving a couple character traits.

Answers

1. Ishmael changed his mind about Esther because she gave him a Walkman.
2. It helps a lot through rehabilitation because it reminds him of his life before he became a soldier.
3. The children were really stubborn and negative towards changing because they were so accustomed to violence. It would be rewarding but at the same time it would be hard on your body mentally and physically.
4. Although it is very important and made a big difference on his life recalling all the details is like reliving the terror and it wouldn't be healthy. Also, it is possible that he doesn't remember certain thing because he was under the influence of drugs.
5. He was the quickest to cut a mans throat.
6. Ishmael seemed to really enjoy going around downtown. Another thing that motivated him was Esther's presence and his Walkman also motivated him.
7. Resourceful- he thinks of different outcomes. Cooperative- because he was able to lead when it was needed and follow.
8. Yes, the title of the book is appropriate for the story because he was long way gone from home, his mentality and being stable during his journey.
9. The rebels are violent because they are trying to get their point across, They want freedom. But the rebels are often seen ad the bad guys but the army is just as bad. Maybe if they had approached the government in a less violent way it wouldn't have started a war, but they probably felt powerless for that's why they were violent.
10. Esther is patient because she is able to work at different paces for the boys' recovery process. She is also loving and caring because she is willing to do anything to help Ishmael and the other boys.

Journal #2 -Natacha

        For this part of the book I was hoping something good was going to happen for Ishmael, and chapter 11 really gave me hope until the last couple of pages. The chapters in the second quarter of the book are intense, sad and horrifying.

       In chapter 11 the boys find some sort of hope and I'm so surprised because of everything they've been through. If I were in their position I would not be as optimistic as they are. I think it shows how much faith and will power these boys have and it really shows us how strong you have to be to tolerate such misery at such a young age. 

       I think that Kanei is a really positive character because he's the first to break the silence by saying that he has a feeling that they will find their families or at least news of them. He even stretches his hands high as if he's trying to reach the sun. I can only imagine how happy the children are thinking about possibly reuniting with their families in the next village and how anxious they are. 

      I feel bad that Ishmael didn't get to see his family but at the same time if he was with them he could have died and not been able to write this memoir and tell us the stories that many people who lived through the Sierra Leon civil war wouldn't be able to tell because their luck had ran out. So I think of Gasemu as a blessing in disguise although it is sad that Ishmael didn't get to see his family and say goodbye. I could never imagine my self seeing my family dead without feeling the need to kill myself, I wouldn't have the strength Ishmael had to continue on with his life after witnessing such horrifying thing.

       Through everything Ishmael still manages to stay strong.

Journal #1 - Natacha

       After reading the first few chapters of A Long Way Gone I gained tremendous respect for Ishmael Beah. We see Ishmael's child hood being violently taken away from him very quickly and we see his life turn upside down. From such a young age he goes through what most kids and adults don't ever imagine experiencing. This novel is emotionally challenging and throughout the first quarter Ishmael has opened up a lot about his life and I can only imagine what's to come.

       There were a couple of parts of the first quarter of the book that really made me feel pity for Ishmael, his friends and family. I really admire Ishmael's descriptive way of writing, he describes everything very precisely. The fact that he even decided to write about his experience as a boy soldier and let the entire world in to his life shows his remarkable strength. The part that struck me the most was when Ishmael said “I thought about where my family was, whether I would be able to see them again, and wished that they were safe and not too heartbroken about Junior and me. Tears formed in my eyes but I was too hungry to cry.” ( page 27 ) That's when I realized how thankful I should be for living somewhere safe where I have access to everything I need, I have my family and I'm living in peace which is definitely not what Ishmael had during that time period of his life, which he evidently needed.

       So far I have really enjoyed the book, and as I said before it could get emotionally challenging but that's what makes it interesting. I'm sure that this memoir has made a lot of change and probably helped other child soldiers come out and talk about their experience. So far I'm really enjoying the book and it's just the beginning!