A Long Way Gone - 1
Imokhai Okolo
Mrs. Beaven
AP English 12
13 October 2012
A Memoir of a Boy Solider A Long Way gone is a great novel that tugs at the heartstrings. A long way gone is the story of a boy named Ishmael Beah who is a normal kid with a loving family growing up in Sierra Leone. However, one day while Beah is off with his brother and friends visiting the village of Mattru Jong to perform in a talent show, his home village, Mogbewmo, is attacked and destroyed by rebel soldiers. Because of the attack Beah’s family fled in hopes of finding him one day, but that never happens. This is a story of how Beah is able to overcome adversity and is able to survive in the mist of this civil war happening around him. The theme of this novel is that no matter what happens in your life there is always hope. Throughout the story Beah faced many hardships. I think the biggest hardship he faced was the fact that he was separated from his family. His family was lost out in Sierra Leone and could have even been killed by the rebels. I have no idea what I would do if a civil war broke out in the United States and all of these different militias terrorized different towns killing innocent people for no reason. I cannot imagine how I could handle being separated by my family and being forced to become a kid solider and kill other innocent people. I have no idea how Beah is able to overcome all of this at the age of twelve. Another very sad moment was when Beah was literally down the street from his parents when another group of rebels attacked the village forcing Beah to go into hiding while his family fled away from him. Beah essentially lost his family for a second time. In spite of all that happened to Beah he was able to survive and make a new life for himself and try and forget about his lost childhood. No matter what Beah went through he still had hope. Secondly, one of the saddest things about this novel is that Beah almost had to face another civil war. If he wasn’t able
Mrs. Beaven
AP English 12
13 October 2012
A Memoir of a Boy Solider A Long Way gone is a great novel that tugs at the heartstrings. A long way gone is the story of a boy named Ishmael Beah who is a normal kid with a loving family growing up in Sierra Leone. However, one day while Beah is off with his brother and friends visiting the village of Mattru Jong to perform in a talent show, his home village, Mogbewmo, is attacked and destroyed by rebel soldiers. Because of the attack Beah’s family fled in hopes of finding him one day, but that never happens. This is a story of how Beah is able to overcome adversity and is able to survive in the mist of this civil war happening around him. The theme of this novel is that no matter what happens in your life there is always hope. Throughout the story Beah faced many hardships. I think the biggest hardship he faced was the fact that he was separated from his family. His family was lost out in Sierra Leone and could have even been killed by the rebels. I have no idea what I would do if a civil war broke out in the United States and all of these different militias terrorized different towns killing innocent people for no reason. I cannot imagine how I could handle being separated by my family and being forced to become a kid solider and kill other innocent people. I have no idea how Beah is able to overcome all of this at the age of twelve. Another very sad moment was when Beah was literally down the street from his parents when another group of rebels attacked the village forcing Beah to go into hiding while his family fled away from him. Beah essentially lost his family for a second time. In spite of all that happened to Beah he was able to survive and make a new life for himself and try and forget about his lost childhood. No matter what Beah went through he still had hope. Secondly, one of the saddest things about this novel is that Beah almost had to face another civil war. If he wasn’t able