A Long Way Gone: The True Story of a Child Soldier
Registered by rem_TCL-173619 on 3/4/2008
1 journaler for this copy...
Back cover:
"This is the story of Ishmael Beah's childhood — how, aged just 12, he fled from rebels attacking his village to wander a violent land, before being conscripted into the army — where he learnt that he too was capeable of terrible acts. Once he emerged he dicided to tell his story, a story of the loss of innocence and the power of redemption.
This is the first first-hand account of how wars are now fought: by children, on drugs, with AK-47s. In more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, there are an estimated 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah was one of them."
I found this book interesting and easy to read. Ishmaels story shows how children get brainwashed and put on drugs to make them child soldiers. But when the UNICEF comes to rescue Ishmael he doesn't even want to be rescued. I was shocked about how the children behave at the rehabilitation center. They fight against each other until death (those who served for the goverment army against those who serve for the rebels), they are violent towards the staff of the center and don't listen to "civilians". I really admire the people who work at such rehabilitation centers. Sounds like very hard work.
"This is the story of Ishmael Beah's childhood — how, aged just 12, he fled from rebels attacking his village to wander a violent land, before being conscripted into the army — where he learnt that he too was capeable of terrible acts. Once he emerged he dicided to tell his story, a story of the loss of innocence and the power of redemption.
This is the first first-hand account of how wars are now fought: by children, on drugs, with AK-47s. In more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, there are an estimated 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah was one of them."
I found this book interesting and easy to read. Ishmaels story shows how children get brainwashed and put on drugs to make them child soldiers. But when the UNICEF comes to rescue Ishmael he doesn't even want to be rescued. I was shocked about how the children behave at the rehabilitation center. They fight against each other until death (those who served for the goverment army against those who serve for the rebels), they are violent towards the staff of the center and don't listen to "civilians". I really admire the people who work at such rehabilitation centers. Sounds like very hard work.