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A Long Way Gone

A Long Way Gone. Memories of a Boy Soldier . The Story . Begins in 1993, in Sierra Leone, Ishmael (12), Junior (13), and Talloi (13) leave their village to enter a talent show in Mattru Jong . When they arrive in Mattru Jong , the boys learn that the rebels have attacked their village

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A Long Way Gone

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  1. A Long Way Gone Memories of a Boy Soldier

  2. The Story • Begins in 1993, in Sierra Leone, Ishmael (12), Junior (13), and Talloi (13) leave their village to enter a talent show in MattruJong. • When they arrive in MattruJong, the boys learn that the rebels have attacked their village • The boys not knowing what to do or where to go, flee into the forest • The war hits Ishmael when he sees a women carrying her dead child upon her back • "I didn't want to go back to where that woman was from; it was clear in the eyes of the baby that all had been lost." • Each time the boys are taken in and cared for by villagers, violence always finds them, and they have to flee once more. During one escape, Ishmael runs into the bushes and does not have time to find his brother. • Now Ishmael is alone and remembers his father’s words: "If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen.“ • After being alone for a month, he finally finds some boys he knows from his school and they start heading towards the village of Yele. • One night when the boys were about to cross a bridge, they heard footsteps on the other side so they split up and hidden in nearby bushes. When they come out of hiding, they found Saidu in his hiding spot died. The boys buried their friend and went on their way.

  3. The Story Continued • The boys found the village Yele, and stayed there for awhile. One day, Lieutenant Jabati lines up all the boys in the village and announces, "This is your time to revenge the death of your families and to make sure more children do not lose their families." And is handed an AK-47 and began their training as boy soldiers. • Shortly after, Ishmael encounters his first battle. He ends up killing one of the rebels. • Over the next two years, the boys who survive spent their time watching Rambo movies, sniffing brown brown (cocaine mixed with gunpowder), and committing casual mass slaughter. • One day, four UNICEF workers arrived at the Yele village. After they talked with Lieutenant Jabati, the lieutenant ordered Ishmael and a few other boys to go with the UNICEF workers. • The workers took them to a rehabilitation center where they meet other teenage soldiers who have been rescued from the war. • The problem: the other boys are from the rebel camp. The UNICEF workers thought that if they separated the boys from the war, all would be well. • The boys have been in the war for so long that they are incapable of behaving. • A battle erupts in the rehabilitation center, Ishmael tosses a grenade he has smuggled in, and killed six boys.

  4. ………….. • Ishmael is relocated to a separate rehabilitation center, where he suffers withdrawal from the drugs and violence that have become his addictions. A nurse's, Esther, compassion helps him to let go. She tells him, "it's not your fault. It's not your fault." • As a gift, the nurse brings Ishmael a walkman and a tape of Bob Marley • Ishmael makes great progress. He begins writing music again, and puts on shows for the rest of the boys at the center. • The center locates Ishmael's uncle, and sends Ishmael to live with him. • The rehabilitation center nominates Ishmael for a special United Nations project to bring two Sierra Leonean children to the United States to speak about the war, in order to raise awareness about children soldiers. • When Ishmael goes to New York City, he is mesmerized by Times Square and is moved by his experience at the UN. • Back in his home country, Ishmael returns to school in Freetown. On May 25, 1997, the city is awakened by gunshots. Johnny Paul Koroma, leader of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, announces that he is the new president, and chaos is unleashed in the city. During this time, Ishmael's beloved uncle suddenly dies of illness. • Ishmael realizes he cannot stay in Freetown, or he will be in danger of being swept back into the army. • Ishmael calls Laura, a storyteller he meet in New York, and asks if he can stay with her if he can make it to New York. She says yes, and he then plans his escape from Sierra Leone. • Ishmael leaves Freetown in October 1997, telling only his friend Mohamed from the rehabilitation center that he is going.

  5. Utopia or Dystopia? • This book is definitely not a Utopia for many reasons • War • Family

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