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A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

This memoir tells of Beah's three years as a boy soldier for a government army in Sierra Leone. After three years of fighting, Beah was rehabilitated by UNICEF. He eventually went to New York City to speak about child soldiers, and finally escaped the war-ravaged Sierra Leone to permanently move to New York City.

I have been wanting to read this book ever since I first heard of it, but was a bit hesitant. The idea of children pumped up on drugs, brainwashed, and spending their days killing, pillaging, and being shot at is, of course, not an easy subject to swallow. However, I think it's important to understand the extent of what these children have to go through. The book is not an easy read; it is quite disturbing in parts. However, I would highly recommend it. I'm sure many people who hear about child soldiers wonder how it happens, how they become caught up in it, and this book definately answers those questions, and gives hope that these children find a way out if they are given a strong network of support.

While reading, I found it quite interesting how Beah's rap music cassettes that he carried in his pockets actually saved his life a couple of times. It was also quite humorous to read his account of arriving in New York City in the winter and seeing snow for the first time.