First Response to A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Instantly I am drawn into this extremely powerful and emotional tale by Ishmael Beah. The strength and courage displayed by these young and innocent souls demonstrates such character, exhibiting something truly to look up to. Beah presents such a unique way of illustrating his experience, facing the terrror of civil war to his community and country as well as the arming of children, through flashbacks, nightmares, and narration of daily occurances. "These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past."(pg20)
A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, pulls you into the experiences of this young 12 year old boy facing evils of the world. From actually feeling his fear of life and death, lonliness and incapability to trust anyone, and strength to keep going fighting hunger and fatigue, continuously you are drawn to this persisting force exerted by this character. You become emotionally attached to this individual who is truly a role model to life today. Through Ishmael Beah's Memoir he demonstrates and helps individuals realize how fortunate people are today and the terrors many individuals face in these foreign countries daily. This mezmerizing war story presents changes that occur to these individuals faced with these fears. For example, when Ishmael Beah is separated from his brother and friends and comes across a family he comes to the conclusion, "I was glad to see other faces and at the same time disappointed that the war had destroyed the enjoyment of the very experience of meeting people. Even a 12 year old couldn't be trusted anymore."(pg48)
With the thought of his fathers presence and remembering what he used to always say, motivates Beah to endure and perservere the struggle of life. "If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of the person, he or she will die."(pg54,Ishmael's father) Ishmael Beah displays such bravery and courage through the first 8 chapters and he does an incredible job presenting the true life experiences and hardships of this war. I am really interested to find out what he will prevail next.