Non-Fiction 

966.404 BEA

The civil war in Sierra Leone began in 1991 and ended in 2001. The conflict was primarily over the so-called “blood diamond” trade. During that time many young boys were taken from their parents and villages and forced to participate in the war and commit horrendous acts.  They were drugged in order to make them more controllable and were traumatized beyond belief. 

 A Long Way Gone is the story of one boy (Ishmael) who at the age of 12 learned that his village had been raided and he did not know what had happened to his family.  He had been away at the time performing in a musical contest.  He was able with his older brother to hide in the forests and so began his tragic story of a living nightmare.  At 13 he was captured and forced to fight for the government’s army, killing and mutilating other boys and men who were also being forced to fight for the RUF (Revolutionary United Front).  At 16 UNICEF saved him and he began the long process of rehabilitation and recovery from what he had witnessed and committed.    

I have a personal connection to Sierra Leone because my niece was born there. She is one of the few children who were allowed to escape to the United States during this horrible conflict.  My sister adopted her in 1997 when she was not quite 2 yrs. Old.  Her biological father was killed in the war and her mother died three days after she was born due to complications from the birth.  My niece has several brothers and sisters still living in Sierra Leone with their grandmother.  We have no way of knowing what their situation is like today.  Her grandmother was overwhelmed with caring for all of these children during such an unstable time and felt my niece would have a better chance for a successful life in the U.S. Sadly, the man (Joseph) who risked everything to bring my niece to the United States was killed by members of the RUF about a month after his return to his country.   Looking at pictures of him is difficult for me to this day.  

A Long Way Gone is graphic and may be difficult for some people to read. However, I feel that books like this one are important. Unless the world knows and learns from reading about the horrible acts people are capable of inflicting on each other, we can never hope to change it.   

Mrs. Lavigne

Library Aide