A Long Way Gone

The autobiography A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider by Ishmael Beah is a fascinating, sad, and disturbing read. The book recounts Beah's adolescent years as a boy soldier fighting in the Sierra Leone civil war of the 1990s.

Beah begins by recounting days of youth enjoying his childhood and playing with friends. It all turns horribly wrong as soliders begin invading the towns, and he and his friends must run for thier lives. Beah went from town to town until he was finally taken by the army and forced into being a solider at the age of 13. Using a mix of drugs and intimidation, the army turned these children into killing machines. It's a tragic story exposed and brought to life by Beah's heartbreaking recollections.

Luckily Beah found a way out where so many perished. The book inspires as Beah finds his way out of the madness, but ultimatey reminds us of the evil present in our world. This is a highly recommended read.