Ch 19&20, a Long Way Gone

I was so happy that things started to go well for Ishmael in these chapters. I love that Ishmael's uncle was so inviting and allowed him into the family so easily. I also respect that the uncle didn't say anything to his cousins, because I think they would judge Ishmael and then treat him differently. Allie became good friends with Ishmael, as well. I really like how Ishmael went to America. He finally gets a chance to start over, go to school, and get a new life. I was really upset about Mohamed. I can't believe that after going though rehab, he gets sent back out to the front lines. This seemed totally unfair and how could the people at UNICEF let that happen? I hope that Mohamed is okay and survives the war again. I wish the book went on further, because I don't feel like it's ready to end soon.

Ch 17&18, a Long Way Gone

Chapters 17 and 18 were definitely nicer to read than the previous couple of chapters! In chapter 17, I was so happy that Ishmael found Ester and began to open up and share his stories and thoughts with her. Ester seems to be an amazing person because of how she is able to sit through those stories and still not judge Ishmael or anything he did. It's nice in the story how we hear about these boys being robbed of their childhoods, but then Ishmael gets pieces of that childhood back. Ester gives him the walkman and rap cassettes, he and Mohamed get reunited, and his uncle tells him that he has time to be troublesome again. I LOVE ISHMAEL'S UNCLE! Sorry about that, but it's true! His uncle is so kind and understanding, and I love how he calls Ishmael son right away. I feel like this proves to Ishmael that people do care and I think that it reallly helps him. I want to know if Ishmael will ever see Alhaji, Ester, or Mambu again after they get sent off to live with their families. They have such a close relationship, it would be really upsetting if they had to day a final goodbye. Also in these chapters, the nightmares and flashbacks that Ishmael has are once again really graphic and seem worse than real life! I couldn't imagine not being able to have those nice hours at night where your mind can be free. I hope that the nightmares fade as he gets older, because that would be so tough to live with. Overall, I really liked these two chapters and I want to finish this book!

book recommendations

I'm not one of those big readers who always has a book. I have read four books this year, which are all the Twilight series. For fun, I like reading girly, teenagery books...like Twilight. I don't really have any specific books on my mind, but I also like sad, real-life stories, like what we're reading in class.

Ch 15&16, a Long Way Gone

Chapters 15 and 16 were sad! As soon as the UNICEF people came, I knew that Ishmael was going to be taken away. It just surprised me how much those boys sincerely wanted to fight again. I guess that the boys had become so used to fighting, that it's like the drug withdrawal that they were going through, except all they want to do is fight and kill. It's really upsetting to read about how the boys are beating up these people who are trying to make new lives for them and help them. I know that all the boys see are these people who took them away from everything they knew and loved. It seems like the UNICEF people must not understand much about the war at all. They put the rebel and army boys together in one camp, they don't double check the boys for weapons, and sometimes I just get the feeling that the workers have no idea about all the pain and suffering that these boys have endured. I'm sure though, that if I were one of these UNICEF people, that I would be way too impatient for the job! It's amazing how even after being beaten and treated so rudely, the workers just smile and say, "It's not your fault!" Ishmael's flashbacks and nightmares during this section were so graphic, I think that they must be harder to face than when he was in the war, because he no longer has the drugs and Ishmael has to face these thoughts on his own. I hope that the boys calm down even more in the next section, and I am looking forward to reading more!!

Ch 11&12, a Long Way Gone

These two chapters were really intense!! I was so mad in chapter 11 when Gasemu told Ishmael about his mom and brothers. We pretty much knew that something was going to come up and that they would never see their families again, so for Gasemu to get their hopes up like that was really mean, though I'm sure he wished that the boys and their families would be reunited. I was kind of surprised that the boys were not taught to fight earlier. It seems like they were needed in sort of short notice so wouldn't it have been easier to teach them as soon as they arrive? I thought that it was really hard to read the part where Ishmael was learning how to use his weapon and cut up the trees as if they were people. I really felt like I was in that situation and it creeped me out! I know that the rebels killed their families but they are still people! I guess the difference in reading this is that there is no way to understand the emotions and feelings of these boys completely. I think that this is why chapter 12 wasn't so bad to read because we can't really relate to Ishmael's feelings anymore. He used to just be like any other boy, but now he has gone through so much that we can't relate to. I can't wait to read more...and I can guess that it will be gory and tough, but I really want to see how this story turns out.

Ch 10, a Long Way Gone

At the beginning of chapter 10, I love the metaphor that Ishmael makes, comparing his life to the moon with the thick clouds, and somehow the moon keeps shining through. It really makes me feel like I understand how he feels and how he continues trying. Towards the middle of the chapter, weird things begin happening. The crow fell out of the sky and then dogs in the village that they slept in were crying like humans. I kept getting funny feelings, like something really bad is about to happen...then it did. When Ishmael and his companions were hiding from the other boys, I really felt like this part was going to have a big impact. As soon as Saidu wouldn't move I like, "I knew it!!!" I really want to know what the actual cause of his death was. Was it fatigue and malnourishment? Or did he have something wrong? I'm a little confused about how the woman in the village talked to the boys about their families. Ishmael said in a previous chapter that that was the last time he saw his brother, so something must have either happened to Junior or something bad is going to happen on the way to the other village. I hope that the boys don't really anticipate seeing their families, because after all this time the chances of these rumors being true is very slim. I'm nervous to read more and find out how Ishmael becomes a soldii, and to see if he does ever see his family again.

Ch 8&9, a Long Way Gone

Chapters eight and nine were actually quite easy for me to read. I feel like the more Ishmael stops thinking about the war and all the terrible things that he has seen, the more I become desensitized to the things I am reading. I was really happy when Ishmael found the six other boys on his journey, even though people are much more scared of them now. I felt like Ishmael had enough bad emotions around him, that he shouldn't have to deal with being lonely as well. I can't believe the things that people do to young boys, even though they could be dangerous. The humiliation that the villagers put them through was really obnoxious I thought, and it was pretty uncalled for. I was so happy that the one fisherman stepped up and helped the boys out. He risked a lot and gave away lots of food and water for the boys safety. I think that the fisherman shows that people really are good and the war doesn't have to turn you into a completely un-compassionate person. I can't believe how many times Ishmael has been inches away from death. The stupid little things that happen to him that end up saving his life (like rap) are incredible. I want so much for Ishmael to be safe, that I'm sort of scared to read on and read how he is going to get captured. At least we know that it will all be okay at the very end, right?

Ch 6&7, a Long Way Gone

These two chapters were packed with emotion. The distrust that filled the atmosphere was incredible to read. It made me wonder how these people would've reacted to each other in times other than war, and if these people could imagine the difference in themselves. I think that the part about the imam being burned was definitely one of the most disgusting sections yet. It's incredible the amount of suffering that man put himself through to save so many people! It's also incredible how far the rebels went with torturing the imam. I really didn't like chapter seven because of how alone Ishmael is through most of it. I could never deal with being completely isolated for so many days at a time, especially after losing all of my family and friends, one of which was by choice. The people that he did come across were so skeptical of him as well! I felt so bad for Ishmael when he jumped into the river and everyone stopped swimming. I continue to wonder how he is going to get caught and enlisted into the army, and I'm excited to read on.

Ch 3-5, a Long Way Gone

I think that chapters three, four, and five were a lot easier to read than the first two. The first two chapters kind of freaked me out, but they made me want to read more. The first two chapters were quite a bit more graphic, with all of the people dying and lost hope, but I think that the emotion in these was much more prominent and desperate.Even though I knew that at one point Ishmael Beah was going to have to be captured by the rebels, I couldn't believe how it really happened. Those rebel boys who were messing with the old man must have been seriously messed up. How could you think thats funny?? The guy thought he was shot or dead and they were laughing at him! I think that is just sick. I can't believe how lucky Ishmeal and his friends were! They avoided death so slightly so many times, it seems unreal! I'm happy that the boys do make it through these situations though, and I really like the excitement and emotion that this book brings.

Ch, 1&2, a Long Way Gone

I thought that the beginning of the book was really cool. How those boys all the way in Sierra Leone danced hip-hop and listened to LL Cool J. As I got further into the reading, I knew it was going to get bad from the in class warnings and just the title "Memoirs of a Boy Soldier." I was still very shocked at just how graphic it was. I can deal with gory movies and I don't mind seeing zombies being chopped to pieces with blood spurting everywhere ((haha 28 Weeks Later)), but this was so different. I think it was different because the description of the woman and baby's face was a capturing I saw it in my head (though I'm sure my image was very different), which was really gross to be honest! I don't want to imagine a war like this! With this poor woman and a child who didn't get a chance to experience or live really. I put the book down for a while and kind of read it paragraph at a time after that, and luckily nothing else was quite as bad. The authors dreams are really disturbing though. He sees himself dead, and I know I would be totally messed up if any of this happens to me. It makes me really want to figure out how he turned out mentally stable because I know I wouldn't! I don't mind reading this book because we know it has a good ending. The guy lives in America! He's alive! I just hope the journey to the end isn't as scary =)