A Long Way Gone

Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

By: Ishmael Beah

Narrated by: Ishmael Beah

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah tells a riveting story in his own words: how, at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.

This is how wars are fought now by children, hopped up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers.

Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But it is rare to find a first-person account from someone who endured this hell and survived.

This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

©2007 Ishmael Beah (P)2007 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“A Long Way Gone is one of the most important war stories of our generation. The arming of children is among the greatest evils of the modern world, and yet we know so little about it because the children themselves are swallowed up by the very wars they are forced to wage. Ishmael Beah has not only emerged intact from this chaos, he has become one of its most eloquent chroniclers. We ignore his message at our peril.” —Sebastian Junger, author of A Death in Belmont and A Perfect Storm

“This is a beautifully written book about a shocking war and the children who were forced to fight it. Ishmael Beah describes the unthinkable in calm, unforgettable language; his memoir is an important testament to the children elsewhere who continue to be conscripted into armies and militias.” —Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for general Nonfiction

“A Long Way Gone hits you hard in the gut with Sierra Leone's unimaginable brutality and then it touches your soul with unexpected acts of kindness. Ishmael Beah's story tears your heart to pieces and then forces you to put it back together again, because if Beah can emerge from such horror with his humanity in tact, it's the least you can do.” —Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Author's voice

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated that the account was written and narrated by a boy with first-hand experience. He explains his fear and struggle for survival from his own experiences and you begin to understand, reluctantly, how an innocent child with such a big heart could perform such atrocities. You also learn that these tainted children, at least some of them, have the capacity for rehabilitation and the ability to attain happiness after such horrible experiences full of hatred and violence. His story makes you question humanity, but his survival and recovery will return hope and faith of the good in this world. This book makes you want to become an activist for the plight of these children and their families.

What about Ishmael Beah’s performance did you like?

I like that it was his story; it added to the narrative knowing it was his experiences he was telling you about.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It did get under my skin and I had a hard time not thinking about it when I was away.

Meaningful true story

My son and I listened to this when it was required reading in high school. It is a difficult book but I'm glad I heard the story. It was an important insight into what is happening in the world today.

Normally, I don't like author-narrators but this was one situation where I really appreciated hearing the author's voice.

Both my sons have listened to this book, and I think it is an important read for any teen or adult.

Intense, but not intense enough

This is a story of a 12 year old boy’s life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. The writing is first person and author narrated, but did not strike me as intensely personal, or brutally honest, or deeply introspective. It effectively tells the story of how a normal kid becomes a killer, and then returns to some level of normalcy. If you are not familiar with the issue of child soldiers, this book is an excellent introduction.

I expect quite a lot from a memoir. In this case I heard the author’s intense story, but I also felt the author held back the very worst and the potentially most powerful. It is completely understandable for a young man (now 26) to be unready to express the fullness of the story, but a memoir should await that readiness.

The narration is good, but a bit dry and in a very few places difficult to understand.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the issues surrounding child soldiers, but as a memoir, or as literature, I found it weak.

There is an appendix dryly recapping the history of Sierra Leone which seemed a pretty odd way to end a memoir.

Fascinating and tragic story

If you could sum up A Long Way Gone in three words, what would they be?

Sad yet hopeful.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that he was able to be rescued from the life of child soldier and go on to present about these issues at the UN.

What does Ishmael Beah bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It's his memories. One thing is when he signs some of the songs that made him happy as a kid, you can tell they still do.

Moving and important memoir

This is an excellent memoir, and an important one. However, I agree with other reviews that the ending is abrupt and leaves something to be desired. The author owed it to his audience to give us more information about his departure from Sierra Leone, and transition to his new life. Also, I read this book because it was assigned to my 8th grader. I do not feel this book is appropriate for this grade level. It is too explicitly violent and disturbing, and may even glamorize the use of drugs in this age group. I have expressed my concerns to my daughter's school. I recommend this book for high schoolers, but not middle schoolers.

Great Author, but...

Listening to this book was a real Struggle Bus experience. I love this story. My teenage students who have reading disabilities and hate books LOVE this story. Listening to Beah read his story killed it. And I don't mean in a good way! His voice is better heard reading the look than listening to it.

For those who want know exactly why - it's because he is so monotonous. There isn't a lot of variety in his voice. He does not change his voice pattern for the different characters, etc.

So, while this is a good read and I recommend getting your hands on a physical copy from the store or the local library, I would not recommend the audiobook.

An Eye-opening Read.

I am very glad to have opened myself up to the harsh reality that others have experienced. My life and the way I see things have truly changed.

Amazing Retell

Ishmael’s ability to retell his childhood story over a number of years in great detail is amazing. The story is just further evidence of how spoiled and blessed we are here in the states.
The story is really broken into 3 chunks:
1) Ishmael and his friends on the run from rebel fighters
2) Ishmael as boy soldier fighting against the Rebels
3) His journey through rehabilitation. This is really the most intriguing as it shows the boys lust for vengeance and evil after being brainwashed in it killing the rebels and seeking revenge. The rehabs team commitment to patiently loving them and being persistent is a really neat story.

Loved

This book was amazing. I read a lot and I've never read something like this!! I'm happy I Read It

Excellent Read

Where does A Long Way Gone rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A Long Way Gone is among the top 20 Audiobooks I've heard.

What other book might you compare A Long Way Gone to and why?

Pertaining to the corrupt use of power and the effects of agency I would say Killing Pablo was another captivating book describing evil.

Which character – as performed by Ishmael Beah – was your favorite?

Nurse Esther was the most inspiring character who brought Ishmael back through love.

Child soldier tells it like it is!

Couldn't turn it off despite the horror. everyone should hear this book. Outstanding performance. JFM

Very new perspective

The author has a remarkable ability to take you through his journey almost making living it with him.

Although nobody will ever be able to tell the whole truth but he narrates a balanced story neither exaggerated nor understated.

I started listening with the aim of getting a new perspective and living a new experience and I think book delivered that.

Visceral glimpse into the life of a child soldier

An incredible story not least that Ishmael survived to share. Would make a remarkable film

If you read just one book In you’re life…make sure it’s this one.

Ishmael is Amazing…his gift to the world is all contained in this heart rendering, yet inspirational memoir. His narration captures his innocence which is transformed into extraordinary courage, resilience and wisdom. Thank you for sharing Ishmael.

A heavy read but very interesting

Ishmael has profoundly described not only goes on in wars in Africa but all over the world. Hate, greed and revenge is what fuels these wars. Thank you for this book.

Great true story

The true story of a boy during the war, heartbreaking and moving. So young to experience the things that he did.

Very sad

A very sad story. I wish the author wrote more about his emotional state whilst being a child soldier. The matter of fact voice of his narrative as well as his audio narration, takes something away from these tragic events.

Immersive.

This book will give you knowledge, compassion and courage to face your challenges. It tells a story of events few of us can imagine and connects us with them through descriptions of emotions that we all share.

Empathy

This deeply harrowing and personal book is made all the more emotional by the fact it is read by the author. The horrific nature of the experiences are poignant and unavoidable.