Theme

"A long way gone" is a book that truly hits the heart. The experiences that Ismael Beah faced is unthinkable to those live a "war free" and lax life.   The book goes through a series of events where many themes can be found. Examples of some themes that can be found in the book would be lost of innocence, hope and fear. 

The first theme is lost of innocence. Ismael was a young boy that was introduced to war at the of twelve. He had seen the gruesome results from the rebels attacks and experience the lost of friends. In the book it is stated that he joined the Sierra Leone military at the age of 13, which he proclaimed was the end of his childhood. At first the Rebels traumatized Ismael by what they do. It was not until  Ismael was set to go invade a rebel camp that he had lost his innocence and became a killer. A tent-mate of his was killed, which gave him the strength to kill a man. After that fueled by anger and blood lust, he killed everyone he saw at sight. Not only had he become a killer he had also become addicted to drugs like marijuana. Ismael also claimed that he can not remember anything good about his child hood afterwards. Other than not remembering his good childhood, he also has flash backs of violent memories.  

The second theme is hope. A theme that isn't very big, but significant to the story. Hope represents Ismael's ability to go forward. He was told by his father that when he was little that if he stayed alive there is hope for a better day and something good will happen. "If there is nothing left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die. "(pg. 54) . He was able to hold onto his fathers words, and pull through with all the horrible things put upon him. He know that life will end when he runs out of good luck, so he is not afraid to move on. 


The last theme is fear. Which is one of the big themes in the book. Any child that had grown up in Ismael conditions should be afraid. He lost his family and lived in very dangerous circumstances, where he could have possibly ended up dead.  Whenever Ismael went to a new village with his group, residents would accuse them of being rebels. Which may have caused harm to the boys. Where Ismael is there is no place to call home, no one to go back to if he is afraid. He is also afraid that there will be no place called home that he can go to in his future. Like every other rebel refugee there is no escape from the past. They say its easier to remember fearful/bad moments than happy ones. 


These themes are not the only themes that can be found in the book, there are many more as well. Ismael's lost of innocence, hope, and fear, were what made this book. With out these themes there would no experience, story, anything! 

Questions:

1. What theme do you think plays the most significant role in the book "A long way gone”? Is there any particular reason why you think so? 

2. Can you make any connections with A long way gone to other books that have similar themes? (If you can't think of any think of books we read in class and relate to those!) 

3. What would you be afraid of the most if you were in Ismael's situation?


4. Which theme can you relate to? (If not is there anyone close to you who you can relate themes with) 


5. What theme do you think was most obvious to find in the story?


6.  Has there been a time that you lost hope? (If its personal please don't answer) 


[fixed some typo's] 

Plot

A Long Way Gone is a story about a twelve years old boy, Ishmael, who lives in the war-stricken country of Sierra Leone. Ishmael and his brother go to visit their mother and younger brother in the next town. After they arrive, they  hear that their village had been attacked by the rebels. The boys, and some of their friends decide to go back to their village to look for their families. They stay in Mattru Jong for a couple of days, the rebels send a messenger saying they will be coming soon. After a few days have past everyone comes out of hiding. Then the rebels come when no was expecting them. The boys make a quick break for it and make it out. The boys struggle to find food for a few days, so they decide to go back because Ishmael says he has some money. The boys accidentally make a loud noise, the rebels hear them and start shooting in their direction. The boys make it out, and head to the market; but all the vendors are not selling their food. As the boys are strolling along the forest, rebels surprise them. They are brought back to a village, where they are divided into two lines. One to become soldiers, one to be killed. Ishmael and Junior find themselves in different lines. Someone opens fire a little off into the distance, all the rebels run for cover. The boys make a run for it towards the forest. Ishmael is a long at first hiding under a tree, but then he sees his brother as well as all of their friends. Being a such a large group of boys is a big disadvantage for Ishmael and his friends. They would constantly be stopped at villages, because people would think they were rebels. They would be tied up and questioned, before the village people would discover they were just harmless boys looking for safety. The boys are staying at a new village now, where everything is going smoothly. Then the rebels made a surprise attack, when they hadn't even been rumoured to be near the town. Ishmael goes and hides in the forest under a bush. He can't find his brother or any of his friends. He looks around and finds his friend Kaloko. Ishmael wants to continue his travels looking for peace. Kaloko is too scared to go and decides to stay where they currently are. Ishmael continues on his journey walking for five days, he continues walking and makes a home in a forest for a little while. Ishmael is under the fear someone if following him on his journey.The he continues on and runs into a group of six boys, they let him join them. They stop in a village where they are welcomed by an old man who he feeds them and gives them shelter. The boys discover the Atlantic Ocean and begin playing on the beach. A man welcomes them with warm arms into his hut, and gives the boys shelter and food for two weeks. Then their host's mother tell them they must go, people are coming for them. They got caught while leaving and are questioned because they are yet again thought to be a group of young rebels. He doesn't hurt or kill the boys but tells them they must leave immediately.

Questions:

1. Why is Ishmael so determined to continue on his journey?


2. Predict what you think will happen next in the novel.


3. When Ishmael stopped in a village what did we do, which made him feel accomplished.


4. What did Ishmael do to kill time when he was alone for over a month, who became his new         "friend."?


5. Why are the big groups of boys stopped and questioned in villages?


6. How do the boys escape when they get captured by the rebels?


7. How did the boys need to know they need to leave the village? What happened when they tried to leave?


8. What happened when the boys went back for money? Why couldn't they but any cooked food from the market?


9. What makes Ishmael frightened while walking alone in the forest?


10. Why does Ishmael not speak to his father?

Character

     At the age of twelve, Ishmael Beah's village got attacked by the rebels and the next following year he was put into the government army and quickly learned how he can go from a passionate loving boy to someone who is capable of wiping down a whole town with his AK-47. Another military group that takes over the town is the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Ishmael enjoys rap music, hangout with his best friend Mohammed and his 5 brothers Junior, Talloi, Kaloko, Gibrilla, and Khalilou. As young boys pursuing an American future to be a rap artist, they dress like them. Sadly, Ishmael got out of school because his father could no longer pay for it. The youngest brother, Khalilou goes to school so her could learn about life and education.The boys all wear baggy jeans, soccer shorts underneath, long sleeves under their sleeve-less shirt and fold the bottom of their pants to tuck it into their sneakers. The group of boys are pretty much known in their village because of their helpfulness to people. Ishmael's mother, lives in the next town beside Mattru. His mother and father got divorced and the boys all live with his father and step-mom. The days their mother gets to see them she finds a big blessing. Aside from their family seperation, each character is happy and compassionate on their own.

Questions:

1. How old is Ismael Beah?

2. How does the rebels coming into Mattru affect Ishmael and his family and friends?

3. Whats your opinion of Ishmael's mother living in the next town? Under the conditions their in, do you believe its safe?

4. How is Ishmael's initial reaction of seeing dead bodies on the ground?

5. What kind of music does Ishmael and the boys listen to?

6. Does Ishmael go to school? If no, why not?

7. What does RUF stand for?

8. How would you hide from the war?

9. How many brothers does Ishmael have? What are their names?

10. If you were a young boy in Mattru and a war was coming, what would you do?

Setting

     A Long Way Gone takes place in the war-torn country of Sierra Leone, in the time period of 1993-1997. Ishmael goes to New York City in 1998. The novel starts off in the villlage of Mogbwemo, Ishamel's home. This village is similair to the other villages throughout Sierra Leone, small, with huts for the villagers to live in. Other settings throughout the book include the town of Mattru Jong, where Ishmael and the boys end up staying longer than expected due to rebel attacks on their home villages. Mattru Jong is a larger, more developed town than Mogbwemo. These villages are surrounded by forests, and the climate is hot and tropical. Vegetation such as banana and coconut trees grow here.


Questions 
1. In what ways does the setting affect the characters?


2. What type of mood does the setting create in the characters?


3. What aspects of the setting could help the boys in hiding from the rebels? What aspects would make it easier for them to be hunted?


4. What town do the boys travel through before reaching Mattru Jong?


5. List a difference between Mattru Jong, and Mogbwemo, Ishamel's home.