86 pages • 2 hours read
Ishmael BeahA Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
A Long Way Gone is a memoir by Ishmael Beah, recounting his harrowing experience as a 12-year-old boy soldier in war-torn Sierra Leone. He loses his family to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), survives alone in the forest, and is coerced into military service where he experiences extreme violence and addiction. He eventually finds hope and healing in a rehabilitation facility and later speaks at the United Nations. The book details violence, substance addiction, and loss of innocence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone is praised for its harrowing and honest account of a child soldier's life in Sierra Leone. Reviewers commend its emotional depth and vivid storytelling. However, some critique its graphic content as distressing. Overall, its raw portrayal and compelling narrative provide a powerful, albeit unsettling, reading experience.
Who Should Read A Long Way Gone?
A reader who appreciates A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah would be captivated by raw, personal narratives of resilience amid conflict. Comparable to those who find value in memoirs like The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank or Night by Elie Wiesel, this audience seeks profound, emotional storytelling rooted in real-world adversity.