Sunday, 27 May 2012
What I learned: Discussion - Theme
In this meeting we discussed theme. We talked about what was the theme, what does the theme say about the main character, what book shares the same theme, how does the theme affect and make you feel, and where in the book do you see the theme the most. In this meeting we both learned something from the other. Both of us had a different answer for the first question which gave us different answers to the rest of the questions. I said the theme was there is always hope where Vanessa said it was life goes on. I would of never thought of the theme of life goes on if it were not for the discussion. Again we taught and learned so much in this meeting. Each of us opened the others eyes to the possibilities of the answers and the knowledge.
What I Learned: Discussion - Character
In this meeting we discussed characters. We talked about how Ishmael`s character changed, what were the influences of his change, who influenced his change, how did where he lived influence his change, and what you would do differently if you were Ishmael. During this discussion we agreed on many of our answers, and even learned some new things while talking together. While we discussed together we got to understand the book even better than before and even taught each other different things.
Quotes
“In the sky there are always answers and explanations for everything: every pain, every suffering, joy and confusion.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them. ”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
This quote reminds me and represents the time in the book where Ishmael was put in the rehabilitation centre. He was given the chance to heal and he did get through it all in the end.
“I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end...”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
I love this quote because it`s completely true. People take revenge thinking it`s the best thing but really it`s not because it starts more conflict.
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them. ”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
This quote reminds me and represents the time in the book where Ishmael was put in the rehabilitation centre. He was given the chance to heal and he did get through it all in the end.
“I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end...”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
I love this quote because it`s completely true. People take revenge thinking it`s the best thing but really it`s not because it starts more conflict.
Friday, 25 May 2012
What Compares to this Book
I have never read anything quite like A Long Way Gone. This book tells the true story of a boy soldier and recounts his experiences through his life in Sierra Leone.
I am a person who likes to read fiction books. Ones with action, with a plot that pulls you into the book and makes you sit on the edge of your seat through the entire story. I love a book that has a plot that could never really happen in real life, one that my imagination can overwhelm me.
I never really liked reading non fiction books. I always found them boring and never really had a great plot. After reading A Long Way Gone my views on non fiction have drastically changed. I absolutely enjoyed this book and want to read more like it. Yes it was sad but it was so hopeful too.
When I look back to my reading history I have only read one thing that shared one of the themes in this book. It was called Underground to Canada. It was about slaves trying to get to Canada using the underground railroad. This book as well as A Long Way Gone both show that there is always hope even in the darkest of places.
The mood throughout the book is of horror and fear while Ishmael goes through the war period in Underground to Canada it is when the children need to get to the railroad. As the book goes on the mood becomes more hopeful and uplifting. Ishmael becomes a better person and the children reach the railroad.
Both books say that life may have challenges but we have the strength to go on and get through it.
I am a person who likes to read fiction books. Ones with action, with a plot that pulls you into the book and makes you sit on the edge of your seat through the entire story. I love a book that has a plot that could never really happen in real life, one that my imagination can overwhelm me.
I never really liked reading non fiction books. I always found them boring and never really had a great plot. After reading A Long Way Gone my views on non fiction have drastically changed. I absolutely enjoyed this book and want to read more like it. Yes it was sad but it was so hopeful too.
When I look back to my reading history I have only read one thing that shared one of the themes in this book. It was called Underground to Canada. It was about slaves trying to get to Canada using the underground railroad. This book as well as A Long Way Gone both show that there is always hope even in the darkest of places.
The mood throughout the book is of horror and fear while Ishmael goes through the war period in Underground to Canada it is when the children need to get to the railroad. As the book goes on the mood becomes more hopeful and uplifting. Ishmael becomes a better person and the children reach the railroad.
Both books say that life may have challenges but we have the strength to go on and get through it.
Monday, 21 May 2012
How I See Life Differently
A Long Way Gone has opened my eyes and changed how I understand the world. This book has shown me that each part of the world is different and many people are suffering all over the planet.
There are places in the world where living conditions are terrible. Food is scarce and water is unsanitary. Education is poor and medical knowledge and treatment is not the greatest. Where I live in, which is Canada we don't experience the things that others have to experience somewhere else in the world. I am also very lucky to live in a country that has never experienced war. After reading A Long Way Gone I learned that not everyone is as fortunate as I. The war started in a small part of Sierra Leone but quickly spread to the other parts of the country. War is traumatizing for adults but I read it through the eyes of a child. It opened my eyes to the condition that other children live in. Families fearing for their loved ones, people fearing that today might be their last. I could never imagine living that way.
War is not the only problem people have in the world. People need help with things that are very simple for us in Canada. Here all we have to do is turn a tap handle and fresh water comes out, In other parts in the world children have to walk miles to the nearest water source and that source may even have contaminated water but it's the only water they have. Here it's mandatory we go to school where in other part in the world kids miss out on school because they need to support their families. Poverty is a huge issue all over the world. People who don't have any money to support themselves or their family. There are a lot of reasons why people need help in the world. It takes one person to make a difference in the world. One tiny action in your life can help another somewhere else in the world. In the book Ishmael who experienced a harder way to live came through it all and is now educating others on how to make a difference and how to decrease the problems in the world. This book has really opened my heart, ears, and eyes to the suffering around me in the world.
It makes me frustrated with the people who know about these problems in the world but don't do anything to help. For example the genocide in Rwanda, I had learned and watched the people suffering in Rwanda. They had peacekeepers and soldiers there but when times got difficult they pulled out and let the innocent die. I couldn't believe hoe they could just do that. Even in the war in Sierra Leone when Ishmael got put into the government army it wasn't until two years later UNICEF came and toke Ishmael away.
People sometimes think there is nothing they can do to help, that it's hopeless, but there are things you can do to help.
After reading this book I am grateful for the little things I do to help the people in this world and what you can do too. Sponsor a child through World Vision or another organization. Join events at your school like Walk for Water or Free the Children. Knowing that I did something, even if it's small, makes me happy thinking I'm helping someone out there in the world.
There are places in the world where living conditions are terrible. Food is scarce and water is unsanitary. Education is poor and medical knowledge and treatment is not the greatest. Where I live in, which is Canada we don't experience the things that others have to experience somewhere else in the world. I am also very lucky to live in a country that has never experienced war. After reading A Long Way Gone I learned that not everyone is as fortunate as I. The war started in a small part of Sierra Leone but quickly spread to the other parts of the country. War is traumatizing for adults but I read it through the eyes of a child. It opened my eyes to the condition that other children live in. Families fearing for their loved ones, people fearing that today might be their last. I could never imagine living that way.
War is not the only problem people have in the world. People need help with things that are very simple for us in Canada. Here all we have to do is turn a tap handle and fresh water comes out, In other parts in the world children have to walk miles to the nearest water source and that source may even have contaminated water but it's the only water they have. Here it's mandatory we go to school where in other part in the world kids miss out on school because they need to support their families. Poverty is a huge issue all over the world. People who don't have any money to support themselves or their family. There are a lot of reasons why people need help in the world. It takes one person to make a difference in the world. One tiny action in your life can help another somewhere else in the world. In the book Ishmael who experienced a harder way to live came through it all and is now educating others on how to make a difference and how to decrease the problems in the world. This book has really opened my heart, ears, and eyes to the suffering around me in the world.
It makes me frustrated with the people who know about these problems in the world but don't do anything to help. For example the genocide in Rwanda, I had learned and watched the people suffering in Rwanda. They had peacekeepers and soldiers there but when times got difficult they pulled out and let the innocent die. I couldn't believe hoe they could just do that. Even in the war in Sierra Leone when Ishmael got put into the government army it wasn't until two years later UNICEF came and toke Ishmael away.
People sometimes think there is nothing they can do to help, that it's hopeless, but there are things you can do to help.
After reading this book I am grateful for the little things I do to help the people in this world and what you can do too. Sponsor a child through World Vision or another organization. Join events at your school like Walk for Water or Free the Children. Knowing that I did something, even if it's small, makes me happy thinking I'm helping someone out there in the world.
A Long Way Gone reminds me of...
The song Kingdom Comes by the Civil Wars reminds me of the book A Long Way Gone. The song is originally written for the Hunger Games soundtrack. The song talks about running away from something that you know will hurt you.This song reminds me of the running Ishmael has to do throughout the book. He has to run through village after village to escape being captured by the rebels.
"Run, run, run away
Buy yourself another day
A cold wind's whispering secrets in your ear"
This part of the song reminds me of how Ishmael must run to survive. If he is captured by the rebels they would probably kill him. He needs to run to give himself another day and more time to live. The cold wind that whispers, I think is your gut feeling telling you wheather something is right or wrong and to listen to it. This reminds me of when he is captured by villagers that no longer trust that he is not with the rebels, they find his rap tape in his pocket while searching him. He needs tot trust his gut feeling whether to tell them about it or not and when his conscience tells him he should, he listens to it.
"Run fast as you can
No one has to understand"
This part reminds me of when he ran so far from the war no body really believed it existed. They had heard of the war but didn't think it would reach the village. They didn't understand the severity of the war and Ishmael and his companions had been through and why they were really running.
"It'll be over soon
I'll be waiting here for you"
This reminds me of Ishmael at the rehabilitation centre and people always saying that it wasn't his fault and never getting mad at him for what he did. Ishmael was still in the state of war and the drugs had not yet lost their affect on him. It was like all the workers were saying it will all be over soon and you'll get better. Especially Esther, she was always waiting for Ishmael to open up to her. She was waiting for him, the real him to come back.
"Run, run, run away
Buy yourself another day
A cold wind's whispering secrets in your ear"
This part of the song reminds me of how Ishmael must run to survive. If he is captured by the rebels they would probably kill him. He needs to run to give himself another day and more time to live. The cold wind that whispers, I think is your gut feeling telling you wheather something is right or wrong and to listen to it. This reminds me of when he is captured by villagers that no longer trust that he is not with the rebels, they find his rap tape in his pocket while searching him. He needs tot trust his gut feeling whether to tell them about it or not and when his conscience tells him he should, he listens to it.
"Run fast as you can
No one has to understand"
This part reminds me of when he ran so far from the war no body really believed it existed. They had heard of the war but didn't think it would reach the village. They didn't understand the severity of the war and Ishmael and his companions had been through and why they were really running.
"It'll be over soon
I'll be waiting here for you"
This reminds me of Ishmael at the rehabilitation centre and people always saying that it wasn't his fault and never getting mad at him for what he did. Ishmael was still in the state of war and the drugs had not yet lost their affect on him. It was like all the workers were saying it will all be over soon and you'll get better. Especially Esther, she was always waiting for Ishmael to open up to her. She was waiting for him, the real him to come back.
Discussion: Theme
Question: What is a theme of the book?
Answer: Jasmine- There is always hope
Ishmael is an excellent example of how there is always hope to overcome hard paths in life. Throughout his life he had hard challenges that drastically changed his life and in the end he got through it.
Vanessa- Life goes on
Even though he went through loosing friends and family he becomes stronger and got his life back and he got through it all.
Question: What does the theme of the book say about main character?
Answer: Jasmine- The theme shows that Ishmael, the main character is a very strong person to be able to overcome the many challenges in his life.
Vanessa- The theme says that the main character is strong and also hard on himself.
Question: What book shares the same theme and why ?
Answer: Jasmine- The Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker shares the same theme because throughout this book slaves are trying to make it to Canada using the underground railroad. They face many challenges through the book that they must overcome. They are hopeful that they can make it and hope and determination gets them to where they want to be. There is always hope is in both books for hope gets them through each of their hardships.
Vanessa- The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Katniss and Peeta go through a lot. They fight their own kind of war and in the end become stronger. In all the books they face many challenges and some how get through it all.
Question: How does the theme make you feel and affect you?
Answer: Jasmine- It makes you feel grateful for what you have, where you live, and what you don't have to go through. You really think about life and how lucky you are. If there is a hardship in your life that there's always hope and you can get through it, life does get better but before it can get better it has to get worse, in the end you enjoy life and appreciate being alive.
Vanessa- It makes you feel grateful that you don't have to go through that, but if you do have to life goes on and you can get through it.
Question: Where in the book do you notice the theme the most?
Answer: Jasmine- The part where you see the theme the most is when Ishmael finds out he has a living relative. Life seems terrible for him and his life seems over but when he is told he might still have family he can live with it gives him hope of a new better life than what he is living in the rehabilitation centre. After everything he has been through, there is still hope for him at and after rehab. He can start a new life and become a better man.
Vanessa- Rehabilitation centre, When Esther gets Ishmael to talk and trust her, Ishmael realises that he can get through everything. His guilt, migraines, nightmares, he got through them all.
Answer: Jasmine- There is always hope
Ishmael is an excellent example of how there is always hope to overcome hard paths in life. Throughout his life he had hard challenges that drastically changed his life and in the end he got through it.
Vanessa- Life goes on
Even though he went through loosing friends and family he becomes stronger and got his life back and he got through it all.
Question: What does the theme of the book say about main character?
Answer: Jasmine- The theme shows that Ishmael, the main character is a very strong person to be able to overcome the many challenges in his life.
Vanessa- The theme says that the main character is strong and also hard on himself.
Question: What book shares the same theme and why ?
Answer: Jasmine- The Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker shares the same theme because throughout this book slaves are trying to make it to Canada using the underground railroad. They face many challenges through the book that they must overcome. They are hopeful that they can make it and hope and determination gets them to where they want to be. There is always hope is in both books for hope gets them through each of their hardships.
Vanessa- The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Katniss and Peeta go through a lot. They fight their own kind of war and in the end become stronger. In all the books they face many challenges and some how get through it all.
Question: How does the theme make you feel and affect you?
Answer: Jasmine- It makes you feel grateful for what you have, where you live, and what you don't have to go through. You really think about life and how lucky you are. If there is a hardship in your life that there's always hope and you can get through it, life does get better but before it can get better it has to get worse, in the end you enjoy life and appreciate being alive.
Vanessa- It makes you feel grateful that you don't have to go through that, but if you do have to life goes on and you can get through it.
Question: Where in the book do you notice the theme the most?
Answer: Jasmine- The part where you see the theme the most is when Ishmael finds out he has a living relative. Life seems terrible for him and his life seems over but when he is told he might still have family he can live with it gives him hope of a new better life than what he is living in the rehabilitation centre. After everything he has been through, there is still hope for him at and after rehab. He can start a new life and become a better man.
Vanessa- Rehabilitation centre, When Esther gets Ishmael to talk and trust her, Ishmael realises that he can get through everything. His guilt, migraines, nightmares, he got through them all.
Discussion: Character
Question: How did Ishmael character change throughout the course of the book?
Answer: Jasmine- At the beginning Ishmael is a normal kid who loved music, fun and games. When the war reaches his village, he sees the impact of the war and becomes fearful for his life. When he joined the government force he was told to take drugs to heighten his energy and made him numb (numb emotions) and made his pain go away. When he got to the rehabilitation centre he learns who he is again, learns to love, feel again, and forgive himself. In the end he becomes stronger and a better man.
Vanessa- No war: Ishmael is a normal kid with no worries.
On the run: Ishmael becomes unable to trusted and more on guard.
Rehabilitation: With time Ishmael becomes caring, feels guilt and becomes more understanding.
In the end: Ishmael becomes a stronger person
Question: What influenced Ishmael change/changes in character?
Answer: Jasmine- In the beginning: Ishmael's family and friends kept him young, happy, and ready to have fun.
War: When the war reaches his village, the bloody, gory scenes laid in front of him as well as loosing so many loved ones made Ishmael fearful for his life.
Government force: The drugs they gave the kids for energy boosting changed Ishmael, they made him numb and emotionless. Also the killing he had to do made him loose all humanity and loose himself.
Rehabilitation centre: At first he was violent, unhappy not to have the drugs and frustrated with the kindness of the workers and the return of the migraines .
Vanessa- Traumatic events: Acts of violence in front of him and family dying.
Army: Drugs and killing.
Rehabilitation: Helped in the end.
Question: Who had the influence in helping Ishmael become the man he is today?
Answer: Jasmine and Vanessa- Esther : She never have up on him, never gave up helping him
Laura: little affect ( we don't know a lot about her). He ends up living with her in New York.
UNICEF: Everyone in the rehabilitation centre and at the meeting in New York all cared and wanted him well again. They all helped him accept and forgive himself.
Uncle Tommy: The love he gave him, and the forgiveness helped Ishmael learn to be himself again.
All these people all had one thing in common, they never held his past against him.
Question: How did where Ishmael live impact his life and who he is?
Answer: Jasmine- Sierra Leone: Is not a very developed country, so it's pprobably not the best place to live. They don't have the schools and education we do. When someone gets sick or hurt they don't have the medical equipment, treatment or knowledge we do. The water there is probably not the cleanest and causes many of the sicknesses the people get, also the lack of food. And the war that happened there doesn't make it the safest place to live.
Living in Sierra Leone, Ishmael experiences all this hardship and fear of the war. He needs to put in a lot more effort to survive and live there than we do in Canada. Without all the hardships and different challenges Ishmael would of never became who he is today without them. Today he helps educate people on the difficulties he faced and many others face.Without these events in his life he would never be able to help and be the man he is today. Even though where he lives is dangerous and there were ups and downs in his life, Ishmael learned and became stronger thanks to the place he lived.
Vanessa- Sierra Leone: Not the best place to live for it lacks education, medical treatment and knowledge, and nutrition. Where he lived gave Ishmael the chance to help other people, notify them on what's happening on the world and his experiences.
Question: If you were Ishmael what would you do differently?
Answer: Jasmine- I would help those who were suffering from the war. The people who were shot and bleeding I would go over and try to help them. I couldn't and would never kill anyone no matter what the situation is. I would rather die than kill someone. I would refuse the drugs and pretend to take them. At the rehabilitation centre I would be less resisting to the treatment.
Vanessa- Help those who are hurt or suffering from the war. Wouldn't kill anyone and more willing for the treatment at the rehabilitation centre.
Answer: Jasmine- At the beginning Ishmael is a normal kid who loved music, fun and games. When the war reaches his village, he sees the impact of the war and becomes fearful for his life. When he joined the government force he was told to take drugs to heighten his energy and made him numb (numb emotions) and made his pain go away. When he got to the rehabilitation centre he learns who he is again, learns to love, feel again, and forgive himself. In the end he becomes stronger and a better man.
Vanessa- No war: Ishmael is a normal kid with no worries.
On the run: Ishmael becomes unable to trusted and more on guard.
Rehabilitation: With time Ishmael becomes caring, feels guilt and becomes more understanding.
In the end: Ishmael becomes a stronger person
Question: What influenced Ishmael change/changes in character?
Answer: Jasmine- In the beginning: Ishmael's family and friends kept him young, happy, and ready to have fun.
War: When the war reaches his village, the bloody, gory scenes laid in front of him as well as loosing so many loved ones made Ishmael fearful for his life.
Government force: The drugs they gave the kids for energy boosting changed Ishmael, they made him numb and emotionless. Also the killing he had to do made him loose all humanity and loose himself.
Rehabilitation centre: At first he was violent, unhappy not to have the drugs and frustrated with the kindness of the workers and the return of the migraines .
Vanessa- Traumatic events: Acts of violence in front of him and family dying.
Army: Drugs and killing.
Rehabilitation: Helped in the end.
Question: Who had the influence in helping Ishmael become the man he is today?
Answer: Jasmine and Vanessa- Esther : She never have up on him, never gave up helping him
Laura: little affect ( we don't know a lot about her). He ends up living with her in New York.
UNICEF: Everyone in the rehabilitation centre and at the meeting in New York all cared and wanted him well again. They all helped him accept and forgive himself.
Uncle Tommy: The love he gave him, and the forgiveness helped Ishmael learn to be himself again.
All these people all had one thing in common, they never held his past against him.
Question: How did where Ishmael live impact his life and who he is?
Answer: Jasmine- Sierra Leone: Is not a very developed country, so it's pprobably not the best place to live. They don't have the schools and education we do. When someone gets sick or hurt they don't have the medical equipment, treatment or knowledge we do. The water there is probably not the cleanest and causes many of the sicknesses the people get, also the lack of food. And the war that happened there doesn't make it the safest place to live.
Living in Sierra Leone, Ishmael experiences all this hardship and fear of the war. He needs to put in a lot more effort to survive and live there than we do in Canada. Without all the hardships and different challenges Ishmael would of never became who he is today without them. Today he helps educate people on the difficulties he faced and many others face.Without these events in his life he would never be able to help and be the man he is today. Even though where he lives is dangerous and there were ups and downs in his life, Ishmael learned and became stronger thanks to the place he lived.
Vanessa- Sierra Leone: Not the best place to live for it lacks education, medical treatment and knowledge, and nutrition. Where he lived gave Ishmael the chance to help other people, notify them on what's happening on the world and his experiences.
Question: If you were Ishmael what would you do differently?
Answer: Jasmine- I would help those who were suffering from the war. The people who were shot and bleeding I would go over and try to help them. I couldn't and would never kill anyone no matter what the situation is. I would rather die than kill someone. I would refuse the drugs and pretend to take them. At the rehabilitation centre I would be less resisting to the treatment.
Vanessa- Help those who are hurt or suffering from the war. Wouldn't kill anyone and more willing for the treatment at the rehabilitation centre.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
How the book made me feel
This book has opened my eyes to the hardships people can go through. It brought a lot of different emotions to the surface. The beginning was happy, Ishmael is with his family, the war is well enough away and Ishmael is enjoying life as a kid. He likes rap music, he finds the words are strange but loves to memorise the lyrics to these songs and dance along. His brother Junior as well as his friend Talloi and him loved to practise and perform their rap routines at the talent show.
Things start to become sad when the war finally reaches his village Mogbwemo and he is separated from his parents. Life becomes tough for Ishmael and his companions. We see the difficulties of life when Ishmael is forced to stand alone in the setting of war. It made me very sad when his own people started to not trust one another when trust is very important. I became sad and scared when Ishmael was captured several times because of the fear he felt, I felt the same way. It made me laugh when most of those times he was saved by his rap CD. I became so hopeful when Ishmael might of had a chance to see his family again. I was so happy and excited that he might have another moment with his family but all of that emotion washed away when i kept reading.
When he first killed someone out of rage and anger and revenge it made me cry. Why would someone pin kids against kids or even kids against adults. I started to feel lost for Ishmael when he started to loose himself and become a true soldier who doesn't fear death or have fear of killing someone. He started loosing the child within himself and it killed me to read about how war was changing Ishmael.
Hope started to rise within me when he finally got sent a rehabilitation centre but I was still sad when the lack of drugs that the kids were being given as soldiers made them crazy. Even though they were put in rehabilitation it didn't stop there violent behaviour.When he finally meets Esther it made me so happy because there was finally someone who cared for him after all this time. I was happy when the bond between Esther and Ishmael started to grow but saddened me that it took so long and how Ishmael got annoyed when the staff kept telling him that what he did wasn't his fault, but knew and felt sorry about why he got annoyed. When we learn of his existing uncle I was so happy that he still had a family to go to. When he was finally ready to leave the rehabilitation centre and ready to live with his uncle joy filled me. When he got the chance to go to New York city, I felt his excitement and i felt so proud as well as happy for him. After everything he went through he deserves to go to a new place and enjoy life. When he met Laura Simms i was overjoyed that there was another person who loved and cared for him.
When he gets back to Sierre Leone and to his uncle I felt that everything was going to be fine, but that emotion was fast to go, for the war finally reached him again. I felt angry and very sad that he has to go through it all again. Why did that have to happen again. I felt so sorry that he had to see it again and I cried again when another family member passed away.
In the end my emotion became hopeful and happy again. Ishmael decided that he couldn't stay in Sierre Leone and had to leave. He wanted to go live with Laura and she agreed. His journey was hard and not the happiest but in the end he managed to get to New York and live there with Laura.
This book made me feel so many emotions and the author did an excellent job in making the reader feel how he felt.
Things start to become sad when the war finally reaches his village Mogbwemo and he is separated from his parents. Life becomes tough for Ishmael and his companions. We see the difficulties of life when Ishmael is forced to stand alone in the setting of war. It made me very sad when his own people started to not trust one another when trust is very important. I became sad and scared when Ishmael was captured several times because of the fear he felt, I felt the same way. It made me laugh when most of those times he was saved by his rap CD. I became so hopeful when Ishmael might of had a chance to see his family again. I was so happy and excited that he might have another moment with his family but all of that emotion washed away when i kept reading.
When he first killed someone out of rage and anger and revenge it made me cry. Why would someone pin kids against kids or even kids against adults. I started to feel lost for Ishmael when he started to loose himself and become a true soldier who doesn't fear death or have fear of killing someone. He started loosing the child within himself and it killed me to read about how war was changing Ishmael.
Hope started to rise within me when he finally got sent a rehabilitation centre but I was still sad when the lack of drugs that the kids were being given as soldiers made them crazy. Even though they were put in rehabilitation it didn't stop there violent behaviour.When he finally meets Esther it made me so happy because there was finally someone who cared for him after all this time. I was happy when the bond between Esther and Ishmael started to grow but saddened me that it took so long and how Ishmael got annoyed when the staff kept telling him that what he did wasn't his fault, but knew and felt sorry about why he got annoyed. When we learn of his existing uncle I was so happy that he still had a family to go to. When he was finally ready to leave the rehabilitation centre and ready to live with his uncle joy filled me. When he got the chance to go to New York city, I felt his excitement and i felt so proud as well as happy for him. After everything he went through he deserves to go to a new place and enjoy life. When he met Laura Simms i was overjoyed that there was another person who loved and cared for him.
When he gets back to Sierre Leone and to his uncle I felt that everything was going to be fine, but that emotion was fast to go, for the war finally reached him again. I felt angry and very sad that he has to go through it all again. Why did that have to happen again. I felt so sorry that he had to see it again and I cried again when another family member passed away.
In the end my emotion became hopeful and happy again. Ishmael decided that he couldn't stay in Sierre Leone and had to leave. He wanted to go live with Laura and she agreed. His journey was hard and not the happiest but in the end he managed to get to New York and live there with Laura.
This book made me feel so many emotions and the author did an excellent job in making the reader feel how he felt.
Monday, 23 April 2012
A Long Way Gone: Themes
A Long Way Gone is a very emotional story of the journey of a boy soldier named Ishmael. I've thought of some themes for the book:
One theme is War is hard, Ishmael describes the terrors and tragedies of war that are very hard to comprehend. The things that Ishmael sees happening to civilians gives the war meaning and shows that war is like hell. He witnesses the hardships of war. For example loosing family, having to be on the run as a refuge, seeing the wounds and suffering of others and almost loosing his life several times. He also witnesses whats it's like to be a soldier by becoming a boy soldier for the government army. He has seen people die and he has killed people with his own two hands just to get food to survive.
Another theme is There is always hope: Ishmael's life was full of challenges that he had and learned to overcome. His life was not an easy one and full of terrible events. Through it all he finds a way to overcome it all and find love again. It wasn't an easy path, but in the end through all of his new challenges he finds himself again and meaning to his life. Ishmael is an excellent example of how there is always hope to overcome hard paths in life.
The last theme I came up with is When everything is tough and seems impossible there is always love: Ishmael had love but when the war came to his village it was taken away. To regain love was a very hard path for him. There was the family environment that the soldiers gave him and the love and friendship that grew between Ishmael and Alhaji. Then there is the love from his uncle Tommy and his family. They wanted him to be a part of their family and made him feel accepted. Finally there is the love that Esther and Laura gave him. They accepted him and welcomed him into their home when he had nowhere to go and needed help. They supported him through all his hardships.
One theme is War is hard, Ishmael describes the terrors and tragedies of war that are very hard to comprehend. The things that Ishmael sees happening to civilians gives the war meaning and shows that war is like hell. He witnesses the hardships of war. For example loosing family, having to be on the run as a refuge, seeing the wounds and suffering of others and almost loosing his life several times. He also witnesses whats it's like to be a soldier by becoming a boy soldier for the government army. He has seen people die and he has killed people with his own two hands just to get food to survive.
Another theme is There is always hope: Ishmael's life was full of challenges that he had and learned to overcome. His life was not an easy one and full of terrible events. Through it all he finds a way to overcome it all and find love again. It wasn't an easy path, but in the end through all of his new challenges he finds himself again and meaning to his life. Ishmael is an excellent example of how there is always hope to overcome hard paths in life.
The last theme I came up with is When everything is tough and seems impossible there is always love: Ishmael had love but when the war came to his village it was taken away. To regain love was a very hard path for him. There was the family environment that the soldiers gave him and the love and friendship that grew between Ishmael and Alhaji. Then there is the love from his uncle Tommy and his family. They wanted him to be a part of their family and made him feel accepted. Finally there is the love that Esther and Laura gave him. They accepted him and welcomed him into their home when he had nowhere to go and needed help. They supported him through all his hardships.
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