A Long way Gone BOOK Info

SETTING Sierra Leone, 1993-1997 New York City, 1998 CHARACTER LIST Major Characters Ishmael Beah The narrator of this true story, Ishmael, is a boy soldier who finds a way to escape the horrors of war and go on to counsel others who are only looking for a way to live in peace. Esther She is a nurse at Benin House where Ishmael is taken for rehabilitation. She befriends him and helps him to find himself again. Alhaji He is a young man whom Ishmael befriends when they are both part of the soldiers fighting the rebels. He is as strong and cold as Ishmael in battle, but just as in need of re-finding his childhood. Uncle Tommy He takes Ishmael in after he is found in Freetown. Ishmael cannot stay at Benin House forever and he needs family to love him. He lucks out with Uncle Tommy, because the man truly loves Ishmael and helps him leave behind the horrors or war. The Lieutenant He is the father figure when Ishmael goes into battle. His words motivate the young boys to be willing to give their lives against the rebels. Minor Characters Junior Beah Ishmael’s brother, his companionship and love for Ishmael are some of the memories that help rehabilitate Ishmael. They escaped the initial rebel attacks together and then lost each other in the confusion that followed days later. He goes in search of Ishmael when they are separated and dies never knowing that Ishmael had found his family only minutes before they were burned alive by the rebels. Laura Simms She is the woman Ishmael meets in New York City who helps children of war by being a storyteller, a cultural aspect of Sierra Leonean society. Ishmael is drawn to her because of this and she takes him under her wing while he is in America. Later, when he is able to escape Sierra Leone, she helps him get to America and becomes his mother. CONFLICT Protagonist The protagonist is Ishmael and he is central to understanding the horrors of war in Sierra Leone, because he became a boy soldier. Antagonist The antagonists at first are the rebels who bring horror and death to civilians for reasons Ishmael can never discern. Later, the antagonist becomes Ishmael himself when he very nearly cannot find the strength within himself to recover from begin a bloodthirsty soldier to a child once more. Climax The climax occurs when Ishmael realizes he will never escape war and find peace until he leaves Sierra Leone. He finds a way to get to Guinea and then to New York City and become a new person. Outcome After a long and harrowing journey, Ishmael finds his way out of Sierra Leone and into Guinea. From there, with the help of Laura Simms, he travels to New York City, finishes high school, and graduates from College. He becomes an advocate at the UN and other international organizations for dealing with the solution to children forced to become soldiers. SHORT SUMMARY (Synopsis) This true story involves the life of Ishmael Beah who lives a fairly happy life in Sierra Leone until civil war breaks out. Then, like other civilians, he is forced to run for his life, becoming separated from his family and later losing them to murder by the rebels. He later finds a way to be rehabilitated and regain his childhood. He once again learns how to love. THEMES War Is Hell The first and most important theme is War is Hell. Although this is an overworked phrase, it fits this narrative perfectly. The horrors and tragedy that Ishmael relates to the reader are almost unbelievable. The atrocities committed against innocent civilians give new meaning to the idea of war as well.