A Long Way Gone Memoirs Of A Boy Soldier By Ishmael Beah

War, a state of armed conflict between different nations, states, or groups. Although small, this three letter word signifies so much more than a conflict for those involved. It symbolizes the loss of hope, faith, family, a home, someone’s childhood, and most importantly the feeling of safety. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah, is an eye opener to those who have been lucky enough to escape the clutches of war. The book describes Beah’s struggle during the war in Sierra Leone, where at the age of twelve he joined the “army”. Being taken away from the war by UNICF was a blessing for Beah and his fellow boy soldiers. Although all the boys received the same care at UNICF it is the different opportunities Beah is given that

However when Beah was selected to speak at the United Nations conference held in New York it was an undiscovered dream come to life. Being able to attend the conference gave Beah the chance to meet extraordinary adults and children. Beah’s trip to New York allowed him to share his story in hopes of prevent another child from joining the war. It also gave him the chance to change people’s perception of boy soldiers, “I have been rehabilitated now, so don’t be afraid of me. I am not a soldier anymore; I am a child” (Beah 199). Being one of the two boys chosen to speak at the United Nations conference was an astonishing thing for Beah, it renewed his hope in the ability of his country overcoming the war that had pledged so many people. Unlike Beah many of the rehabilitated boy soldiers would never get the chance to leave Sierra Leone let alone be able to meet different children around the world that had lived through equal suffering as they had. The boys would also never be given the chance to discuss solutions to the problems that children face every day in their country. This could have instilled the same hope of change it had in