Eric MacFarland Mr Lowell English II November 17, 2016 ‘A long way gone’ written by Ishmael Beah. is an autobiography about the young arthur's experience surviving the Sierra Leone civil war. During his time in the war his main focus became surviving. He has done so by suppressing his emotions, stealing food and killing multiple people. After Ishmael left the violence at Mattru Jong, the focus of Ishmael’s life became attempting to survive every day. Ishmael quickly learn that to survive, he has to suppress his emotions. After the RUF attacks Mattru Jong, Ishmael becomes detached from his family and friends. Joining up with other children who are on the run too. Even though he likes the company, he remains emotionally separated from the group