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A Long Way Gone

Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

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About this listen

In A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah tells a riveting story in his own words: how, at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.

This is how wars are fought now by children, hopped up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers.

Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But it is rare to find a first-person account from someone who endured this hell and survived.

This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

 Africa Military & War
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Couldn't turn it off despite the horror. everyone should hear this book. Outstanding performance. JFM

Child soldier tells it like it is!

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The true story of a boy during the war, heartbreaking and moving. So young to experience the things that he did.

Great true story

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An incredible story not least that Ishmael survived to share. Would make a remarkable film

Visceral glimpse into the life of a child soldier

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This book will give you knowledge, compassion and courage to face your challenges. It tells a story of events few of us can imagine and connects us with them through descriptions of emotions that we all share.

Immersive.

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A very sad story. I wish the author wrote more about his emotional state whilst being a child soldier. The matter of fact voice of his narrative as well as his audio narration, takes something away from these tragic events.

Very sad

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