In his first work, A Long Way Gone:  Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Beah describes his teenage years in Sierra Leone, a war-torn country.  Mrs. Bush heard Beah speak at NCTE in New York City in 2007 and at the University of Akron in 2008. 

Essential Questions for A Long Way Gone: 

1.  How is the culture of Sierra Leone both similar to and different from our culture? 

2.  Where in the text is there evidence that Beah is building universality?  Why is this necessary for his message?

3.  Beah certainly seems to offer a "success story".  What people/measures/coincidences helped him to succeed?

4.  What are the themes and how does Beah develop them throughout his autobiographical narrative?

5.  What motifs are present in Beah's memoir, and how does he relate them to his overall purpose?

6.  How does Beah use multiple types of imagery to enliven his narrative? 

Links:

Visit the official website of A Long Way Gone. 

See Ishmael Beah's interview on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. (My husband first saw this interview and then suggested that I read the book.) 

Read a transcript of a Live Chat with Ishmael Beah.  He answers many questions that you may have about the book such as his current feelings about UNICEF's actions and what he's writing now. 

Note allegations against Beah's memoirs from The Austrailian and read his response. 

Peruse the Paris Principles, which Beah helped to draft to protect children in war situations.