Recently Read: A Long Way Gone

I have just finished reading this book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah. For those of you who have read it, you must have been very saddened by his story but also the story of the friends he had and lost during his life in the civil war in Sierra Leone. For those of you who haven't read it, it is a very honest real life depiction of the journey of Ishmael Beah from losing his family to becoming a soldier at the age of 13 to being rehabilitated and later speaking out against the atrocities of the war. He explores the thoughts that went through his mind at each stage of his very difficult childhood. It is one of those books that raises awareness about the struggles of children and families during the ongoing civil war and political unrest in Sierra Leone along with many other African countries today. Pick it up and read it, and recommend it to friends, but if you are feeling very enraged at life's unfairness to people in Ishmael's situation, go ahead and get involved! Go on a mission's trip, support financially, do research on other organizations who are trying to help the social structures of these countries and save the lives of people who have no other choice and no voice! Go ahead, make a difference, but don't just read the book.