Beah, Ishmael

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

New York, NY: Sara Crichton Books, 2007. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Ishmael Beah. “This is how wars are fought now: by children, traumatized, hopped-up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. Children have become the soldiers of choice. 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” (from front flap). Ishmael Beah (b. 1980) exemplifies the human capability to overcome the most horrific circumstances to impact the world in a positive way. The publication of this memoir opened eyes in the international community to the atrocities being regularly overlooked. The nature of Beah’s fear and despair in the midst of war-torn Sierra Leone is relatable to anyone because we have all been children. Childhood is a precious and delicate period of every human life, when we learn to be part of a family, to be a friend, and the nature of the world around us, and these children are being forced to survive by becoming murderers. The social complexities of the war are lost on them; all they know is they could be next. The devastation and trauma that follows is the price to pay for their continued existence, and Beah’s descriptive and emotional writing of the events he witnessed and the decisions he was forced to make is undeniably human. Now as an international human rights activist, Beah works to protect children from the corruption of war violence. His survival is an inspiration to millions. [ISBN: 978-0-374-10523-5]. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: “First Edition, 2007” as stated on copyright page, Fortieth Printing, as indicated by number sequence thereon. On the title page, below and surrounding his printed name, Beah has hand-written his large, bold signature in blue felt-tip ink. Book is in Very Good condition with crisp, unmarked pages and only minor bumping to the fine edges of spine and corners of front, back covers. A sticker from the Utah State University Library that reads “Common Literature / Selection / 2008” is affixed to the front endpaper. Dust jacket is in Good condition with moderate shelf-wear to fine edges of front, back covers and spine. Very Good / Good. [Item #5559]

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