ChapterOneChapteroneinALongWayGonestartsoutwiththeauthorbeginning

torememberhowitwasbeforethewarcameuponthem.Manypeoplethathadalreadyhad
theirvillagesburnedanddestroyedandtherefamilymemberskilledwouldarriveintheirtown.
Manyofthemfeltsorryforthedisplacedpeopleandofferedthemfoodwaterandshelter,but
theywereoftenrefusedbecausethesurvivorsknewthattherebelswouldcometothisvillage
anddestroyittoo.
Thefirstchapteralsogoesabouttalkingabouthowwhentheboyswereyoung
IshmaelandhisolderbrotherJuniorhadarapgroupputtogetherwiththeirfriends.They
couldspeakandunderstandsomeoftheEnglishlanguage,andmanyofthemwould
memorizetherapsongsandgototalentshowsinneighboringvillagestoperformforother
people.OntheirwaytoMattruJongwheretheyperformedtheystoppedinhisgrandmother's
villageforthenightwhereshefedthemandtheycaughtupandtalked.Youcouldtellthatties
inthisfamilywereverystrongandloving.
Thechapteralsogoesthroughhislifeandhetellsthathelivedwithonlyhisfatherand
hisbrotherbecausehisparentsweredivorced,hismotherlivedinanothervillagewithhis
youngestbrother,andsometimeswhenheandJuniorwouldvisit,theywouldgototheschool
wheretheiryoungestbrotherwenttoandtheywouldgethimfromschoolandholdhishands
astheywalkedhome.Justthisbitofinformationmademehappytoread,eventhoughtheir
familywasseparatedtheystillstucktogetherandwereveryhappy.
Althoughthischapterwassomewhathappyitstartstoendwithaveryupsettingtruth,
therebelshavecomefasterthantheyhadanticipatedandwhentheyreturntohis
grandmothersvillageaftertheirperformancetheycomeuponanemptyvillage.Soonthey
realisethattherearedeadpeopleandwoundedpeople,everyonewhohadsurvivedisin
hiding,andalthoughthisplacehadbecomeawarzone,thechapterendswiththembelieving
thatthiswillonlylastamonthortwo.

Chapter2Chapter2isasmallchapteraboutanightmarethathewashavingone
nighthewaspushingawheelbarrowwithabodyinsideofit.HehadanAK47slungacross
hisbackandallaroundhimhecouldseedeadbodieseverywhere.Ashewokeuphewas
shakingandsweating,butheissafeinanewhomeinNewYork.Hewantstoforgethisold
lifeandfocusonhisnewoneintheUSbutitshardforhimtoforgetthepast.

Chapter3Chapter3waswhenIshmaelandJunioractuallyhadanencounterwith
therebels,astheystayedinMattruJonguntiltheyfiguredoutwhethertheyshouldtryto
makeithomeornotthetribecampwasattacked,gunshotsrangoutthroughtheair,this
markedwhentheboystrulywereontherun.Theyranandranandranforhoursawayfrom
thegunshots,awayfromthepeoplethatwerechasingthemandawayfromthevillagethat
theyhadstayedinwithotherfriendsandfamily,theywerenowonthereown.

Chapter4Chapter4markswhentheboysstarttobecomescavengers,theyare
hungry,theydon'thaveaplacetostay,nosupplies,andtheneighboringvillagescanonlydo
somuch.TheboysresorttogoingbacktoMattruJongtogetmoneythattheyleftbehindto
payforfood,althoughtheyweresuccessfulatretrievingitandbringingitbackpeoplestopped

sellingtheirfoodandstartedtopackup.Thislefttheboysangryandstarved,thatnightthey
weresodesperatethattheystolefoodfrompeople.

Chapter5Chapter5wasascaryturningpointinthestory,theyboysarestill
travelingandwalkingawayfromthemessthathadoncebeentheirhomes,astheyare
movingtheyaretrappedby3rebelsandaremarchedbacktocampwheretheyareforcedto
lineupfortherebels.Onebyonetheyarechosentostandinaline,butoncesomeone
startedtoshakeandcrytheygotangryandchoosedifferentpeople.Theywerethentoldthat
thosethathadbeenchosenweretobecomerebelsandweregoingtoshoottheothersinthe
headandkillthem,Juniorwaspickedinthesecondlineandwasgoingtobeaskedtogun
downhisbrotherwhensuddenlygunshotswereheardandalltherebelsstartedtoscatter,
thiswastheirchance,thegroupofboysrantothewoodsandhidawayfromtherebelsthat
wereshootingatthemaftertheyrealizedtheyhadbolted.

Chapter6Chapter6containedmostlyofhowtheboystraveledtoanothervillagefor
help,but6boystravelingtogethermadeothersthinkthattheywererebelsthathadbeen
capturedandputtoworkkillingpeopleandburningvillages.Astheyarriveduponavillage
theyweretakenandbroughttothechief,butonceherealizedthattheywerejustchildren
tryingtogetawayfromthewarheallowedthemtostayandworkinthefields.Unfortunately
afterawhileofthatthevillagewaseventuallyattacked,andthatwasthelasttimeheever
sawhisfriendsorolderbrotherJunioreveragain.

Chapter7and8Chapter7wasaboutafterIshmaelfledfromtheattack,hewasaloneand
byhimselffor6daysuntilhecameacrossmorevillagestomakehumancontactandfind
food,manyoftheseplaceshedidn'tknowthenames,butheneverstoppedwalkingaway
fromthewar,hewastryingtogethimselfasfarawayfromitashepossiblycould.
Duringchapter8whenIshmaelgotlostinthejunglehecameupon5moreboyslike
him,allstilllostandlookingforaplacetogo.Althoughtheywereboyseveryonewasscared
ofthemandtriedkillingthembecausetheylookedlikerebelscouts.

Chapter9Duringchapter9thegroupthatIshmaeltraveledwithwascaughtbypeoplefrom
adifferenttribewheretheyweretobequestionedandexecuted,butwhenthechieffound
thattheywerejustboyswhenheheardtherecassettetapesandsawthedancestheydidhe
letthemgorealisingthattheywereonlyboys.Ithoughtthatitwasveryunfortunatethatboys
wouldbetreatedinsuchaway,allbecauseofterroriststhatwantednothingtodobuthurt
peopleandkilltheirfamilies.

Chapter10Againtheboyswereonthemove,goingfromvillagetovillage,theywerestill
givenwater,andwerestillattackedandfalselyaccusedofbeingrebels.Astheycameupona
villagetheywereinvitedtoahunt,andtheywereallowedtoattendafeastwiththerestofthe
village.Thisseemedtolifttheirspiritsandmakethemhappier,butthatnightaftertheyallfell
asleeponoftherefriendshaddiedinhissleepduetounknowncauses.Thiscausedthemto
thinkbacktowhenSaduwassayingthatitfeltlikeeverytimetheyhadbeenattackedor

captured,hefeltlikehewaslosinghissoulbitbybit.thiscausedeveryonetothinkthathis
soulgrewweakandhepassedoninthenight.

Chapter11Afterleavingthevillageandtheirdeadfriendbehindtheymoveontoanew
villagewheretheyheardrumorsofwheretheirfamilieswereknowliving.Amanhadeventold
Ishmaelthatheknewforafactthathisfamilywasthere.Eagerlytheboysmakeitasfastas
theycantothevillage,finallytheirfamilywouldbereunitedwiththemandallwouldbewell.
BeforetheyreachthevillagetheyrunintoamanfromIshmaelsoldvillage,hehadconfirmed
thatinfacthiswholefamily,evenhisbrotherJunior,werealllivinginthevillage.Ishmael
desperatelywantedtogobutthemandemandedthattheyhelphimcarryfoodbacktothe
villages.Thedecisiontohelpsavedtheirlives,astheyspokethevillagewasgettingattacked
bytherebels.Assoonastheygottherethevillagewasburning,peopleweredying,andthey
wereshotatagainandagain.Ishmaelhadgottentheretoolate,hisfamilywasdead,and
evenworsetherebelshadshotthemanGatsumuthattheywerewith.Griefstrickentheboys
werealoneagain.

Chapter12Afterthedeathoftheoldmantheyhadbeenwalkingandwalking,Ishmaelhad
losttimebutallofasuddentheboyswereambushedandheldatgunpointfrompeopleinthe
army,thesepeoplewerefightingtherebels.Astheyweremarchedbacktosafetytheywere
broughtintoarefugevillagethatwasoccupiedbyorphanedchildrenandsoldiers.Although
thisplaceseemedsafe,hewassoonrecruitedintobecomingasoldierbecauseofthelackof
peopleontheirside.Hewastaughtsimplecommands,howtofirehisweapon,howtofight,
andwasintroducedtoMarijuana,Cocaine,andbrownbrown.

Chapter13Onsundaymorningthelieutenantannouncesthattheywillrestandplaygames
inthemorningforareligiousbreak.Ishmaelheadsbackintothebushaftertheytookabreak
onsundaymorningforreligiouspurposes.Butsoontheyareconfrontedwithapproaching
rebelsandareneededonthefrontline.ForthefirsttimeIshmaelisthrownintothewarand
watchessomeofhisclosestfriendsdie.AfterthebattleIshmaelhadaterribledreamofbeing
heldatgunpointandfiredoffhisgunassoonashewokeup,afterthathehadnoproblem
shootingandkillingpeopleanddidntsleepforaweek.

Chapter14SoonIshmaelbeginstorealizethesharppainsheishavinginhisheadachesor
migrainesashenowknows.Assoonastheywouldrunoutofdrugsandfoodtheywouldraid
othervillagesandtakerebelsasprisonersofwar.Soontheystartedtopracticedisgusting
gameswheretheywouldslicethethroatofarebel,Ishmaelsdiedfirst,sohewonthefirst
game.

Chapter15Thisseemedtobetheturningpointinthebook,Ishmaelexplainedthat
everythingtheyraidedandcapturedbecamebases,insteadofplayingandrunningaroundhe
wasguardingpostsandsmokingdopeorsniffingbrownbrown.Hechangedsomuchalong
withhisfriends,alltheytalkedofweregunsandkilling.Butsoonnewlightskinnedpeople
fromthecitycameonalargebusandstrippedthemoftheirgunsandweapons(Ishmaelhid

agrenade)andtookmanyoftheboysoldiersaway,includingIshmael.Heretheyfindother
boyslikethemthatwereapartofthewar,whowerealsobeingtakenawaytoadifferent
place.Theywereallbeingtakentoarehabilitationhospitalwheretheyallmetinagiant
cafeteria.Assoonaschildrenthatwereapartoftherebelssidecameintheyimmediately
startedfightingandtryingtokilleachotherwithdetachedbayonetsandIshmaeleventhrew
hisgrenade.Theyhadkilledandwoundedalloftherebelboys,eventhoughdoctorsandthe
staffwereextremelyupsethewashappythathehadkilledmorerebels.

Chapter1618These3chaptersareallaboutIshmael'srecoveryandtripstothecity,
althoughdrugwithdrawalwashardoneveryoneIshmaelwashitveryhardwithmigrainesand
nightmares,althoughitwasveryhardforhimtoworkthroughthepainhestillstartedtoopen
upmoreandmore,mostlytoanursewhosenamewasEstherwhomhemetafterbreakinga
windowwithhisbarehands.Sheseemedtobeespeciallynicetohim,sheevengothima
walkmansothathecouldlistentomusicwhenthingsgothardforhim,orwhenhestartedto
havemigraines.Duringthefirstmonthsattherehabilitationcentertheboysactedlikewild
animals,ruiningthings,attackingthestaff,andbeatingeachothersenseless,theboyseven
tookalltheschoolsuppliesthatwasgiventothemandsoldthemtopeopleinthecitytomake
money.Outofallofthistheywereneverpunished,neverscolded,theywereonlytoldthatit
wasnottherefaultthattheywerenoteducatedandsubjectedtothewar.
AsIshmaelcontinueshistherapyEstherkeepsluringhimbackintothehospitalwith
rapmusicandencourageshimtotalkabouthimpastandhelpshimcopewithit,althoughthis
seemstohelpinawayIshmaelstillgotupsetandranoutofthehospitalaftertalkingtoher.
Duringchapter18Ishmaelstartstobehavemorelikeachildwouldandevenreadsa
shakespearemonologueanddoesarapdanceforatalentshowpreformanceatthe
rehabilitationcenter.Whenhewasaskedifhewantedtobespokespersonforthecenterhe
decidedthathedid,andthatrehabilitationwaspossible.NotonlythisbuyLesley,Ishmaels
casemanager,makescontactwithIshmaelsunclethatlivesinthecity.ThismadeIshmael
veryhappyandhisunclevisitedhimeveryweekenduntilhewasreadytocomelivewithhim
andhisfamily.

Chapter19Ishmaelgetsoutofrehabilitationandgoestolivewithhisuncleandnewfamily,
despitethewarmhomecomingheisshockedbylivingwithafamilyagainandstaysquiet
mostofthetime.Ashestayswithhisuncleandfamilyhiscousintakeshimouttoanightclub
andtherehemeetsgirlsandendsupdatingone,buttheysoonbrokeupbecauseshe
pressedhimabouthislifeasasoldier.Whilelivingwithhisunclehelearnsmoreandmore
abouthisfatherandisabletotalkaboutthegoodthingsbeforethewar.

Chapter20and21Duringchapter21IshmaelissentintoNewYorkCitytospeakatalarge
conferencetoraiseawarenessofchildrenwhohavebeenforcedtobecomesoldiers.Ishmael
growsveryattachedtoastorytellerthatwasthereinnewyorktohelpchildrencomeoutof
theirshellsandtelldifferentstoriestheyhaveheardintheirlives.AttheUnitedNations
ConferenceIshmaelmeetsothersthathavesufferedwhathehassufferedthroughandtalks

toothersonhowtheycanhelpeachotherandhelpstopthewarthatareaffectingothersin
theseatriskcountries.
InChapter21hereturnshometohisuncleandfamilyandstartsgoingtoschool,but
overtime,wareruptsagain,peopleinthecitywerebeingkilled,therewaslittlefood,andas
theywerelivingthroughthisIshmaelisscaredthathisoldfriendshaverejoinedthewar,and
ifhewasseenhewouldgetkilledorforcedtojoinbacktoo.OnenightIshmaelsunclefallsill
anddiesinhisarms,heartbroken,hethinksofhowmanypeoplehavetodiebeforethis
wholemessisallover?ThatnightIshmaelcallsLaura,thestorytellerthathemetintheUS
andheasksherifhecancomelivewithher,allhehadtodowasgetsomewheresafeandto
anairport.LauraagreesandIshmaelleaveshishomewithouttellinganyone,hehastowalk
manymilestoentercountriesillegallyandfindhiswaytoarefugeecampthatholdsshelter
andhelpsthosewhoareyetagainbeingaffectedbythewar.

(Nottoldinthestory)
EventuallyIshmaelsomehowfindshiswaytoanairportandisflowntotheUStolivewith
Laura.

Aboutthewar:
TheCivilwarinSierraLeonestartedwhenpeoplebandedtogetherandcalledthemselvesthe
RevolutionaryUnitedFront(RUF),thesepeopleclaimedthatthegovernmentwas
mismanagingthediamondandmineralresources.Althoughtheyweretruetheywereapoor
countryfornotonlyjustthatreasonbutmore,theylaunchesviolentattacksoninnocenttribes
ofpeoplethatdidntdeserveanypainorsuffering.AstheRUFterrorisedpeopletheytortured
thembyburningtheirvillages,burningpeopleintheirhomes,cuttingofflimbs,shootingand
killingfamilymembers,makingprisonersshoottheirlovedones,andevenburningand
scorchingRUFonboysandmakingthemintosoldiers.Nowalthoughthesepeoplecame
fromanunderstandableargumenttheiractionswereuncalledforandextremelyhorrificand
useditasawaytogainprofitforthemandanyoneelsewhoagreed.
AlthoughtheUN(thosefightingforthegovernment)foughtagainsttheRUF,theUN
stillhadtoresorttousingchildsoldiers,itwasestimatedthataquarteroftheUNforceswere
childrenundertheageof18.In1999theUNtriedtomakeapeacedealwiththeRUFbut
HumanRightsactivistsdisagreedbecausetheydidntwanttherebelstothinkthatwhatthey
didwasokay(inregardstothepeopletheytorturedandkilled).Althoughapeacetreatywas
madepeoplelikeKofiAnnan(aGhanaiandiplomat)madeitextremelyclearthatRUFwould
notbeforgivenforwhattheyhaddone.
AlthoughtherewerepeacetreatiesineffecttherewerestillreportsfromHumanRights
thattherewasstillhumanabusesgoingon,andUNpeacekeepersthatweresentinwere
slowgoingtodisarmtheRUFduetothefactthattheRUFwouldrejectanydeploymentto
theirareas.SincethentheUNhastriedtheirbesttoremoveRUFfromminingareas,butthey
camebackandtookpeacekeepershostageandfoughtbacktokeeptheirspotswherethe
mineswere,althoughthepeacekeepersweresoonreleasedtheUNdidntstoptryingto
neutralizetheRUF,Britishforcesweresoonbeingusedtoevacuatebritishpeopleandsoon
begantohelpthosenativetoSierraLeone,althoughthisseemedtohelptheUN,theysoon

becameunderminedandwereaccusedofbombinginnocentpeoplethatwereinsuspected
RUFbases.
Eventuallyabanwasplacedontheexportofdiamondsrealizingthatthecauseforthe
warwasbecauseofsuchresourceseventhoughmanywereskeptical.