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    Deona Smith
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    This document provides a summary and commentary of the final chapters of the memoir "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah. In the chapters, Ishmael begins to form a trusting relationship with a nurse at the UNICEF camp. He opens up about his experiences in the war. Ishmael is later told he will be reunited with his Uncle Tommy. The commentary questions some of the events, such as Ishmael's ability to recite Shakespeare after his traumatic experiences, and notes that while others saw Ishmael as troublesome, the book did not portray him that way.

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    This document provides a summary and commentary of the final chapters of the memoir "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah. In the chapters, Ishmael begins to form a trusting relationship with a nurse at the UNICEF camp. He opens up about his experiences in the war. Ishmael is later told he will be reunited with his Uncle Tommy. The commentary questions some of the events, such as Ishmael's ability to recite Shakespeare after his traumatic experiences, and notes that while others saw Ishmael as troublesome, the book did not portray him that way.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    17 views2 pages

    Journal 5

    Uploaded by

    Deona Smith
    This document provides a summary and commentary of the final chapters of the memoir "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah. In the chapters, Ishmael begins to form a trusting relationship with a nurse at the UNICEF camp. He opens up about his experiences in the war. Ishmael is later told he will be reunited with his Uncle Tommy. The commentary questions some of the events, such as Ishmael's ability to recite Shakespeare after his traumatic experiences, and notes that while others saw Ishmael as troublesome, the book did not portray him that way.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    Deona Skidmore

    Journal number 5: A Long Way Gone


    March 24, 2010

    Final Chapters

    I would just first like to say that though I was skeptical about reading another story about
    children caught in the crossfire of war, I would just like to say that this book was a surprise in a
    pleasant way. We left Beah at the hospital and at the mercy of the hospital staff that seem
    insufferable even to me. I mean, come on, you just took a bunch of kids from one side of the war
    and put them with a bunch of kids on the other side of the war, and what did you think? They
    were going to make friendship bracelets?! Really? Let’s be logical, hate is a strong emotion, it
    wasn’t just going to change because you put them in the same room.

    In chapter 17 we find Beah in another hospital/UNICEF camp with the nurse, Esther,
    trying to gain his trust by bringing him soda, a cassette player and a RUN-DMC tape. Obviously
    he’s going to resist the budding relationship, because who would you trust in this situation? He
    has had everything taken away, given back, taken away and given back AGAIN, the kids bound
    to have some problem with trusting anyone. The nurse’s intentions are noble and near-sweet, but
    in the situation I’m sure it did Ishmael both harm and good. The chapter continues with Ishmael
    showing that he trusts the nurse by recounting a story about the war and his foot-wound. After
    the story Esther, a man named Leslie and another gentleman brings Ishmael and his friend Alhaji
    to the city for Ishmael’s hospital visit. Here Leslie buys him a Bob Marley Exodus cassette, and
    Esther treats the boys to Coke.

    In chapter 18 (five months after first arriving in the center) Esther tells Ishmael to start
    another family, with her as his sister. Then Ishmael decides to recite Shakespeare…wait, no, I
    can’t even finish that thought without stopping to comment, Professor Kirchoff would be
    horrified, so this is our little secret, How many American children can randomly recite
    Shakespeare? Hmm? Go ahead, I’ll wait.

    Now how many of those children would still be able to recite Shakespeare after watching
    his family die, nearly starving, suffering months of walking, and countless other things…and we
    like to think we’re superior….
    Anyway, Ishmael decides to recite Shakespeare and to perform a hip-hop play with his
    friends for visitor’s day, and afterward Ishmael is asked to become the face of his center. Further
    into the chapter Leslie tells Ishmael that he cannot find someone who will take him in, as
    Ishmael doesn’t have an immediate family anymore, and then Ishmael tells him about Uncle
    Tommy. Convenient? I think so. Then he meets his uncle and tears and emotions are had by all.
    Everyone keeps talking about him being “troublesome,” it wasn’t displayed once in the book.

    Chapter 19 starts with Leslie telling Ishmael that he must be “repatriated.” Hasn’t this kid
    been repatriate enough? I mean, he’s the SPOKESPERSON for the repatriation center. Shouldn’t
    he have already been…whatever… Awe…sad. Now he doesn’t have any friends . But he’s
    going to his uncle Tommy’s so that’s good.

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