There may be as many as 300,000 child soldiers, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s, in more than fifty conflicts around the world. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. He is one of the first to tell his story in his own words.

As part of the One Community, One Book project, the UI Libraries will be hosting a discussion of Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone.  Though the book tackles a difficult subject, the prose is straightforward and uncomplicated, making this OCOB selection a quick read.

Wednesday, October 22 at 8 p.m.
Second Floor Study Lounge, Main Library (directly upstairs from the North Circulation Desk)

At the age of 12, Ishmael Beah fled attacking rebels in his home country of Sierra Leone during their civil war. Soon he found himself in the army, forced to participate in casual mass slaughter. This horrific life lasted until he was 15, when he was brought to a rehabilitation center sponsored by UNICEF and partnering NGOs. In his late teens, he eventually came to the United States where he remains. Mr. Beah finished high school in the U.S. and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oberlin College. He is now a member of the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division Advisory Committee. He has established a foundation dedicated to helping former child soldiers reintegrate into society and improve their lives.

Refreshments will be served.

Find A Long Way Gone in the InfoHawk catalog.

See an interview with Ishmael Beah with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show.