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Discussion Questions

Adapted from the Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux Reading Group Guide.

  1. How familiar were you with the civil wars of Sierra Leone prior to reading A Long Way Gone? How has Beah's story changed your perception of this history, and of current wars in general?
  2. Chapter seven begins with the story of the imam's death, followed by Beah's recollections of his father and an elder blessing their home when they first moved to Mogbwemo. How do the concepts of faith and hope shift throughout this memoir? What sustains Beah emotionally and spiritually?
  3. Chapter eight closes with the image of villagers running fearfully from Beah and his friends, believing that the seven boys are rebels. How do they overcome these negative assumptions in communities that have begun to associate the boys' appearance with evil? What lessons could world leaders learn from them about overcoming distrust, and the importance of judging others individually rather than as stereotypes?
  4. What did Beah's parents teach him about being a man? How did he define manhood once he began his long walk west? What general life lessons were his parents able to teach him that sustained him during his brutal passage from boyhood, and that he carries with him to this day?
  5. Discuss the role of American hip-hop culture in creating a "soundtrack" for Beah's life. Why are rappers so appealing to him?
  6. Beah tells us that some of the boys who had been rehabilitated with him later became soldiers again. What factors ensured that he could remain a civilian?
  7. Storytelling is a powerful force in Beah's life, even providing a connection to his future mother, Laura Simms. What traits make Beah a memorable and unique storyteller? How does his perspective compare to the perspectives of filmmakers, reporters or other authors who have recently tried to portray Africa's civil wars?
  8. Beah gives credit to relief workers such as Esther, in conjunction with organizations such as UNICEF, for rescuing him. He has dedicated his life to their cause, studying political science and speaking before a broad variety of groups, ranging from the Council on Foreign Relations to the Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. What steps has he inspired you to take to help end the use of child soldiers? How can each of us join Beah's cause?