A Long Way Gone/ Born a Crime
1. In this last section, how does the author resolve the main conflict of the novel and what do you think about the choices he made?
2. Explain how in the end, if Beah/Noah showed any changes or stayed the same. Be sure to be complete and explain the causes for this change AND whether you think the change is good.
3. Cite a memorable passage from the last quarter of the book. Copy word for word a short passage (with proper citations — EX: (Worthley 2)) that you thought was worth remembering. Explain why you chose this passage from the book. How does it connect to the big ideas in the novel?
4. Identify one theme in the book and discuss how this is dealt with at the end of the novel. Be complete and use examples to support.
5. Pick a person that is not the author and discuss how s/he did something in this section that was important, surprising, shocking etc. Be sure to explain what they did fully and how you feel about his/her actions.
6. Explain how the title of your book relates to the book as a whole. What important idea does it call our attention to? Explain fully.
7. How did you like this book? 8. How effective was the ending? 9. Did this book remind you of anything else? 10. What did you learn about the world, yourself, or anything from reading this book?
11. What other books, movies, real life events, things in your life, etc. can you connect this book to?
12. Anything else you can think of that shows your thoughts is ok!
Sample Solution
Ishmael Beah wrote his memoir, A Long Way Gone to: shed light on the struggles of Sierra Leone; educate the rest of the world on civil wars in Africa and how they affect the lives of Africans; and raise awareness on the indoctrination of child soldiers during the Sierra Leone Civil War. The climax occurs when Ishmael realizes he will never escape war and find peace until he leaves Sierra Leone. He finds a way to get to Guinea and then to New York City and become a new person. Overall Ishmael`s story is a very powerful, eye opening read; it informs people on a subject that some know little to nothing more, the Civil War in Sierra Leone.
