Ishmael Beah

At only 28, Ishmael Beah has emerged as one of the most prominent human rights advocates in the literary world. A former child soldier from Sierra Leone, Beah recorded his experiences in the bestselling A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Come hear Beah's incredible life story and impassioned ... (more)plea for universal human rights.

Join us for coffee and baked goods as we discuss: A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah Discussion: November 19 @ 7PM This absorbing account by a young man who, as a boy of 12, gets swept up in Sierra Leone's civil war goes beyond even the best journalistic efforts in revealing the life and mind of a child ... (more)abducted into the horrors of warfare. Beah, a boy equally thrilled by causing mischief as by memorizing passages from Shakespeare and dance moves from hip-hop videos, was a typical precocious 12-year-old. But rebel forces destroyed his childhood innocence when they hit his village, driving him to leave his home and travel the arid deserts and jungles of Africa. After several months of struggle, he was recruited by the national army, made a full soldier and learned to shoot an AK-47, and hated everyone who came up against the rebels. The Library has copies of the books available for patrons to borrow, but prior reading of the books is not necessary to attend the discussions. Stop by the library or call 585-289-3559 to get a copy of the book.

The African American Literature Book Discussion Group meets monthly at the Main Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue. Discussions are led by Sue McClelland and Milcah Baraona. Register for the African American Literature Group at the 2nd floor Reader’s Services desk or call 847-448-8620.

A Long Way ... (more)Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Wednesday, July 9, 7 p.m.