Ishmael Beah

Mr. Beah.
I wanted to tell you how much your book touched me.
For my project I did child soldiers and sierra leone as my semester project. Ive never been so moved by a book. You came to our school in connecticut. I am writing about my reactions to your writing and questions, which was harder... becoming "used" to being a child soldier" or rehabilitating? i would really appreciate a reply. Me email is Ashleylaprincesa@yahoo.com if that is better. Thank you so much.

Hey there Ishmael, I'd call you Mr. Beah like most of the other people on this page do, but, naturally, I feel like I know you as a child not a grown man in your late twenties. I was blessed with a very healthy childhood (I'm 17 by the way) and would like to help all of those who are not, especially boy-soldiers, and after reading your book, why not start with Sierra Leone's finest. I'm one of the first of my friends who has read your book and don't want to sit around waiting for others to do so, because I know they will want to take part in raising not only awareness but money for your cause. Or maybe money isn't what you need. Anyway, this is a long-shot of a way to contact a famous author such as yourself, but It's all I've got. I wonder if you even know you have one of these things...the only reason I signed up was so I could message you. Get back to me or don't I'm still gonna try and help out. Thanks!

Hello. My name is Hawa Turay. I am 17 years old and I am a senior in high school. Im writing to you beacuse i would like to talk to you more about what you went throught while living in Africa during the war. You see I am doing my seinor project on the war in Sierra Leone. And i could use some factual information. My parents were born and raised in Sierra Leone. But they were here in the US while it was going on. So if you could please e-mail me back so we can talk I would gladly appreciate it. Thanks.

Hey Mr. Beah, I've read your book, and it really got to me. I'd like to help out with the cause, but I'm really not sure where to start... In March, I'm going on a humanitarian trip to Tanzania, and I've chosen child soldiers as the topic of an essay I'm writing for the International Baccalaureate program. I'm finding it hard to find sources for my essay, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk to someone that knows the issue well. I'd really appreaciate it if we could get in touch, I think that your insight would really help me write this essay. Thanks!

Hi Ishmael. I've read your book and it was sincerely moving as I could not stop pondering about the experiences you have endured. At this moment, I am researching child soldiers for an English Project. If you have time, I would be grateful if you could answer some of my questions about what you went through. My email is surferdude.mai@gmail.com. Thank you.

Hi Ishmael. I know that you get a lot of requests for interviews/etc., but I was wondering if you could drop me a few lines with your opinion about how to keep innocent children out of war. I chose to read your book for history, and I'm so glad that I did. I admire and respect your courage in writing this book about such a tragic time in your life. You have shown that people can overcome anything and go on to have happiness in their lives. I am a single parent going back to school and reading your book has given me a great deal of encouragement. I would like to write an English essay about children who go to war, and I was hoping for anything you could tell me. Please e-mail me at: kh03140@georgiasouthern.edu or ph8245@aol.com

Thank you and God bless,
Kristina Harbaugh

Ishmael, I saw you speak at the genocide conference at Cal State Long Beach last year and I have read your book. I am now getting my masters in social work and writing my thesis as a grant to fund lacking services for the female child soldier survivors in northern Uganda, specifically those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have spent time in Uganda and Namibia and the needs of the people I met there are why I chose my profession. I am wondering if you would consider an interview with me for my thesis. A first-hand opinion of the services that worked and that were lacking in your experience as a child soldier survivor would be invaluable to this project. Please contact me if this is something you would consider. Kendra1082@yahoo.com

Hey Ishmael. I just finished reading your book for my english project. I couldn't believe how much you have been through. I am amazed of how strong your are and how smart you must have been in order to survive the war. I hope that you have luck in the rest of your life and I have one question that you hopefully answer. What is the real answer to the Monkey and the Hunter story at the very end? It has been bugging me for a long time. Thank you so much for writing this amazing book and have a great day.

Hi Ishmael! I am representing a human rights club at a high school in Stamford, CT. Many of us have read your book, and we deeply admire it. We are planning an event sometime this fall to raise awareness about the plight of child soldiers (we will watch the Invisible Children movie, read poems, and raise money), and since we are not far from New York City, we were wondering if you could come in and talk to us about your story. It will be our opening night, and with you there our human rights club would gather a lot of support. You have been an inspiration to us all, and I really hope you will be able to joing us. Please send me a message or e-mail me at sphansal@aol.com.

Thanks!
Ragini

I really love your book, I've read it several times and it has helped me keep going on. I'm so proud of you for staying strong. I'm grateful you are here on this planet. Thank you for telling your story Ishmael.