Chapter 12
What village were the boys taken to after being captured by soldiers?
Yele
What recreational activities did the boy soldiers engage in during their day off before being sent to battle?
They played soccer and went swimming.
What is "brown brown," and what other substances did Ishmael consume to cope with his duties?
"Brown brown" is a mixture of cocaine and gunpowder; he also smoked marijuana and took white energy pills.
What was the age range of the boy soldiers recruited alongside Ishmael in Yele?
7 to 16 years old
How did watching his friends die affect Ishmael's performance during his first combat experience?
It stirred anger in him that allowed him to fight harder.
What physical symptoms did Ishmael experience while trying to adjust to village life in Yele?
severe daily migraines (headaches) and nightmares.
What were the boys given right before marching into the forest for combat, and what was its stated purpose?
They were given white pills to "boost their energy."
What did Ishmael do late at night to pass the time when the drugs caused insomnia?
He watched violent Rambo movies.
How did Ishmael's friends react when he sought comfort from them after their old clothes were burned?
They turned away from him in silence.
What did Ishmael and the corporal do to the dead bodies of his friends and rebels right after the battle?
They stripped the bodies of guns and ammunition.
What choice did the army give to the boys and men when rebels surrounded the village of Yele?
They had to either join the military forces and fight or leave the village (which meant certain death by the rebels).
Which two close friends of Ishmael were killed in his first battle?
Musa and Josiah
How did the army acquire more supplies, food, ammunition, and recruits when running low?
They raided rebel camps and attacked civilian villages to force young boys and men to join.
What contrast is described regarding daytime life in the village of Yele before the rebel siege?
It appeared to be an oasis of normalcy where children played soccer/marbles and parents tended to their kids, despite being flooded with orphans.
What did the soldiers do while watching the lieutenant torture rebels and slit someone's throat?
They cheered and enjoyed the violence.
What personal item of Ishmael's was destroyed when his old clothes were burned, and how did he react?
His cassette tapes of rap music were burned, leaving him both furious and terrified.
What did Ishmael notice on the dead bodies of the rebels that indicated they had raided local villages?
Necklaces and gold watches.
How did the lieutenant justify the military's actions over those of the rebels?
He claimed the military was fighting to defend the country, whereas the rebels killed without cause.
What specific firearm were the young boys trained to use in Chapter 12?
AK-47s.
How did the soldiers celebrate Ishmael winning the throat-slitting contest?
With more drugs and by watching more war movies.
What target did the army use to train the boys to kill with bayonets, and what reason were they given to fight?
They practiced on banana trees, and they were told that fighting was their only hope for revenge and justice for their murdered families.
What did Ishmael do when he woke up from a nightmare after his first battle, and how did the commanders react?
He began shooting his gun inside the tent; the corporal and lieutenant rushed in, splashed water on his face, and gave him more pills.
How did Ishmael win the throat-slitting competition, and what rank was he awarded?
He deftly sliced his prisoner's Adam's apple in a zigzag pattern with a bayonet in the shortest amount of time, earning the title of Junior Lieutenant.
What emotional state came over Ishmael immediately following the end of his first battle?
He felt completely numb.
What psychological tactic did the military leadership use to strip the boys of empathy toward the rebels?
They continually reminded the boys that the rebels killed their families and were inhumane, framing revenge as justice.