Characters
Nurse that helped Ishmael at the Benin House
Esther
Ishmael's nickname earned for his ability to blend in and effectively ambush enemies
Green Snake
RUF
Revolutionary United Front
Beah's hometown
Mogbwemo
Age of Beah when he first experienced war
12
Ishmael's brother
Junior
What Ishmael and his friends steal from a five year old boy in their desperation to find food.
Corn
Rescued Ishmael from the army
UNICEF
Where Ishmael meets Laura
New York City
What Laura gives Ishmael
a coat
Told Ishmael his forehead had lost its glow
Gasemu
What gift does Esther give Ishmael?
A Walkman and cassette
Crepes
Shoes
Where Ishmael, Junior, and Talloi are going for a talent show at the beginning of the book?
Mattru Jong
What saved Ishmael's life several times, both literally and figuratively?
Music
Ishmael's only remaining relative that takes him in from the Benin House after rehabilitation.
Uncle Tommy
What do the workers say that continuously angers Ishmael when he first arrives at the rehabilitation center?
"It's not your fault"
Ishmael Beah frequently uses this literary technique while telling his story.
Flashback
Freetown
Ishmael and several other characters recite pieces from this famous author.
Shakespeare
In Ishmael's nightmare, whose face was under the sheet?
Ishmael's
How does Ishmael's uncle die?
Illness
"How de body"
Where Mambu ends up
Back on the front lines; back to the war
How long was Ishmael a child solider?
2 years