Chapter 1:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
What is Ishmael’s initial perspective on the war? How does he gain this perspective?
Why does Ishmael travel from his to the town of Mattru Jong?
Describe Ishmael’s relationship with his father and his step mother.
What news does Ishmael learn from teachers while he is Mattru Jong?
What do Ishmael and his friends decide to do? What makes them change their plans?
After reading the references to the moon on pages 16-17, summarize what the moon may symbolize.
Chapter 2:
1.) Describe Ishmael’s dream and interpret its possible meaning.
2.) This chapter makes references to two points of time in Ishmael’s life, which differ from where readers
left off in Chapter 1. Provide the details you learn about these other times and places.
3.) How does Ishmael react to his dreams?
Chapter 3:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
What messages do the rebels send?
Why are the inhabitants of Mattru Jong not anticipating the attack?
When Mattru Jong is attacked by the rebels what do the soldiers do?
Why do the rebels want to prevent women and children from fleeing?
Explain the significance of an RUF scar.
How do Ishmael and his friends escape?
Chapter 4:
1.) Why do the boys return to Mattru Jong? What do they find?
2.) Describe the suspenseful situation that occurs as they are leaving the village.
3.) Explain the irony of this situation: Ishmael and his friends are so hungry that they go to great lengths to
get money to buy food; however…
4.) At the end of the Chapter, how do the boys finally come by food?
Chapter 5:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
To what desperate actions are the boys driven to by hunger?
Describe the appearance of the rebels.
Summarize the rebels attempt at “recruitment.”
How are the boys able to escape?
Chapter 6:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
As the boys are traveling why do they decide to bypass most villages?
What causes the boys to be spared from harm by the chief and villagers?
How is Junior reacting to the trauma he’s faced? How has this changed his relationship with Ishmael?
Why do the boys travel to Kamator? What is life like in this village? How long do they stay?
Chapter 7:
1.) Based on the clues at the beginning of the chapter, what religion is practiced in the village? Use the
internet to search key terms if need be.
2.) How are Ishmael and Junior separated?
3.) For what reason may author Ishmael Beah have included the flashback on page 45 about the blessing of
his family home?
4.) Why do Ishmael and Kaloko part ways?
5.) How does the group that Ishmael meets while swimming react to him? Why may they react this way?
Chapter 8:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
What fears and hardships does Ishmael face in the woods?
Analyze what the memories of Ishmael’s family and his past show about their lifestyle and culture.
Who does Ishmael begin to travel with?
Summarize what occurs when they run into the old man at the end of the chapter? Why is the old man
alone in the village?
Chapter 9:
1.) How do the boys react to seeing the ocean?
2.) What do the villagers do to the boys when they first see them? Why do they do it, and how was it a
punishment?
3.) How does the unnamed fisherman help the boys? Why do you think he does this?
4.) Summarize what happens once the boys are captured by the villagers and the chief.
Ishmael (narrator)
Junior
Talloi
Mohamed
Gibrilla
Kaloko
Khalilou
Musa (Moo-sa)
Kanei (Con-ay)
Alhaji (Al-ha-gee)
Jumah (Joo-mah)
Saidu (Sigh-du)
Moriba (Moor-e-bah)