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Major characters
Ishmael Beah- the main character and narrator, he is a son and a brother from
Mogbwemo, a village in Sierra Leone. Over the course of a few years, he becomes a child soldier for the country's army. Later he is saved by men from UNICEF and brought to a rehabilitation center, where he learns how to heal and forgive himself.
Alhaji- One of Ishmael’s closest friends. Ishmael met him in the woods; he is from Mattru Jong. They later became part of the same squad in the war. His nickname was "Rambo" because of his intense fighting skills. Both Alhaji and
Ishmael were taken in by UNICEF and brought to the same rehabilitation center.
After the book finished, it is said that Alhaji moved around to different foster homes frequently.
Esther- A nurse at the rehabilitation center. She formed a very close bond with
Ishmael, he trusted her with all of his war stories and she helped him get better.
She did regular check-ups on Ishmael’s mental health while he was there, and bought him a Walkman. Ishmael admits that he loved her, but never sees her again after he leaves the rehab center.
Uncle Tommy- Ishmael's father's brother. He is a carpenter in Freetown and is very religious. He is a generous man and offers Ishmael a home. He talked a lot about Ishmael's father and all the memories he has. Uncle Tommy is significant because he provides Ishmael with love and a sense of future.
Minor Characters
Kanei, Musa, Moriba, Jumah, and Saidu- Ishmael’s friends from his home village, he meets them in the wilderness. Saidu is the first to die after he eats a crow. Kanei is the oldest by three years; he becomes junior sergeant but is chosen to stay behind. Musa is the group storyteller; he is killed in the first battle. Jumah becomes part of the army but is assigned to a different village. Moriba is also killed during a battle.
Junior Beah- Ishmael's older brother by one year. He is very protective of his younger brother. Eventually gets split up from Ishmael and their friends, reunited with his family, and later the village he is staying in gets attacked.
Laura Simms- She is a storyteller in New York City who believes the kid's stories need to be heard. She truly cares about the fate of these children and stays in touch with Ishmael as he returns to Sierra Leone. As times get tough back home for Ishmael, Laura adopts him and he comes to live with her in New York
City. Laura's compassion allows Ishmael to trust people again.
Information from http://calliejirikalongwaygone.weebly.com/character-list.html
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Chapter 1
Refugee (5) –
Fatigue (5) –
Malnourishment (5) –
Plagued (5) –
Mesmerize (6) –
Vendors (8) –
Verandah (9) –
Embedded (17) –
1. What 2 other boys is Ishmael with as the story opens?
2. What is the name of Ishmael’s village?
3. To what village do the for boys travel for the talent show?
4. At what boy’s house are they when they hear of the attack on
Ishmael’s town?
5.
Describe the scene from Ishmael’s eyes as he tries to return to their village. List at least three disasters he witnesses.
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6. What was Ishmael fascinated with and was advised to “strive” to be like?
Chapter 2
Mangled (18) –
7.
What did Ishmael dream? Whose body is he burying?
8.
What 3 worlds did Ishmael live in during these times?
Chapter 3
Popularized (21) –
Agitating (22) –
Intervention (24) –
Recruit (24) –
9.
What does RUF stand for? Who were these people?
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10.
What did Ishmael realize about what gives a town life?
11.
How did the rebels attack Mattru Jong?
12.
How did Ishmael and his friends escape from the ambush on Mattru Jong?
13.
What did they do to new recruits to prove that they belonged to the RUF?
Chapter 4
Cassava (26) –
Substantial (27) –
Congealed (28) –
Predicament (29) –
14. How many, including Ishmael, escaped the attack on their village?
15.
Why did the boys have to try and return to Mattru Jong?
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16. Describe the gruesome sight that made Ishmael vomit?
17. What was more important than the rice that Ishmael found under the bed?
18.
Why were the boys not able to buy food at nearby villages?
19. According to Ishmael, what was a “typical aspect of being in the war?
Chapter 5
Remorse (31) –
Obstacles (31) –
Engulfed (31) –
Scabbard (31) –
Interrogate (32) –
Initiate (34) -
20.
How does Ishmael describe the hunger he feels?
21.
Why was Ishmael appalled at the way the rebels were treating the elderly man?
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22.
Why did the rebels laugh at the old man after the shots were fired?
23.
How did Ishmael and his five friends escape? What distracted the rebels just as they were about to kill the boys?
Chapter 6
Bypass (37) –
Parables (38) –
Vigilance (40) –
Cutlass (42) -
24.
Why were people terrified of young boys Ishmael’s age?
25.
According to Ishmael, what was a “consequence of the civil war” and the way people related to each other?
26.
How did the rap cassettes save the boys’ lives at one of the villages?
27.
What affection did Junior show Ishmael in the past?
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28.
Where were the six boys appointed watchmen in exchange for food and shelter?
29.
Describe Ishmael’s memories of farming.
30.
Does the village get attacked? Do the boys get separated?
Who does Ishmael lose at that point?
Chapter 7
Vigorously (44) –
31.
Whom do the rebels burn in the village?
32.
Why did Ishmael decide to leave the safety of the swamp?
33.
How long was Ishmael on the path before he found others?
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34.
Why didn’t the family help Ishmael get to the sea?
Chapter 8
Medicinal (51) –
Indelibly (51) –
Suppressed (52) –
Notorious (53) –
Sonority (54) –
Flogged (55) –
35.
When Ishmael walked for three days, what did he finally find to eat?
36.
Describe the memory Ishmael has of his brother Junior in
Kabati. What was the name of the magic potion? What was its power?
37.
According to Ishmael, what is the worst thing about loneliness?
38.
What type of animal attacked Ishmael in the forest? Briefly retell the myth of the wild pig.
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39.
Ishmael’s father used to say, “If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will ___________. “
40.
How many boys does Ishmael find along his journey?
41.
Why does the old man who helps them tell the boys it is not necessary to remember his name?
Chapter 9
Deviated (58) –
Flotsam (59) –
Disconsolate (65) –
Inevitable (67) –
42.
What did the boys stumble upon that sounded like the roar of big engines?
43.
What punishment did the fisherman village give to the boys
(what part of their clothing did they take)?
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44.
Describe the pain and suffering of walking without shoes.
What did their feet look like?
45.
Give a brief description of each of the six boys with Ishmael:
Musa –
Kanei 
-
Alhaji 
-
Juma 
-
Saidu 
-
Moriba -
46.
What tribe was the man from who helped heal the boys?
47.
Why did the men from the village come to get the boys?
48.
What surprising thing did Ishmael do when he was captured?
Why?
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49.
What again saves the boys from being killed?
Chapter 10
Lagged (69) –
50.
What does Ishmael say was one of the most unsettling things about his journey?
51.
Summarize what Saidu says about dying on page 70.
52.
What was Ishmael’s nickname from his grandmother and why?
53.
Describe Ishmael’s story of his birth ceremony on pages 75-
77.
54.
Retell how each boy became a refugee:
Musa -
Alhaji -
Kanei -
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Jumah/Moriba 
-
Saidu -
55.
What fell out of the sky that the boys ate?
56.
What did the boys think were above the bridge at night (the 3 figures)?
57.
Who dies in this chapter?
58.
Why is Ishmael hopeful?
Chapter 11
Stagnant (90) –
Perplexed (90) –
Transfixed (91) -
59.
What was the name of the man who they meet along the way to find their parents?
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60.
What good news does this man give Ishmael?
61.
What happens when they stop to rest on the hilltop from carrying the bananas?
62.
How does Ishmael react when he sees the village destroyed?
How do the other boys react?
63.
In his younger years, what did Ishmael learn about grown men and crying?
Chapter 12
Tributary (101) –
Jubilation (102) –
Countenance (110) -
64.
What was different about the soldiers at Yele, as well as Yele itself?
65.
What does Ishmael share with the Lieutenant about
Shakespeare?
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66.
Why were the young boys recruited for this army?
67.
It is likely that the Army, instead of rebels, killed man and child in this chapter. Why would the army kill innocent people then show the young recruits?
68.
What happened to Ishmael’s cassettes when he was given his new uniform?
69.
What was the first gun Ishmael was given?
70.
How did the Lieutenant start to brainwash the youths by the banana trees?
Chapter 13
Capsules (116) -
Piercing (118) –
Massacre (119) –
71.What were the direct orders of the corporal regarding whom to shoot (pg. 115)?
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72.What were the “white tablets” supposed to do for the boys?
73.What was ironic about the way that Josiah and Sheku had to carry their guns?
74.Was Ishmael able to shoot during his first attack as an army soldier?
75.Which two of Ishmael’s friends die?
76.Why was Ishmael not afraid of the lifeless bodies? What was happening to him?
Chapter 14
Informants (122) –
Prompted (124) –
77.
List the types of drugs the soldiers took. What is brown brown?
78.
Why did the army attack civilian villages?
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79.
What did the drugs do to the boys?
80.
Even though Ishmael says he shot as many as he could, why do you think he didn’t feel better?
81.
Describe the Lieutenant’s speech to the civilians. Was he being honest with them?
82.
Why was it easy for Ishmael to slit the prisoner’s throat?
83.
What is the one thing that Ishmael could not do at night?
Chapter 15
Abundance (128) –
Rehabilitation (135) -
84.
Finish this sentence: “My ___________ was my family, my
___________ was my provider and __________, and my
___________ was to kill or be killed.
85.
How long had the fighting gone on at this point in the memoir?
86.
What happened to Ishmael when UNICEF came?
87.
Why was Ishmael so angry to be taken away?
88.
At the base, describe how the boys treated the UNICEF staff.
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Why did they treat them this way?
89.
Who plucked a boy’s eye out at the camp?
Chapter 16
Infuriating (138) –
Traumatized (151) –
90.
What did the boys do when the nurses came to set up medical appointments with the boys?
91.
What did the boys do all day, only to stop for meals?
92.
Why do you think the workers keep telling the boys, “It’s not your fault?” How does Ishmael react to this phrase?
93.
Why did Ishmael finally have to go to the hospital?
94.
How did Ishmael get the nickname “Green Snake” when he led an attack on a village?
95.
What kind of flashbacks were the boys having that made them tie up the UNICEF workers?
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96.
What did the boys start to sell that was given to them at the camp?
97.
To what city did the boys travel? Describe some of their adventures (the bus ride, the ice cream, the buildings).
98.
Why did the boys eventually start going to class?
99.
Notice how Ishmael has been telling his memoir as a series of flashbacks. What effect does this have on the story?
Chapter 17
Delved (155) –
Burdensome (165) –
100.
Why did Ishmael like being alone (Page 153)?
101.
What did Ishmael think was the reason people befriended each other?
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102.
What did Esther give Ishmael as a present?
103.
What was Ishmael’s response to the present?
104.
Describe how Ishmael received the bullet wounds. Describe the ordeal with his foot and what the army had to do to save
Ishmael’s life.
105.Describe the relationship being built between Ishmael and
Esther.
106.
How were the counselors learning so much about the boys and their likes/dislikes?
107.
Who finally made Ishmael believe that all of this was not his fault? Why did he finally believe it?
Chapter 18
Monologue (168) –
Redemption (169) –
108.
Who were the visitors that came to watch the boys perform?
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109.
What did Ishmael perform?
110.
What did Ishmael always tell people about children?
111.
What childhood friend arrived at the camp? Describe their reunion.
112.
If none of Ishmael’s relatives were found, where would
Ishmael go?
113.
What only known relative did Ishmael know might be alive? Did he believe that Leslie could find him?
114.
What was Ishmael’s response when he saw his uncle? What convinces Ishmael this is his uncle?
115.
Why do you think that Ishmael felt unworthy to go live with his uncle?
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Chapter 19
Repatriated (179) –
Ablution (182) –
Intricate (189) –
116.
What fears does Ishmael have about being repatriated to his uncle’s home?
117.
Where did Allie take Ishmael? How was the experience for
Ishmael?
118.
Why did Ishmael stop dating Zainab?
119.
Why were the other boys at the interview laughing at
Ishmael?
120.
What reason did Ishmael give as to why he should be chosen to speak at the UN?
121.
What was Ishmael’s family’s response to him leaving for
New York?
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Chapter 20
Initiation (197) –
122.
Two things – the cold and snow – really shocked Ishmael.
Why?
123.
Describe the and Ishmael’s first night at the Vanderbilt
YMCA.
124.
Did Ishmael enjoy the food in America?
125.
Why did Ishmael like Laura Simms so much?
126.
What did Laura do for Ishmael and Bah?
127.
Describe the Children’s UN conference. What was the main point of the conference?
128.
Summarize Ishmael’s speech to the UN.
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Chapter 21
Utility (209) –
129.
Who was now living with Ishmael?
130.
What happened on May 25, 1997?
131.
Who was the new government?
132.
Describe the scene when Mohamed and Ishmael went to get food.
133.
Describe how Ishmael’s uncle died.
134.
Why was Ishmael so desperate to stay with Laura? What was his biggest fear?
135.
By what means of transportation did Ishmael escape?
136.
What was the name of the town the bus took the passengers?
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137.
What did the immigration officers take from the passengers so they could cross the country? Why was this so upsetting to Ishmael and others?
138.
What happened to the people who could not pay the bribes?
139.
Where did Ishmael end up at the end of the chapter?
140.
What was his answer to the monkey riddle?
Study questions adapted from http://central.hinsdale86.org/departments/speced/Documents/Summer%20Reading%20Guides/A
%20Long%20Way%20Gone%20Study%20Guide.pdf
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