My Titles.

Chapter 1.--- The Point of No Return.

For me, this chapter should be called like this because Ishmael left his village with his friends to never come back.

Chapter 2.--- Dreamworld Vs. Reality.

I believe this is an adequate title for what i can see in chapter 2. Ishmael relates his dream and how he struggles to see the difference between dream and reality.

Chapter 3.--- The Long Wait is Over.

Chapter 3 describes how Ishmael, his brother Junior and his friends are waiting in this village. They knew that the rebels would get to the village, but they were thinking that the rebels would get there soon; instead, the rebels took a long time and they caught everyone in the village by surprise. this is the reason what i think it should be called 'The Long Wait is Over.'

Chapter 6. --- Rap can Save Lives.

This title explains what happened in chapter 6. Ishmael is taken by the people in the village thinking that they were rebels. In a moment someone decided to check Ishmael pants and they found a cassette that contained rap music. The leader in the village ordered to play the cassette. after he listened to it, he let Ishmael and his friends leave. This is why I say: 'Rap Can Save Lives.'

Chapter 7.--- My Bro is Gone.

In this chapter is when Ishmael lost his brother Junior. This happened when the rebels attacked the village by surprise. Junior and Ishmael took different directions. This became the last time Ishmael was with a member of his close family.

Chapter 8.--- On My Own.

Ishmael experienced what is to be completely alone, surrounded by nature only. No one else to help him or to take care of him. This is why I name Chapter 8 'On My Own.' Ishmael had to take care of himself in order to survive in the forest.

Chapter 12.--- The Forced Transformation: from a kid to a soldier.

In this Chapter, Ishmael is given the 'forced choice' to join the army or to leave the village because the rebels had it surround it. What basically happened is that Ishmael had to change from this shy kid to a soldier just like Rambo.

Chapter 13.--- The Dark Side of My Childhood.

Chapter 13 relates the life of Ishmael as a soldier; the way he had to fight against the rebels for first time, how he killed them and how the rebels killed his friends.

Chapter 15.--- The Rejection of his Decision.

Ishmael rejects the decision the commander of the army group where he belonged. Ishmael cannot understand why did the commander chose him to be taken by UNICEF.


Chapter 20.--- The Life of a Child Soldier from My Own Perspective.

Ishmael traveled to the USA to talk in front of important people from different countries to let them know about the barbarities that are happening in Sierra Leone. This time Ishmael is telling this gentlemen the life of a child soldier from his own perspective and experiences.


Chapter 21.--- The Last Escape.

I believe this is a good title for all the experiences Ishmael went through throughout this chapter. I think these words reflect the last time Ishmael had to run away from his past, memories and war. He wanted to leave Sierra Leone to come to the USA to live with Laura.

Change?

I believe Ishmael Beah has stayed the same throughout the whole book. Why? for me, Ishmael has always been the kind of person who takes decisions and accept the consequences these may bring to his life. One example of this kind of attitude is when he chose to join the army. He knew there were only two options: kill the rebels who killed his family or try to escape and keep running away. The way I see he accepted the consequences this brought to his life was when he was in Benin home. Even if everyone told him "It was not your fault," he always knew inside him that it was himself who took the decision to join the army and that he accepted everything that he did.

Another example where I see that Ishmael takes decisions and that he accept them, is when he tried to leave Sierra Leone after his uncle died. Why? Laura told him he could live with her, but convince her was not the hardest part, it actually was leaving the country. He had first to travel to Guinea, he knew the trip was going to be dangerous. He knew that and still, he took the decision to try it, even if the chances were really slim. For me as a reader, I see that Ismael took the chance knowing that the consequence of not making it would be one of two: he would die trying or he would have to go back to the front lines.

These two examples make me believe that Ishmael was the same kind of person throughout the book; but, I think these examples work only for this aspect. I think that if we look other aspects of the way he behaved, we could see that he changed a lot.