Journal 6 Michael McGinnis

1. Esther for me is someone in the book who made a big difference for me. She had shown so much care and love to someone who she didn’t even know. It felt as while Esther learned more about Ismael we learned more about him and it was awesome to see that in the book. When Esther started wanting and making Ismael come to the therapy sessions and start talking to her. At first he didnt want to but then she kept pushing him  and making him come and after a while Ismael found a bond with her. That was when he really started to open up about everything. I thought that was a big impact on Ismael.

2. I think that with a lot of work and a lot of talking it is possible to rehabilitate from this. It wouldn’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination but with trained professionals and people who will care and help you. It is very possible for someone to rehabilitate from this. I would accept him into my neighborhood. He has had medical help and if he were to tell you his story you would realize that this was a young boy who quickly turned into a solider and know just wants to be a kid again. I would let him move into my neighborhood. 

3. I think that Beah does a really good job with his dialogue. He makes you able to visualize and picture in your head what he is saying. He adds so much detail it feels like you are right next to him. He tells his story tremendously and makes you think about what he is saying. Then not only make you think but then follow it with a visualization in your head. That is a good writer to me.

4. My favorite passage from the book A Long Way Gone would be from chapter 6 when Ismael tells us the following "Some heard rumors of about young boys being forced to kill their families and burn their villages"(Beah 37). That had a big impact on me because even if that rumor isn't true it's tough to think and hear about stories like that. Then to think and say that people are scared of 12 year old boys is sad, they are all still kids.