Monday, November 18, 2013

Fishbowl #3: A Long Way Gone, Chapters 7-10

A few reminders if you're looking for an A for the day:


(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.
(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).

(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.

(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


Remember also that you're welcome to get into a hotseat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

109 comments:

  1. On page (44) it says "The attack happened unexpectedly one night. There hadn't even been any rumors that the rebels were as close as fifty miles from Kamator. They just walked into the village from out of nowhere." How are the rebels able to come out of the shadows and just walk, uninterrupted into the village?

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    1. I think they were able to walk into the village unnoticed because like it says on page 44, "The attack happened unexpectedly." They were not expecting the attack therefore that allowed the rebels to just walk into the village freely.

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    2. People are probably to scared of them to stop them from doing what they are doing. They know that if they tried to do anything, they would just get killed.

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    3. It also says that it was 8:00 pm. It was probably dark outside and didn't or couldn't see them coming. It also says that they were doing the last prayer of the day so they weren't concentrated on the gate. so they were able to just walk in.

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  2. "My eyes widened, a smile forming on my face. Even in the middle of the madness there remained that true and natural beauty, and it took my mind away from my current situation as I marveled at this sight." pg 59. Do you guys think that this represents the courage and toughness Ishmael has to survive?

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    1. Yes, this quote shows that even in hell, the human being can find happiness, and use determination to simply survive.

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    2. I think that yes, it does show that he has courage and toughness but I also think that it shows that he is trying not to think about what is going on in the world around him and he is trying not to accept it.

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  3. In this story, think that violence seems to act as a motif. I think this is the reason why we have feelings for the characters in the book, we see the horrors that these people go through, and as readers we develop feelings for them.

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  4. What is Ishmael trying to say when he says," I became frustrated with living in fear."

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    1. I think he is trying to say that he is mad and annoyed that he always has to be afraid and that he lives in fear.

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    2. I think he is trying to interpret how long he has been on the run and scared from the rebels that he just wants to go back to normal life. If you have had that feeling of fear and all you see is people dying around you, it would take its toll.

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    3. Maybe Ishmael was done with this war and wanted peace. Having to be alert all the time, to have a fear of dying.

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    4. I believe it means he is tired of running away so much from the rebels who are razing villages across the country.

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    5. Ishmael is very annoyed with him self that he has become so afraid. He is also living in his fear every day so he cant just eliminate it. I think he means that he is tired of being so scared, and he knows his fear will never end.

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  5. on page 75,ishmael says something about a “name-giving ceremony” what does that mean?

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    1. It sounds like a ceremony where they sort of give people their nicknames. Like in native american culture they do the same thing.
      Example: Little Bear or Water Jar Boy

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  6. In chapter 7 Ishmael is separated from everything, do think this was bad or good for him?

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    1. I think getting separated was a bad thing for Ishmael. He found that the forest was a good and safe place for him but he stayed in the forest too long and didn't know how to act around other people anymore.

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    2. I think Ishmael being on his own allowed him to survive longer than being in a group where its more people that the rebels can get to and you can be louder and easier to get caught.

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  7. On page 45 he says "I had no time to go look for him, since the attack was sudden, but instead had to run into the bush alone. That night I slept by myself, leaning on a tree. How do you think Beah felt knowing that something could of happened to Junior, he could of been captured or killed? How was he able to sleep without worrying?

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  8. At the end of page 80 it says, "One afternoon, while searching for food in a deserted village, a large crow fell out of the sky." Did Ishmael use the crow to foreshadow evil?

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    1. I think that the crow does forshadow evil that could be coming even geater later on in the book.

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    2. Yes they took it as a bad omen. It sort of is though because you know some bad stuff is going on when the birds start dropping from the sky.

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  9. On page 70 it says "How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety?" What do you think the significance of this quote is, is is foreshadowing?

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    1. I think that this may symbolize that they might encounter more deadly situations before they are safe again.

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    2. They are curious to if this war will ever stop and they can stop running.

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  10. At the end of Ch. 8, the boys meet an old man in a village who says, “‘My children, this country has lost its good heart. Years ago, you would have been heartily welcomed in this village. I hope you boys can find safety before this untrustworthiness and fear cause someone to harm you” (p. 56). What does he mean and how did he help Ishmael and his friends?

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    1. It is talking about how nobody can trust anyone because they don't know for sure if they are rebels or not, and if the boys don't find somewhere to live soon the war will reach it's peak and there will be nowhere else to live at that point.

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  11. On page 50, Ishmael is walking for now 3 days and he comes up to a tree with a stream by it and a snake. If all you have in those 3 days in water, why doesn't he try and kill the snake for food?

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    1. Maybe it represents his sanity and if he kills it for food and eats it it will also destroy his sanity and he will lose it and go insane.

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  12. Danny
    I believe that it wasn't a coincidence because, they want to attack them in surprise so i think they planned this so they didn't expect it.

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  13. I think ishmael is tired of living with this fear of death. He is constantly walking along, finding new and abandoned villages, and surviving as best as he can. He begins to wonder why he is still alive, and if it is even worth it to keep moving on. He then thinks of his family, and it strives him to continue.

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    1. I think he has no other choice but to live in fear. He always talks about how scared he his and how much he doesn't want to die. So I believe that he isn't tired of living in fear e just embraces it.

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    2. I think the true reason as to why he fights, is to simply honor his family.

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  14. On page 50 Ishmael says "Birds came to this strange food every morning, I decided to try it because it was the only edible thing around." In this book food has been a huge factor in Ishmael's journey. Will this become a even greater facor throughout the book and will this cause big problems?

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    1. I think it just shows that Ishmael is becoming desperate for food. Anyone that isn't in a situation like Ishmael would eat only what they knew, but Ishmael is in a more of a survival situation, so I think he would eat anything.

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    2. I think that food will become a larger problem, because as the book goes on food is decreasing. When people are hungry their mind does crazy things, and violence will occur. People will fight or maybe kill each other for food.

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    3. Yes i think some real crazy stuff will go down in the future in the name of food. Food is some valuable stuff as we can see.

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  15. On pg. 49 it says, “Often, my shadow would scare me and cause me to run for miles. Everything felt awkwardly brutal.” This shows that he has been traumatized by the violence he has witnessed. Do you guys think that he will get more traumatized?

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  16. Is there any abstract symbolism in the action taken by Ishmael when he goes off on his own in chapter 8?

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  17. On page 47 is says "I hadn't laughed for a long time, but this made me laugh uncontrollably. I could have written a science pager on the experience." When he says that he could write a science paper on the experience is he saying that because it's, so strange and he really doesn't know what's going on? Also, is he laughing, because in a way he is humiliated in himself for not being able to do something that he has done so many times before? That's just what I think, I also kinda think that he just is so emotionally shocked over all that is going on, that climbing a tree just seems so pointless.

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    1. On page 67 it says "I didn't enjoy it, and for the first time I found myself thinking about the words of the song, closely listened to the subtle instruments in the beat." This can connect to him being a DJ but does this show that he likes what he is listening to or does he not like it?

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  18. On page 44, the narrator speak of an attack. "The attack happened unexpectedly one night......They just walked into the village from out of nowhere." Imagine what life would be like under circumstances like these. Could you live under these circumstances, living with such constant fear?

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    1. If I lived under this circumstances I would eventually get tired of running from the rebels and I would eventually fight back if I didn't have any other choice.

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  19. He begins to truly realize how much of a survivor he has learned to become. He begins eating strange fruit that birds all around would eat. He gets worried however, because many things in sierra leone can be poisonous, so he looks around for herbal remedies that he was taught while he was younger by his grandfather, just in case he had a bad reaction

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  20. On page 66 the rebels say "you children have become our little devils, and you came to the wrong village." This quote is saying how all the rebels are dangerous and they are worse devils, and their recruits are baby devils. They came to this village to learn the ways of the worse devils and become one of them.

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    1. Ryan on page 66 the Village chief captures them because they don't trust teenagers anymore due to the events that have happened, that is why he refers to the as the little devils because the chief thinks they go around and commit even though they are innocent.

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  21. Do you guys think Ishmael has forgotten his family because what he is going through? He is more so worried about surviving and getting somewhere safe or is he worried that his family and friends are safe.

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    1. I think he might not have forgotten them but doesn't concentrate on remembering them when he was fighting.

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  22. On page 49 It says, "I felt like someone was after me. Often my shadow would scare me and cause me to run for miles. Do you guys think that Ishmael is developing a type of paranode mind?

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    1. I think anyone in that situation would become paranoid. I mean with all you've seen and everything that you know about the rebels capturing boys and making them become soldiers and just fearing for your life, so yeah I guess he's becoming paranoid, but anyone in that situation would.

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  23. Why do the rebels only recruit young kids or teenagers, rather than adults?

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    1. Because they are easier targets to kidnap and also they are easier to persuade because they will probably believe anything you say when they are kids but adults will realize what you are trying to do and won't do it.

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    2. I think the rebels only recruit young kids and teenagers because they maybe stronger, they wouldn't know better when the rebels give them drugs, or the adults if they are smart enough, they could over power the rebels.

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    3. I think they only recruit teenagers because they are young and have a lot more energy than an adult would have. Also everyone is scared of child soldiers.

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    4. I think that they do this because they are easier to manipulate, these young boys have less experience and their minds can easily be controlled. To the boys, at first it seems like a good deal for them so they agree, while adults are mature enough to realize its a very bad thing.

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    5. I think that they do this is because like Michael said they are easy targets compared to the adults also I think that the adults would know better and try to rebel ageist them so that they could escape and I think that they know that. Also I think that the adults would know better then to follow these people and to take the drugs that they gave them because then they would know they would get addicted.

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    6. I agree with Michael that they're easier to catch. Also I think they know the kids don't know a lot, they don't really have morals. It's like that saying "you can give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Or you can teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life." I think they're giving the kids the fish by saving there life, but that they give them all a gun and teach them how to protect themselves. Than they start to give them drugs and make them want to come back to influence them they are doing the right thing.

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    7. They recruit young teens rather than adults because they are smaller, they can get around a little easier and little more agile than adults

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  24. On pg. 59 it says, “ Even in the middle of the madness there remained that true and natural beauty, and it took my mind away from my current situation as I marveled at this sight.” Do you think that nature will take Ishmael's mind off of bad things throughout the book?

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  25. On page 54, Ishmael remembers his father saying, "If you're alive, there is hope for better day and something to happen. If there is nothing left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die." Is Ishmael beginning to lose hope?

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  26. on page 60 what is this quote saying?“I became frustrated with living in fear. I felt as if I was always waiting for death to come to me, so I decided to go somewhere where at least there was peace. Kaloko was afraid to leave… I said goodbye to everyone and headed west.”

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  27. I think he is using the nature to represent the bad that is to come. When the birds get quiet, sky gets dark, sun is hidden, and is very noise I think he uses this to predict the future or to foreshadow.

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  28. On page 66, Ishmael says "I wanted to, but I was unable to cry." What do you think keeps him from showing emotions?

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  29. Do you think Junior is actually still alive? or is it just false hope?

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    1. I think Junior is still alive, because he is very smart and athletic and he knows how to survive and hide from the rebels.

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  30. Do you really think that lady saw Junior and Ishmael’s parents?

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  31. Do you think the village we saw in chapter 10 will be razed by the rebels? Why?

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  32. Will Ishmael ever know a family again? I feel like that is the weakest part about him. He wants to be with his family so bad. With that said after the war is over do you think that he will find some sort of a family?

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    1. I think all he desires, is a companion that simply cares for him.

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  33. Brandon
    I think that since he is wanting to find Junior he will get reckless and will get captured. He is stunned by everything that going on and wants out. I think that he will try very hard to find his family and junior because that's all he has left. He has nothing to lose.

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  34. Do you see this story more as a war, or the rebels abusing and capturing innocent people?

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    1. I think that the rebels started out fighting a war, but they have become brutal, savage killers.

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  35. "One of the unsettling things about my journey, mentally, physically, and emotionally, was that I wasn't sure when or where it was going to end. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. I felt that I was starting over and over again." p. 69 Do you think this quote show his inner grasp of hope start to diminish?

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  36. On pg. 55, he meets up with another group of boys. He is wary to the fact that a group as large as 7 is a big problem and is bound to get seen. He doesn't say anything about it, however. I think this is interesting because of how long ishmael had been alone, and how much time he's had to think about other people. "I just didn't want to be alone anymore" is what he admits too. He would rather risk the lives of all of them rather than being alone, and it shows how hard a child's heart is in a war.

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  37. Do rebels have a better life compared to the people who are trying to survive, and hide from them?

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    1. I think they do because they have shelter, water, food where the people that are trying to survive are living in trees, bushes, they have to drink from rivers, lakes, and eat fruits from trees.

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    2. In some ways yes and in others no. For them, they know they are more safe and they have power over many people, so they can get what they want. However, everyone also hates them and their ideas.

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  38. Is it strange that the boys keep getting labeled as boy soldiers? Why?

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    1. I think it is a type of foreshadowing that is going to happen.

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    2. I think everyone is just scared because of what they have seen and they don't know who they can trust.

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  39. Do you think that surviving alone, or with a group is better. With a group you have to care for each other and worry about more problems where with yourself you only have to take care of yourself. With shelter, water, food.

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    1. I think as a survival out look you're better on your own, as long as you know what you're doing. On the other hand you would start to get lonely. When your alone you start to get drastic thoughts especially when you think you have lost all you're family you start thinking things like "what's the purpose of living." When you're with a group of people you would feel needed.

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  40. On page 70 his friend, Saidu, says: “How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety?…. Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am.”…. Beah continues: “Tears formed in my eyes and my forehead became warm, thinking about what Saidu had said. I tried not to believe that I too was dying, slowly, on my way to find safety.”

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  41. On the first page of Chapter 10, the book reads, "One unsettling thing about my journey, mentally, physically, and emotionally was I wasn't sure when or where it was going to end." The constant fear of being attacked or losing more people he cares about was taking everything out of his being and life under these circumstances sound almost unbearable.

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  42. Going back to Danny's question about Ishmael being lonely affecting him. I believe that Ishmael is really being affected by being so lonely because the book keeps talking about how him being lonely is even more taxing about his physical distress. Ishmael's loneliness will end up being a deciding factor in him being captured, maybe he will be captured just to feel part of something?

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  43. Wouldn't it be better to be in a group of people than to be alone?

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    1. I think that depends on where you are. When your in the forest by yourselves, yes I think it is better to be in a group. But to be in a group of teenage boys in a populated area, people could view you as a group pf boy soldiers it can be bad.

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    2. With more people you have to worry about a bigger amount of food, a bigger shelter for them to hide. Being alone you only have to worry about a hiding sot for yourself and food for yourself.

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  44. I like how much they try to live up to the moment. They are all discouraged in one way or the other, but they still attempt to make some part of the day a little happy. It is a wonderful thing how they are still able to keep a good surviving attitude especially with whats going on, and its even more impressive with the age that they are at. On pg. 62, they tease their friend Kanei about how often he would stop at a lake to fix his hair, especially in the mix of things, they are still trying to hold onto their humanity.

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  45. In chapter 9 the chief hears the boys listening to music and realizes they couldn't be soldiers and they were just children, so he let them leave in peace. Do you think music will save their lives again in the book?

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  46. LONELINESS
    I believe that this doesn't help him. He has no one to calm him down from doing something dumb. I think that this will cause him to do something he regrets but before someone captures him or someone helps him. I do think that loneliness has saved him because he doesn't attract rebels.

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  47. Have you guys ever felt that like Ishmael is captured in a way and when he is actually captured its kinda like being saved?

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  48. What do you predict will happen next? Will Ishmael ever find somewhere that he doesn't have t live in fear anymore?

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  49. Do you think that they are losing hope throughout the chapters because they don't think that they will survive?

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    1. Yes, I think they are losing hope because it seems like almost everything is going against them. However, this doesn't mean they are not going to stop trying to find a place where they can escape the madness.

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  50. In response to Tom's question about fear turning to frustration, I think that after a certain amount of time of living in fear of your life, you become tired of it and begin to get angry. After a point, you do not want to live in constant fear of death.

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  51. On pg. 81 it says, “ Sometimes night has a way of speaking to us, but we almost never listen” What do you think this quote may mean or symbolize? How do you think it relates to the characters in the book?

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  52. I am wondering if they will ever be caught by the rebels? I think he won't, but rather take up on the opportunity with a resistance group to fight them back. I hope he doesn't grow into a drug addiction either, but I feel as if any side that he ends up being on will make him do drugs. I am not sure why they get into these addictions, but I think it makes them more fierce and fearless. I hope that we will see more courage and bravery emit from these children, and maybe they will eventually be saved.

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    1. The dreams he had in the first few chapters makes me think that he gets forced into being a soldier. The horrific things that he was forced to do traumatized him for many years to come and I don't think he could bring himself to volunteer to do that.

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  53. On page 67 it tells about the 7 boys and how people think that they are boy soldiers how do you think that this will effect them later in the book do you think people will keep trying to kill them?

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  54. On page 70, Saidu speaks. Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, a part of me dies. Very soon I will be completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you." This quote is very powerful. Saidu's experiences have almost killed him mentally. He isn't the same person he was in the beginning of the book.

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  55. On page 49 Ishmael says "My body twitched with fear, and I became dizzy. I could see the leaves on the tree swaying, but couldn't feel the wind." What do you think this is trying to represent?

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    1. I think it is trying to represent sickness, confusion, maybe a little paranoia in his mind.

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  56. When I was very little, my father used to say, "If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die." p 54 Do you think this quote shows that Ishmael has hope resting inside his heart?

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  57. Does fear lead to desperation? Or is it the other way around?

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  58. My thinking on what was happening in Chapters 11-14 was in Chapter 11 Ishmael's family died to the rebels. He went on with rage filled sorrows and joined the Sierra Leone army as a young boy. He very quickly gets addicted to "brown brown", which is cocaine mixed with gunpowder. He takes white pills and smoked marijuana. The rage of his family's death puts all of the hatred that could be brought out against the rebels. The war scenes are very violent with Ishmael cutting people's throats and shooting his opposition with his AK. Although the young boy is a soldier on drugs, he still has feelings of fear and of his lost family as he is fighting. The drugs take away all of his control though and make it so all of the corrupt boys will fight to their deaths. The Rebels and Army are against each other, but when someone compares the two opposing sides, they really are not that different and very similar. The boys do not only kill but raid and steal from the villages they infiltrate. I really think that Ishmael will become heavily addicted to the drugs he has been given and that will mess with his head as well as the sounds and images of war.

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  59. These chapters seem a lot more important now that we are up to chapter 19. Ishmael is constantly losing faith, whether it be being beat up, or starving, or falling ill. Ishmael is pushed to his absolute limit in these chapters, almost to a point where he will kill to survive. At this point in the story, it seems as if his childhood is completely over. Eventually he will see that he is not truely living if this were to keep up. He almost seems to wish death would come quicker, to escape this reality he had been thrown into. The boys will probably end up fighting each other and seperating, or band together and fight to survive.

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