Bite of the Mango
Jun 2010 · A&C Black
4.3star
3 reviewsreport
eBook
224
Pages
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About this eBook
An astonishing story of one girl's journey from war victim to UNICEF Special Representative.
'Never less than riveting ... notable for its emotional honesty' Globe and Mail
As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry.
But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence they cut off both her hands.
Stumbling through the countryside, Mariatu miraculously survived. The sweet taste of a mango, her first food after the attack, reaffirmed her desire to live, but the challenge of clutching the fruit in her bloodied arms reinforced the grim new reality that stood before her. With no parents or living adult to support her and living in a refugee camp, she turned to begging in the streets of Freetown.
In this gripping and heartbreaking true story, Mariatu shares with readers the details of the brutal attack, its aftermath and her eventual arrival in Toronto. There she began to pull together the pieces of her broken life with courage, astonishing resilience and hope.
'Never less than riveting ... notable for its emotional honesty' Globe and Mail
As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry.
But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence they cut off both her hands.
Stumbling through the countryside, Mariatu miraculously survived. The sweet taste of a mango, her first food after the attack, reaffirmed her desire to live, but the challenge of clutching the fruit in her bloodied arms reinforced the grim new reality that stood before her. With no parents or living adult to support her and living in a refugee camp, she turned to begging in the streets of Freetown.
In this gripping and heartbreaking true story, Mariatu shares with readers the details of the brutal attack, its aftermath and her eventual arrival in Toronto. There she began to pull together the pieces of her broken life with courage, astonishing resilience and hope.
Ratings and reviews
4.3
3 reviews
A Google user
- Flag inappropriate
5 January 2012
Mariatu had very little to worry about, untill armed rebels changed her life forever. The rebels some younger than herself, cut of Mariatu hands with no good reason at all. I have not finished the book but so far it is pretty good. The intensity gets scary at times. I would recomend this book for people 12 or older. At least.
A Google user
- Flag inappropriate
19 May 2012
True stories are always the best.
About the author
Now 21 years old, Mariatu Kamara is a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts. She lives in Canada. A documentary about her life is currently in development.
Susan McClelland is an award-winning journalist and recipient of the 2005 Amnesty International Media Award. She lives in Toronto.
Susan McClelland is an award-winning journalist and recipient of the 2005 Amnesty International Media Award. She lives in Toronto.
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