A LONG WAY GONE
Brought to you by the
Common Reading Experience
Photo Credit: John Madere
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
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2014 K CREW LEADERS WITH A LONG WAY GONE
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October 21, 2014 | A Long Way Gone | Common Reading Experience
A LONG WAY GONE
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
PHOTO WINNER
In A Long Way Gone, Beah, tells a riveting story. At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. Eventually released by the army and sent to a UNICEF rehabilitation center, he struggled to regain his humanity and to reenter the world of civilians, who viewed him with fear and suspicion. This is, at last, a story of redemption and hope. The book was named one of the Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2007 and has since been translated into over 40 languages. Ishmael serves as an advisory board member of the Center for the Study of Youth & Political Violence at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a former visiting scholar at the Center for International Conflict Resolution at Columbia University; a senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University; cofounder of the Network of Young People Affected by War (NYPAW); and president of the Ishmael Beah Foundation.
BAILLIE
FIRST-YEAR
LEMONT, IL
R: ENGLISH
ANNOUNCING THE 2014 QLC CONTEST WINNER
PATHWAYS TO REATIVITY IN THE L ARTS COLLAGE
And the winner is: Sommer
Cade | Architecture | Louisville, KY
Quote: “’We strive to be like the moon… she explained that the adage served to remind people to always be on their best behavior and to be good to others. She said that people complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot, and also when it rains too much or when it is cold. But, she said, no one grumbles when the moon shines. Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way.’ (p. 16). This is my favorite quote form the novel. It resides in chapter one but, it stuck with me through the whole book. The grandmother is right, no one complains when the moon comes out. We all love the presence of its eerie glow and we never judge its appearance or its effect on us. I took this quote as a life lesson.”
KATE CARMAN YEAR: SOPHOMORE
OMETOWN: DANVILLE, KY
Life Lesson: “The kindness of strangers can work miracles. The lives of the boys and the entire book could have been completely different if it weren’t for the kindness of strangers. This skill is slowly diminishing as the years go on and I hope to possess this skill.”
UMAN HEALTH SCIENCES
Character: “Musa was my favorite character because he reminded me of myself and because he was full of courage. It takes bravery to show optimism in a bad situation, especially if it is surrounding your life.”
Recommend A Book Nominate a great book that you think could unify the UK community through the Common Reading Experience. Your Name: Title of the Book: Author(s) of the Book: Or nominate a book through our website, www.uky.edu/NSPP/CRE.
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Thank you for your recommendation!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DECISION FOR CHOOSING THE BOOK
Tuesday, October 28 | A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
“A Long Way Gone is a captivating account of an all-too-prevalent, but oft-forgotten wartime violence involving children. This novel will undoubtedly instill a global perspective in its readers, and lead them to be more aware and active global citizens.”
Ishmael Beah Author Lecture: Followed by a book signing, 7pm in the Singletary Center Concert Hall. Sponsored by the Office of New Student & Parent Programs.
Saturday, November 1 | CRE Road Trip Series: A Long Way Gone Free field trip to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH to explore issues of modern-day slavery.
– Jordan Keeton, Student
Contact Christine Leistner for more information christine.leistner@uky.edu. Sponsored by the Center for Community Outreach.
“The author of A Long Way Gone is not much older than our students, yet his life story and their life stories are entirely different. This juxtaposition will build awareness and empathy in those who are not dealing with such traumatic experiences, while simultaneously reminding the students of the importance of family, friendship, perseverance, and hope.”
Tuesday, November 4 | CRE Faculty Lecture Series Dr. Jeremy Popkin presents on “Ishmael Beah and the Art of Life-Writing,” 2:30- 3:30pm, W.T. Young Library Alumni Room. Sponsored by the Office of New Student & Parent Programs.
Tuesday, November 11 | Volunteer and Service Opportunity Panel The panel features representatives from the Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Peace Corps, Doc-
– Brandi Frisby, Assistant Professor, College of Communication and Information
tors Without Borders, and UK’s Alternative Service Breaks, 5:30 – 7 pm, W.T. Young Library multipurpose room. Sponsored by the Center for Community Outreach, Honors Program, &
“A Long Way Gone is going to be a great book for students for several reasons. It will intrigue them with its movielike reading while at the same time engaging them with issues of power, survival, transitions, persistence, belonging, and the strength of humanity. Every student should be able to find something within this story they can connect to.”
the Office of New Student & Parent Programs.
November 2014 | King Center Diversity Project : Just Because…Doesn’t Mean An impactful, interactive activity that invites students to not only explore the stereotypes of their own culture, but also encourages students to learn about the stereotypes of others. The visuals from the activity will be displayed in the King Center as a multicultural exhibit during the fall semester. Sponsored by the Martin Luther King Center.
– Zach Fuqua, Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Studies
December 8-12 | A Long Way Here: Your Personal Pathway Collaborative interpretation of A Long Way Gone created by students from the UK CORE
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
course, Pathways to Creativity through the Visual Arts, exhibited in the sculpture park at the Art Museum at UK. Sponsored by Art Education, School of Art and Visual Studies, & the
University of Kentucky
College of Fine Arts.
Division of Student Affairs
Open Dates | Community Service Projects To learn more about community service projects focused on issues discussed in the book, visit www.ukcco.org. Sponsored by the Center for Community Outreach. If you are interested in partnering with the Common Reading Experience program on an event related to A Long Way Gone, please contact us at commonreading@lsv.uky.edu
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October 21, 2014 | A Long Way Gone | Common Reading Experience