Nonfiction of the Week for August 24: The Bite of the Mango

Nonfiction Book for August 24: The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara

Here's an inspirational book for all you Word Out readers. Mariatu Kamara was twelve years old when a violent civil war broke out in her native Sierra Leone. A once happy and stable life spent with an extended family in a peaceful, vibrant village became a nightmare when rebel soldiers, some of them no older than she, killed or seriously injured everyone she knew and cut off both her hands.

Through sheer strength of will, Mariatu made her way to help and recovered in a hospital set up for amputee casualties of the war in the country's capital city of Freetown. There, Mariatu reunited with some of her family members but was soon dealt another blow when she discovered she was expecting a baby that she would have to support by begging on the streets.

Her journey from the streets of Freetown to a stable life Toronto is described in this emotionally stirring, beautiful, and hopeful book.

Helena is a teen librarian, but she reads widely - everything from teen coming-of-age stories to Agatha Christie to picture books about cars with her one-and-a-half year old son Lucas.

Comments

[David]

I like nonfiction war books. They're really interesting.

[billy]

I like war books

[K]

i like nonfiction too... which appearantly seems strange to some people. The thing is that sometimes fiction seems so unrealistic. (Emphasis on the sometimes).
I also like that you can learn facts while picking up a story. you don't get lost so much when reading the newspaper and stuff.

[Lola]

this reminds me of a book i had to read @ school, it was called "The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill, it was a really good book, similar to this one, but it was really sad and also insperational so, yea...it was good though, sad, but really good

[Lola]

i wonder how the mango fits into all this....

[Julia]

i really enjoy reading these types of books
hope its not too sad D:

[Karen]

The Bite of the Mango sounds like an interesting read! It's not a book I would pick up normally, but I think I'll give it a try! Thanks for the suggestion.

[Jenny]

I try this book, since i like the cover of the book

[Edmee]

"The Bite of the Mango" is a fantastic book! The writing style has a really honest tone. Not only is Mariatu's story revealing and inspirational, but it's also very captivating.

Mariatu is also really admirable; after going through so much, she was still able to recover from the traumas of rape, war, poverty, etc. and find a happy life in Toronto. Now THAT's amazing.

This book is an awesome one. Go, give it a try!! :D

[D]

That's a really sad book.

[Edward]

This book looks really good. Nonfiction books are really good. The book "A long way gone" is about a child soldier from Sierra Leone. Its definetly one of my favorite war books.

[Julie]

Absolutely phenomenal story. It's makes you really think about how fortunate you are to be growing up not being caught in wars and poverty. My friend gave me the book after suggesting it and I have to say it is probably the best Nonfiction book I have ever read. Go Mariatu! She was such a brave girl!