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Quali mani asciugheranno le mie lacrime?
Quando in Sierra Leone la guerra civile raggiunge il culmine, la piccola Mariatu ha dodici anni. Da un giorno all'altro le sue giornate spensierate a Magborou, il tranquillo villaggio in cui vive, sono stravolte dalla minaccia rappresentata dai ribelli armati, che incendiano, devastano, torturano e uccidono. Per sottrarsi ai loro attacchi è costretta a cercare rifugio nella boscaglia con la sua famiglia, dove ben presto le provviste iniziano a scarseggiare. Nel disperato tentativo di procurarsi cibo in un villaggio vicino, Mariatu viene sorpresa dagli insorti. Molti di loro sono suoi coetanei, ma non meno spietati degli adulti. I bambini soldato la costringono ad assistere a orrori e violenze inimmaginabili, per poi offrirle la libertà in cambio di un'atroce "punizione". "Quale mano vuoi perdere per prima?" le chiede il capo dei guerriglieri. E il suo machete scende con violenza sui polsi della bambina amputandole entrambe le mani. Miracolosamente Mariatu riesce a mettersi in salvo in un ospedale, dove scoprirà di portare in grembo - lei, così giovane - il frutto di una violenza sessuale. E solo la prima tappa di un lungo cammino che la farà ricongiungere alla sua famiglia in un campo profughi, che la porterà a mendicare per le strade di Freetown, e poi, finalmente, a fuggire dall'inferno per l'intervento di un'organizzazione umanitaria grazie alla quale volerà fino in Canada.
205 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2008
163 people are currently reading
5465 people want to read
About the author
Mariatu Kamara
25 books37 followersMariatu Kamara was born and raised in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Her harrowing experiences as a child victim of war and its aftermath are the subject of her memoir, The Bite of the Mango (2008).
Today, Mariatu is a college student in Toronto. She was named a UNICEF Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, which involves speaking to groups across North America about her experiences. Prior to her UNICEF engagement, Mariatu spoke publicly for the nonprofit group Free the Children. She has also traveled extensively speaking to high school students and organizations about her physical and emotional journey from a child victim of war in Sierra Leone to a successful author, public speaker and student in Canada. She was recently honored in New York City with a Voices of Courage award given by the Women’s Refugee Commission.
Her professional goals for the future include working for the United Nations, raising awareness of the impact of war on children, and running her own foundation to raise money for a home, and eventually many homes, for abused women and children in Sierra Leone. She is also planning on reuniting several members of Aberdeen’s theater troupe, which she credits with her personal healing. She would like to make this an ongoing project so that she can share with youth the peacekeeping skills that she is learning through her own work with UNICEF and others.
In her spare time, Mariatu likes to listen to music, cook, shop, talk on the phone, watch movies, and go to parties. Most of the time she likes to stay home with family and be with her close friends. She is torn between her love of Sierra Leone and Toronto. She wishes she could live in both places at the same time.
Today, Mariatu is a college student in Toronto. She was named a UNICEF Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, which involves speaking to groups across North America about her experiences. Prior to her UNICEF engagement, Mariatu spoke publicly for the nonprofit group Free the Children. She has also traveled extensively speaking to high school students and organizations about her physical and emotional journey from a child victim of war in Sierra Leone to a successful author, public speaker and student in Canada. She was recently honored in New York City with a Voices of Courage award given by the Women’s Refugee Commission.
Her professional goals for the future include working for the United Nations, raising awareness of the impact of war on children, and running her own foundation to raise money for a home, and eventually many homes, for abused women and children in Sierra Leone. She is also planning on reuniting several members of Aberdeen’s theater troupe, which she credits with her personal healing. She would like to make this an ongoing project so that she can share with youth the peacekeeping skills that she is learning through her own work with UNICEF and others.
In her spare time, Mariatu likes to listen to music, cook, shop, talk on the phone, watch movies, and go to parties. Most of the time she likes to stay home with family and be with her close friends. She is torn between her love of Sierra Leone and Toronto. She wishes she could live in both places at the same time.
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💌03/01/24
This one is going to be a special read cuz my dad recommended this to me💞 The last book he read with his late best friend years ago. So I finally get the chance to read this one now. Also, this is going to be my 100th read in GR😌✋🏻if we exclude all the books I read when I was in school which I don't remember Hopefully this true crime book takes me out of my reading slump🤞🏻💕
💌03/01/24
This one is going to be a special read cuz my dad recommended this to me💞 The last book he read with his late best friend years ago. So I finally get the chance to read this one now. Also, this is going to be my 100th read in GR😌✋🏻
May 10, 2019
Mariatu Kamara grew up in a remote village in Sierra Leone with her aunt and uncle. The civil war raging in neighbouring Liberia spilled over to Sierra Leone and the 12-year old girl was eventually caught up in the war, losing both her hands. This is the story of how Kamara faced up to her losses during the war and how she overcame the challenges facing her to make a good life for herself and for others.
The RUF attacked anyone who was not with them and cut off their hands so that they couldn't vote (WTF!), the election slogan of the President being 'Power is in your hands'. The book is heartwarming and for me, the crowning moment was when Kamara met Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier turned activist. His book is a classic on the Sierra Leone war and he inspired Kamara to tell her own story.
But despite it's obvious interest, I found the narrative very remote from the reader. Kamara's voice doesn't often come through clearly. The worst part was when a social worker sits down Kamara and goes through the history of the country with her. It's such a cringeworthy contrived device! A lot of explanations were overly simplified, so I wish Kamara never attempted it in the first place.
One thing that sadly stood out was that it was the war that set Kamara free, despite the loss of her hands. She was going to be sold off to a friend of her aunt and uncle who basically also raped her. If the war hadn't happened when it did, I don't see how Kamara could have had a future. Other girls didn't get this opportunity and still face these restrictions. Kamara's narrative that she would simply have married her childhood sweetheart is simply delusional and sad.
I was quite annoyed at the end where the was a piece about how traditional village life that respected women so much has been destroyed by the war. I just wish people would stick to facts and not romanticise in such books. I suppose Kamara got raped and had no control over her life because she was oh, so respected! No doubt life became worse but according to the descriptions in this book, the respect was non-existent in the first place.
I'm glad that Kamara has made a good life for herself where she can make her choices and is helping others too. But let's not forget all those other people in Sierra Leone who are still struggling with corruption, lack of infrastructure, violence, and patriarchy.
The RUF attacked anyone who was not with them and cut off their hands so that they couldn't vote (WTF!), the election slogan of the President being 'Power is in your hands'. The book is heartwarming and for me, the crowning moment was when Kamara met Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier turned activist. His book is a classic on the Sierra Leone war and he inspired Kamara to tell her own story.
But despite it's obvious interest, I found the narrative very remote from the reader. Kamara's voice doesn't often come through clearly. The worst part was when a social worker sits down Kamara and goes through the history of the country with her. It's such a cringeworthy contrived device! A lot of explanations were overly simplified, so I wish Kamara never attempted it in the first place.
One thing that sadly stood out was that it was the war that set Kamara free, despite the loss of her hands. She was going to be sold off to a friend of her aunt and uncle who basically also raped her. If the war hadn't happened when it did, I don't see how Kamara could have had a future. Other girls didn't get this opportunity and still face these restrictions. Kamara's narrative that she would simply have married her childhood sweetheart is simply delusional and sad.
I was quite annoyed at the end where the was a piece about how traditional village life that respected women so much has been destroyed by the war. I just wish people would stick to facts and not romanticise in such books. I suppose Kamara got raped and had no control over her life because she was oh, so respected! No doubt life became worse but according to the descriptions in this book, the respect was non-existent in the first place.
I'm glad that Kamara has made a good life for herself where she can make her choices and is helping others too. But let's not forget all those other people in Sierra Leone who are still struggling with corruption, lack of infrastructure, violence, and patriarchy.
September 1, 2014
After a happy childhood in a Sierra Leone village, Mariatu Kamara's life took a tragic turn in 1999. The innocent girl was raped by an older man in her village. Then rebels attacked during the Civil War, killing and torturing people. The cruel rebels, many just young boy soldiers, hacked off both of her hands before heading out to destroy the next village. Twelve-year-old Mariatu managed to walk miles to get help, and found that several of her cousins had met the same fate.
Mariatu tells how they coped in an amputee village, going out begging in the streets so they could buy food. Relatives stayed with them in the tent village, cooking and caring for them. Mariatu's story had been publicized by journalists, and she was eventually helped by generous people in England and Canada. She learned English in Toronto, eventually attended college, and became a UNICEF representative.
The book was written in simple language, and would be suitable for high school students and adults. Mariatu does not go into graphic detail about her injuries so even squeamish people should be able to read this book. I wish she had gone into a little more detail about how she adapted to living without the use of hands, and whether she finally decided to use prosthetic devices. I also would have found it interesting if she had included a little more about the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002). Although Mariatu probably did not know anything about the politics of the Civil War as a child, she was a college student when she wrote the book with a journalist.
The Bite of the Mango was an inspirational story about a resilient girl. I admire the work she was doing as a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts. She was spreading the word about the conditions in Sierra Leone, trying to obtain help for other victims.
Mariatu tells how they coped in an amputee village, going out begging in the streets so they could buy food. Relatives stayed with them in the tent village, cooking and caring for them. Mariatu's story had been publicized by journalists, and she was eventually helped by generous people in England and Canada. She learned English in Toronto, eventually attended college, and became a UNICEF representative.
The book was written in simple language, and would be suitable for high school students and adults. Mariatu does not go into graphic detail about her injuries so even squeamish people should be able to read this book. I wish she had gone into a little more detail about how she adapted to living without the use of hands, and whether she finally decided to use prosthetic devices. I also would have found it interesting if she had included a little more about the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002). Although Mariatu probably did not know anything about the politics of the Civil War as a child, she was a college student when she wrote the book with a journalist.
The Bite of the Mango was an inspirational story about a resilient girl. I admire the work she was doing as a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts. She was spreading the word about the conditions in Sierra Leone, trying to obtain help for other victims.
June 17, 2012
This ia a harrowing tale and one can't help but admiring Mariatu's indomitable spirit to overcome & endure all that she has in her relatively short life.
But as for the actual writing/relating of the story..., I skimmed through some earlier reviews and noted two couple of comments that resonated with my experience reading this memoir.
1) Surprisingly, I didn't feel as emotionally engaged as I expected I would be. I think this was in part for me because there were chunks of time that were skipped over in a sentence or two.
2) While the begining of the book was told in a clear simple style, which worked well with the very young age she was at that time, as her experiences piled on, her world expanded, and she grew up, the 'voice' remained relatively young. There was very few moments more mature awareness or deepened perceptions or more sophisticated epiphanies. I ultimately felt there was a lot of glossing over things/events/emotions/opinions and spent a lot of time puzzling out those 'gaps' and the associated whys/hows instead of being caught up in the active narrative.
Just few more things I mulled over after reading that I found distracted from my total immersion in the book:
People who appeared or disappeared in with just a short sentence or two. In many cases they'd either been gone or had entered Mariatu's life weeks or month earlier.
Also felt that there was a disengagement on some levels in the telling of events, which was the crux of my own lack of emotional involvement. And a few places where there was heavy exposition that I wasn't sure were true discussions that acutally happened, or were info dumps for the reader's benefit.
Still this was a book that was eye-opening, distressing and absolutely worth the reading and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so.
But as for the actual writing/relating of the story..., I skimmed through some earlier reviews and noted two couple of comments that resonated with my experience reading this memoir.
1) Surprisingly, I didn't feel as emotionally engaged as I expected I would be. I think this was in part for me because there were chunks of time that were skipped over in a sentence or two.
2) While the begining of the book was told in a clear simple style, which worked well with the very young age she was at that time, as her experiences piled on, her world expanded, and she grew up, the 'voice' remained relatively young. There was very few moments more mature awareness or deepened perceptions or more sophisticated epiphanies. I ultimately felt there was a lot of glossing over things/events/emotions/opinions and spent a lot of time puzzling out those 'gaps' and the associated whys/hows instead of being caught up in the active narrative.
Just few more things I mulled over after reading that I found distracted from my total immersion in the book:
People who appeared or disappeared in with just a short sentence or two. In many cases they'd either been gone or had entered Mariatu's life weeks or month earlier.
Also felt that there was a disengagement on some levels in the telling of events, which was the crux of my own lack of emotional involvement. And a few places where there was heavy exposition that I wasn't sure were true discussions that acutally happened, or were info dumps for the reader's benefit.
Still this was a book that was eye-opening, distressing and absolutely worth the reading and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so.
March 1, 2022
This book was good and I liked it👍
October 22, 2009
Mariatu Kamara was born in the country of Sierra Leone, a city wracked by civil war from 1999 - 2002. The rebel army made strong use of child soldiers, a trend that many people know about as a result of A Long Way Gone an incredibly moving book by Sierra Leonean Ishmael Beah. He was one of the boy soldiers.
Mariatu on the other hand was just an 11-year-old girl when her village was attacked by the rebels. The village was destroyed, many of the villagers were tortured and/or killed, the surviving citizens fled into the countryside before finding sanctuary in refugee camps, and she had her hands cut off by the rebels.
She, and many children like her, were left as symbols to the country's leadership about what the rebels could accomplished. Mariatu fought through the pain and, with the help of someone from a nearby villager, found her way to a clinic. From there, she receives treatment before ending up in a refugee camp near Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
Readers join her as she tells her harrowing journey. It is an internal one in which she is confronted with being a victim of war and in which she seems to lose everything including her family. It is also a physical one in which she travels from her village and on to Freetown before trips to London and Toronto give her access to education and prosthetics.
It is an amazingly moving memoir of young lady who has faced adversity and proved that she can survive. It is well-written, though presented in very simple prose. In the process, it captures her bruised innocence, which has evolved and developed into a strong will to do everything she can to fight for the rights for the youth and women victims of war.
I thought this was incredibly inspiring. Mariatu has faced so much difficulty because of what was happening in her country. To make matters worse, people made assumptions about her because of where she was from and her experiences. I had trouble putting it aside even as my bedtime came and went.
Mariatu on the other hand was just an 11-year-old girl when her village was attacked by the rebels. The village was destroyed, many of the villagers were tortured and/or killed, the surviving citizens fled into the countryside before finding sanctuary in refugee camps, and she had her hands cut off by the rebels.
She, and many children like her, were left as symbols to the country's leadership about what the rebels could accomplished. Mariatu fought through the pain and, with the help of someone from a nearby villager, found her way to a clinic. From there, she receives treatment before ending up in a refugee camp near Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
Readers join her as she tells her harrowing journey. It is an internal one in which she is confronted with being a victim of war and in which she seems to lose everything including her family. It is also a physical one in which she travels from her village and on to Freetown before trips to London and Toronto give her access to education and prosthetics.
It is an amazingly moving memoir of young lady who has faced adversity and proved that she can survive. It is well-written, though presented in very simple prose. In the process, it captures her bruised innocence, which has evolved and developed into a strong will to do everything she can to fight for the rights for the youth and women victims of war.
I thought this was incredibly inspiring. Mariatu has faced so much difficulty because of what was happening in her country. To make matters worse, people made assumptions about her because of where she was from and her experiences. I had trouble putting it aside even as my bedtime came and went.
December 9, 2021
If there is one thing a man should pray for is PEACE. Story of Mariatu shows how one's life can change within a minute. She lost her hands after been cut of by child soldiers in a sierra leone civil wars! Her journey from the village up to Canada is tearful!
November 8, 2015
I wanted to like this book more than I did and I feel a little bit bad about this review in advance. There are a few reasons why I didn't really connect with it as much as I'd hoped to and they are mostly based on what my initial expectations of the book were. Perhaps the fault lies more with me than with the writer, nevertheless, it's my personal review.
1. The history buff in me had hoped for a bit more background and insight to the civil war in Sierra Leone at that time. As it were, the book was very vague and simplistic when addressing the issues. Though, it is fair to say that perhaps this is in direct reference to the common, rural people of Sierra Leone not fully understanding the conflict themselves. However, for the sake of the book and it's readers, it would have been helpful to have.
2. The whole England portion of the book kind of rubbed me the wrong way. It's very hard to dislike (even that is too strong of a word, for me) somebody who has clearly suffered so much, but it is that suffering that had sort of led me to believe that Mariatu would have been a little bit more grateful for the opportunity she was given to leave the war-torn country she grew up in. The England portion of this book felt like complaint after complaint to me.
3. Based on the description, I'd expected more of the book to be about how she had adjusted to a life without her hands. To be frank, it's kind of her shtick (for lack of better word) and probably a pretty large reason why the book was published in the first place.
That said, I do sympathize with all the struggles and hardships faced and did enjoy, for the most part, reading about the strength it took to overcome it and find a way to live a better life. It was a very quick read and I do feel like I can connect a little bit more with a people that I knew little about previously.
1. The history buff in me had hoped for a bit more background and insight to the civil war in Sierra Leone at that time. As it were, the book was very vague and simplistic when addressing the issues. Though, it is fair to say that perhaps this is in direct reference to the common, rural people of Sierra Leone not fully understanding the conflict themselves. However, for the sake of the book and it's readers, it would have been helpful to have.
2. The whole England portion of the book kind of rubbed me the wrong way. It's very hard to dislike (even that is too strong of a word, for me) somebody who has clearly suffered so much, but it is that suffering that had sort of led me to believe that Mariatu would have been a little bit more grateful for the opportunity she was given to leave the war-torn country she grew up in. The England portion of this book felt like complaint after complaint to me.
3. Based on the description, I'd expected more of the book to be about how she had adjusted to a life without her hands. To be frank, it's kind of her shtick (for lack of better word) and probably a pretty large reason why the book was published in the first place.
That said, I do sympathize with all the struggles and hardships faced and did enjoy, for the most part, reading about the strength it took to overcome it and find a way to live a better life. It was a very quick read and I do feel like I can connect a little bit more with a people that I knew little about previously.
December 5, 2010
Wars in Africa and everywhere in the world have taken their toll on the innocents - women, children, the elderly.
The stories we are told often leave us in tears and the atrocities people experience at times of conflict are often unimaginable.
In this novel, Mariatu Kamara tells her story of living through conflict in Sierra Leone and how she escaped to Canada to start a new life.
She grew up in a small village and lived peacefully among family and friends. But rebel attacks soon got closer and closer to her village and the young girl, her cousins and extended family were often forced to flee into the forest of nearby villages to escape the rebels.
Stories were rife about what would happen if you were caught by the rebels. Nothing prepared her for the day she was caught.
Both her hands were cut off and she was left to die. It changed her life forever. Mariatu, however, had an indomitable will to go on and this is the story of her survival.
A theatre group at a refugee camp for amputees starts her healing process and it culminates in her writing this novel with Susan McClelland.
It is a moving and passionate story, despite its matter-of-fact narrative. It is a story of courage, resilience and ultimately hope. - Meneesha Govender
The stories we are told often leave us in tears and the atrocities people experience at times of conflict are often unimaginable.
In this novel, Mariatu Kamara tells her story of living through conflict in Sierra Leone and how she escaped to Canada to start a new life.
She grew up in a small village and lived peacefully among family and friends. But rebel attacks soon got closer and closer to her village and the young girl, her cousins and extended family were often forced to flee into the forest of nearby villages to escape the rebels.
Stories were rife about what would happen if you were caught by the rebels. Nothing prepared her for the day she was caught.
Both her hands were cut off and she was left to die. It changed her life forever. Mariatu, however, had an indomitable will to go on and this is the story of her survival.
A theatre group at a refugee camp for amputees starts her healing process and it culminates in her writing this novel with Susan McClelland.
It is a moving and passionate story, despite its matter-of-fact narrative. It is a story of courage, resilience and ultimately hope. - Meneesha Govender
August 4, 2021
Many years ago, I had read Ishmael Beah’s powerful ‘A Long Way Gone.’ It remains one of the most moving books on war I had ever read. But for some reason, I had associated Beah’s book with Sudan, not Sierra Leone. So, I thought I was reading my first book set in Sierra Leone when I picked up ‘The Bite Of The Mango.’
My memory and its tricks.
Kamara’s story is so gut-wrenching - raped at 12 - and then has her arms cut off by boy rebel soldiers. I have no idea where human beings find the resilience to cope with these horrors, but Kamara does. The book is not pleasant reading - but it’s a memoir - and Kamara presents an almost journalistic lens to the horrors of the Sierra Leone civil war. The war may have ended, but its scars remain. I don’t care about narrative PoVs or tone or depth or the quality of the writing for this book. It’s Kamara’s story and we should be grateful she is sharing it at all.
My memory and its tricks.
Kamara’s story is so gut-wrenching - raped at 12 - and then has her arms cut off by boy rebel soldiers. I have no idea where human beings find the resilience to cope with these horrors, but Kamara does. The book is not pleasant reading - but it’s a memoir - and Kamara presents an almost journalistic lens to the horrors of the Sierra Leone civil war. The war may have ended, but its scars remain. I don’t care about narrative PoVs or tone or depth or the quality of the writing for this book. It’s Kamara’s story and we should be grateful she is sharing it at all.
September 28, 2012
"The Bite Of The Mango" is an inspiring book of a young girl who had to go through so much as a child and growing up. With a lot of suffering and pain.This book might be graphical for those who might not like violence. but most of all, it teaches you a life lesson.
It teaches you to keep going forward in life even if it might be hard and to never give up when you think your world is going to collapse on you. Mariatu Kamara, was a 12 naive year old girl, who dint know much about the world, when child soldiers cut both of her hands off. Imagine that happened to you?
She felt like giving up, but then her life turned around for her. She moved to the u.s were she made a new life there trying to give a remedy to the scars in her life made.
overall, this book was amazing,
It teaches you to keep going forward in life even if it might be hard and to never give up when you think your world is going to collapse on you. Mariatu Kamara, was a 12 naive year old girl, who dint know much about the world, when child soldiers cut both of her hands off. Imagine that happened to you?
She felt like giving up, but then her life turned around for her. She moved to the u.s were she made a new life there trying to give a remedy to the scars in her life made.
overall, this book was amazing,
May 20, 2019
A heroine tells a harrowing story of surviving torture by child soldiers during the Sierra Leone war. Rebels were rampaging small villages. Residents were fleeing as they came nearer however hundreds were captured and either murdered or had their hands machete’d off. The details of this horrific event can not be summarised further. This is an important story which needs to be heard from the survivor’s words alone. My heart weeps.
I recommend this book to all people. I think this book would be essential reading in the high school curriculum for senior students.
I recommend this book to all people. I think this book would be essential reading in the high school curriculum for senior students.
July 17, 2019
I don't know how this one slipped past me and I haven't read it, so I'm glad I pulled it off the shelf to read this summer.
It's a slim book, but a powerful story and while the narrative seemed a little stilted, the story remains the same-- the trauma of war in Sierra Leone completely took away the hope of Kamara until she was able to find it again with a dose of resiliency and knowing that people were listening all across the globe to the atrocities of civil war in her country.
Kamara's hands were cut off by the rebel group as a way to "force" people to not vote, but Kamara wasn't even a teenager and didn't even know what/who a president was. She was also raped by a man hoping to take Kamara as a bride. She birthed a boy named Abdul and while he did die before his first birthday, she wanted to make sure the story was told-- she was not raped by the rebel soldiers who cut off her hands- this was a familiar rape-- but one that she didn't comprehend until people gave her words for it.
The book discusses religion, female genital mutilation, family dynamics including men take multiple wives, friendship, perseverance, and Ishmael Baeh. And while it provides enough information to understand the war, I think it could have been fleshed out for the unaware who are seeking to learn.
It's a slim book, but a powerful story and while the narrative seemed a little stilted, the story remains the same-- the trauma of war in Sierra Leone completely took away the hope of Kamara until she was able to find it again with a dose of resiliency and knowing that people were listening all across the globe to the atrocities of civil war in her country.
Kamara's hands were cut off by the rebel group as a way to "force" people to not vote, but Kamara wasn't even a teenager and didn't even know what/who a president was. She was also raped by a man hoping to take Kamara as a bride. She birthed a boy named Abdul and while he did die before his first birthday, she wanted to make sure the story was told-- she was not raped by the rebel soldiers who cut off her hands- this was a familiar rape-- but one that she didn't comprehend until people gave her words for it.
The book discusses religion, female genital mutilation, family dynamics including men take multiple wives, friendship, perseverance, and Ishmael Baeh. And while it provides enough information to understand the war, I think it could have been fleshed out for the unaware who are seeking to learn.
August 22, 2023
I’ve read a lot of books about child soldiers and the war but I’ve never read one that followed the journey from war, to refugee camp, to what happens next. This book really opened my eyes into what happens after. Loved it and didn’t want it to end, I’d love to see where she is at now!
December 19, 2020
Heartbreaking and inspiring.
August 21, 2017
This is a story that deserves to be read.
January 29, 2024
In the book “The Bite of the Mango” by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland is about the author Mariatu and her past during the Sierra Leone Civil War. At the age of 12, Mariatu was sent to fetch food from a nearby village where she met rebels, and they brutally cut off her hands. While on a journey to seek support, Mariatu finds a mango and decides to take a bite of it. Biting the mango symbolizes her determination to savor life, find moments of joy, and regain her strength despite the hardships she faced. With her resilience, she began an unimaginable journey to start a new life.
The 2 adjectives I would use to describe this book as whole are “inspiring” and “vivid”. I picked the adjective inspiring because Mariatu Karama got her hands chopped off by rebels when sent to get food from a nearby village. Even with no hands, Mariatu still finds the strength to begin a journey for a new life. I chose vivid as the other adjective because of how the author describes Mariatu's experiences during the Sierra Leone Civil War. It was easy to imagine Mariatu’s fear, pain, and hope throughout the book because the author is the main character, so every feeling was genuine.
What I learned from this book is that a strong community and connections are important for mental strength because in the book Mariatu received emotional support from family, friends, and neighbors. They comforted her and some of them were able to empathize with Mariatu because they have similar or the same stories of their sufferings. The communities also taught her skills like sewing and that played role in regaining strength mentally.
I wished they added some context because I don’t know much about the Sierra Civil War and with additional context, it would help me further understand why Sierra Leone during the time of Sierra Leone Civil War time was so violent and brutal. I want to understand the motives of the rebels, but the book doesn’t really explain it. I feel like Some readers may desire more information about the broader context in which Mariatu's story takes place. This could include details about the causes of the conflict and the historical background of Sierra Leone.
The implication of this book is found through Mariatu Kamara’s decision to write this book to share her story about her experience, the war, important people she met, and the outcome of war. The message we can get from this book is that she may not have hands, but she does have a voice. That voice was able to tell readers that hope is always there, even the lowest point of someone's life.
I personally think that activists would love this book for many reasons. The first reason being that some activists that advocate for the protection of human rights may find the book interesting because the talks about the brutality of war and how it leaves many injured. Secondly, there are many activists that can relate and empathize with Mariatu’s story. They would know how Mariatu felt at that time emotionally and mentally. Finally, activists that understand the power of storytelling in raising awareness, building empathy, and advocating for change will appreciate the book because the story comes from the main character.
I liked the quote “Something in me had changed. I knew now that I could look forward and back—without any regrets—at the same time.” The quote talks about capturing the moment of self-awareness and transformation in Mariatu. She embraced her past and can now move on with new strength, resilience, and a story to tell.
The 2 adjectives I would use to describe this book as whole are “inspiring” and “vivid”. I picked the adjective inspiring because Mariatu Karama got her hands chopped off by rebels when sent to get food from a nearby village. Even with no hands, Mariatu still finds the strength to begin a journey for a new life. I chose vivid as the other adjective because of how the author describes Mariatu's experiences during the Sierra Leone Civil War. It was easy to imagine Mariatu’s fear, pain, and hope throughout the book because the author is the main character, so every feeling was genuine.
What I learned from this book is that a strong community and connections are important for mental strength because in the book Mariatu received emotional support from family, friends, and neighbors. They comforted her and some of them were able to empathize with Mariatu because they have similar or the same stories of their sufferings. The communities also taught her skills like sewing and that played role in regaining strength mentally.
I wished they added some context because I don’t know much about the Sierra Civil War and with additional context, it would help me further understand why Sierra Leone during the time of Sierra Leone Civil War time was so violent and brutal. I want to understand the motives of the rebels, but the book doesn’t really explain it. I feel like Some readers may desire more information about the broader context in which Mariatu's story takes place. This could include details about the causes of the conflict and the historical background of Sierra Leone.
The implication of this book is found through Mariatu Kamara’s decision to write this book to share her story about her experience, the war, important people she met, and the outcome of war. The message we can get from this book is that she may not have hands, but she does have a voice. That voice was able to tell readers that hope is always there, even the lowest point of someone's life.
I personally think that activists would love this book for many reasons. The first reason being that some activists that advocate for the protection of human rights may find the book interesting because the talks about the brutality of war and how it leaves many injured. Secondly, there are many activists that can relate and empathize with Mariatu’s story. They would know how Mariatu felt at that time emotionally and mentally. Finally, activists that understand the power of storytelling in raising awareness, building empathy, and advocating for change will appreciate the book because the story comes from the main character.
I liked the quote “Something in me had changed. I knew now that I could look forward and back—without any regrets—at the same time.” The quote talks about capturing the moment of self-awareness and transformation in Mariatu. She embraced her past and can now move on with new strength, resilience, and a story to tell.
February 21, 2019
The Bite of the Mango is a very interesting book, it entails a story of tragedy and redemption. Something that is often not understood as well in western culture. Mariatu Kamara is a young Sierra Leone girl who lives in the small village of Magborou. If you Don't want to hear to much about it then you should stop reading now. //SPOILERS AHEAD//. After being sent to another village for supplies, the rebel forces attack. During this attack, Mariatu loses both of her hands to a pair of child soldiers. This must have been more painful (Both physically and mentally) than anyone could imagine. After the attack she endures a restless and perilous trip to the nearest sign of life. She is greeted by a man who helps her and gives her a mango, I know this may not seem very important but the fact the he tried to feed it to her and she denied shows the resilience in Mariatus soul. Despite not having hands she still prefers to feed herself and be completely self sufficient. This is a very important value to have. It doesn't matter how many times you fall down, it matters how many times you get up. Towards the later part of the book we see that there is a lot of "aid" from foreign countries, some is effective and some is not. This novel is a perfect example of the political climate in a lot of Africa today. Its an ongoing problem that no amount of foreign built condos will fix. In the end this is a touching book that was definitely worth the read and I recommend for anyone looking for a good redemption tale. One of hardships and all that. Well I hope you enjoyed the review and stay tuned for future updates.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 3, 2017The Bite of the Mango is a heartbreaking story of a girl named Mariatu. She tells readers of her past, in which heavily armed rebel soldiers attacked her village in Sierra Leone. These soldiers attacked and tortured her, and cut off both of her hands. She managed to survive, but faced a long and difficult road ahead. She is a testament of resilience and her story is a must read.
I think this book is appropriate for middle schoolers because though tough to read, it is told in a way they can understand, and can somewhat grasp because Mariatu is not far from their age at the time much of the book takes place.
I would use this book to discuss the patterns of daily life. Students experience patterns on a daily basis. Surely, Mariatu had patterns of her own. But when those soldiers arrived in her village, her daily life changed, and the patterns she knew were broken. I would use this book as a mentor text for students to write about a time in which their daily life changed, and a pattern that they were used to was broken. How did this affect them? Was it difficult to adjust?
I think this book is appropriate for middle schoolers because though tough to read, it is told in a way they can understand, and can somewhat grasp because Mariatu is not far from their age at the time much of the book takes place.
I would use this book to discuss the patterns of daily life. Students experience patterns on a daily basis. Surely, Mariatu had patterns of her own. But when those soldiers arrived in her village, her daily life changed, and the patterns she knew were broken. I would use this book as a mentor text for students to write about a time in which their daily life changed, and a pattern that they were used to was broken. How did this affect them? Was it difficult to adjust?
May 5, 2021
This book was a really good book that I really got into. This book is about a girl called Mariatu Kamara and her story about living in Sierra Leone. This book takes place in around the sixties during the civil war of Sierra Leone. The reason I got into this book is because it had a lot of adventure and quite a bit of action. But what I really like is that the book actually passed itself and told a great story about this young girl.
I would recommend this story to people that are interested in adventure. Also if you like detailed gore and are fine with the intense moments that this book has to offer. But over all this book was a great book and really peeked my interest.
I would recommend this story to people that are interested in adventure. Also if you like detailed gore and are fine with the intense moments that this book has to offer. But over all this book was a great book and really peeked my interest.
November 16, 2022
BITE OF MANGO- SUSAN MCCLELLAND &MARIATU KAMARA (***Must read***)
💫The single bite of "BITE OF MANGO" gives me innumerable unexplored tastes like rebels invading villages, sexual exploitation, and a resilient girl who, despite her disability, was going to cling to the thread of hope not only to succeed in life but to find a place in her heart to forgive those who were responsible for her predicament.
💫A 12-year-old girl from the northern town of Magborou lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were nothing more than a distant concern.
💫At the age of 12, the majority of us have access to a good education, food, and shelter.
However, Mariatu's life was turned upside down.
Kamara gave birth to a son (raped by a family friend) who died from malnutrition
💫Despite her difficulties, she attempted to find peace.
💫Should I interpret the rebels' attack positively or negatively?
💫Because if a girl like Mariatu is not forced to attend school, she will never get an education!!
💫A girl who had no idea what PRESIDENT meant once , now have an appointment with the president to represent the sieere leone for war victims.
💫Mariatu Kamara, now 22, has her story published in a book called 'THE BITE of the MANGO,' thanks to Canadian journalist Susan McClelland for giving such a masterpiece.
Note:(The Civil War was between the government and the rebels. The RUF - Revolutionary United front (rebels) tried to overthrow the government of Joseph Momof. People who lived in villages were killed so they could not vote for the government. Over a ten year period more than 50,000 people died.)
💫The single bite of "BITE OF MANGO" gives me innumerable unexplored tastes like rebels invading villages, sexual exploitation, and a resilient girl who, despite her disability, was going to cling to the thread of hope not only to succeed in life but to find a place in her heart to forgive those who were responsible for her predicament.
💫A 12-year-old girl from the northern town of Magborou lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were nothing more than a distant concern.
💫At the age of 12, the majority of us have access to a good education, food, and shelter.
However, Mariatu's life was turned upside down.
Kamara gave birth to a son (raped by a family friend) who died from malnutrition
💫Despite her difficulties, she attempted to find peace.
💫Should I interpret the rebels' attack positively or negatively?
💫Because if a girl like Mariatu is not forced to attend school, she will never get an education!!
💫A girl who had no idea what PRESIDENT meant once , now have an appointment with the president to represent the sieere leone for war victims.
💫Mariatu Kamara, now 22, has her story published in a book called 'THE BITE of the MANGO,' thanks to Canadian journalist Susan McClelland for giving such a masterpiece.
Note:(The Civil War was between the government and the rebels. The RUF - Revolutionary United front (rebels) tried to overthrow the government of Joseph Momof. People who lived in villages were killed so they could not vote for the government. Over a ten year period more than 50,000 people died.)
January 29, 2022
super super good book. as someone with no knowledge of the war in sierra leone, i found this story very interesting. one of those books that really broadens your world view. the wording of book can be confusing at times, and since it’s a retelling with little to no factual evidence some of her claims are a bit outlandish. nonetheless i believe ever word of her story, and the countless others she shares in her book. highly recommend
November 25, 2022
A heartbreaking story of the traumas a 12 yo girl experienced at such a young age - from genital m*tilation to war crimes (though the book provides just enough information on the war, I feel like it could've digressed a bit more on the matter). The language is accessible which greatly facilitates reading fluency, so I read this book in one go.
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May 17, 2021The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland is about twelve year old Mariatu surviving the Sierra Leone war. The story tells the reader about the events and hardships Mariatu had to endure during such a young age and how she overcame them. This book taught me how much strength humans have and how war can tear people apart while bringing others together.
This is a great book for anyone who enjoys true historical events and stories about resilience and growth.
This is a great book for anyone who enjoys true historical events and stories about resilience and growth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2021
it was really good but i would’ve enjoyed it more if i hadn’t read it for my sisters school project because she didn’t feel like it!
January 2, 2022
A really sad memoir about how children are the most affected by war. The story did feel rushed though.
February 9, 2023
Excellent read. Loved the detailed and real life experience expressed by the author.
January 26, 2025
Biography of a child victim of war in Sierra Leone.
July 8, 2018
This one is surprisingly uplifting and hopeful despite the terrible things that happen to Mariatu and her loved ones.
April 2, 2009
Mariatu was 12 years old and living in Sierra Leone when her village was attacked by rebel soldiers. Although they were only children themselves (most were boys and teens), they murdered most of the villagers – burning them in their homes – and cut off the hands of others, Mariatu among them. Mariatu made her way to another village where a kind man put her on the path to Freetown, where she was able to receive medical treatment (her arms were infected where her hands had been cut off). She also found some of her cousins at the hospital, and later lived with them in the refugee/amputee camp. Mariatu had to learn how to do everything without using the hands she no longer possessed. She also found out that she was pregnant (by a man in the village who had raped her a month or so before the rebels attacked). Mariatu and her cousins spent most of their days begging in the streets so that they could afford to buy food for their families. During this time, Mariatu had a chance to tell her story to several journalists, who published articles about her and other Sierra Leoneans who had survived the rebel massacres. Two men from Britain and Canada offered to sponsor Mariatu after reading about her plight. The Canadian man sent clothes and money, and the British one flew her to England where Mariatu was to be fitted for prosthetic hands. While she was in England, she received word that the Canadian man had offered to bring her to Canada. Mariatu felt she was meant to go there instead, so she did the unthinkable – returning to Sierra Leone to arrange a visa and passage to Canada. Canada and Sierra Leone were very different places, but Mariatu slowly began to adapt to her new surroundings. Eventually she was able to learn English and attend high school. Currently she is in university and working to help others in Sierra Leone.
Although the first chapter didn’t immediately grab me, somewhere around chapter 2, I was completely absorbed in Mariatu’s story. The cruelty and callousness of the boys who took her hands and murdered countless others was difficult to comprehend – what turns people into monsters/automatons? Mariatu is numb with fear and shock almost the whole time, so she barely notices the pain of her missing hands. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. There was so much pointless violence in her country, and it didn’t solve anything – I think that was one of the most frustrating things. This was a really revealing inside look at a survivor of the atrocities that took place in Sierra Leone. For another viewpoint, read Ishmael Beah’s memoir, A Long Way Gone, which talks about his experiences as one of the rebel soldiers. Mariatu actually gets to meet Ishmael and they’re able find some common ground.
Although the first chapter didn’t immediately grab me, somewhere around chapter 2, I was completely absorbed in Mariatu’s story. The cruelty and callousness of the boys who took her hands and murdered countless others was difficult to comprehend – what turns people into monsters/automatons? Mariatu is numb with fear and shock almost the whole time, so she barely notices the pain of her missing hands. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. There was so much pointless violence in her country, and it didn’t solve anything – I think that was one of the most frustrating things. This was a really revealing inside look at a survivor of the atrocities that took place in Sierra Leone. For another viewpoint, read Ishmael Beah’s memoir, A Long Way Gone, which talks about his experiences as one of the rebel soldiers. Mariatu actually gets to meet Ishmael and they’re able find some common ground.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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