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Product Description
Quill & Quire
At the age of 12, Sierra Leoneon Mariatu Kamara suffered more trauma than most adults could endure. Shortly after being raped (and impregnated) by a family friend, Kamara was captured by rebels who cut off her hands. Despite her wounds, Kamara walked out of the bush and sought help. En route to the hospital in Freetown, she was reunited with many of her family members, several of whom had also lost their hands in the rebel attack. They moved to an amputee camp in the city, where Kamara gave birth to a son, who died at 10 months from malnutrition. When foreign journalists interviewed Kamara in the camp, her story garnered international interest, including from a man in Canada who began sending aid to her. Through this and other assistance, Kamara was sent first to England, then Toronto, where she met journalist Susan McClelland (a past recipient of the Amnesty International Media Award), with whom she collaborated on this autobiography. The Bite of the Mango testifies to Kamara’s horrific trauma, but with the aim of fostering hope and reconciliation. In a fitting gesture, former Sierra Leonean child soldier Ishmael Beah provides the introduction. While parts of the narrative are absolutely compelling, not to mention gut-wrenching, the latter half is less successful, suffering from knowledge gaps (how did the amputees learn to care for themselves?) and loose ends (did Kamara receive her Canadian prosthetics?). However, because the text bears witness to a conflict most young Canadians will know little about, it deserves thoughtful reading, though its necessarily graphic nature makes it best suited to mature readers.
Review
A "must read" for teens. (Denise Moore HiRise 200809)
Horrifying and inspiring, [Kamara's] memoir tells an unforgettable story of courage, resilience and hope. (Bay Area Parent, San Francisco 20091201)
Recommended for older teens, but adults won't be able to put the book down either. (Robin Farrell Edmunds ForeWord 20081102)
[starred review] This book will unsettle readers and then inspire them with the evidence of Mariatu's courage (Publishers Weekly 20081101)
[Best of 2008: Children's Books] A compelling, unmissable book. (January Magazine (Best of 2008: Children's Books) 20100530)
This haunting memoir adds an essential voice to the growing body of literature about Sierra Leone's civil war. (Booklist 2009)
[Mariatu's] narrative is honest, raw, and powerful....The book sheds light on a plight of which many people are still unaware. (Kelly McGamay, Glenbard South High School Library, Glen Ellyn, Illinois Library Journal )
A story that older teens and adults won't be able to put down. (Robin Farrell Edmonds Manhattan Mercury )
Starred Selection 2009 (Canadian Children's Book Centre )
Starred Selection (Canadian Children's Book Centre )
Horrifying and inspiring, [Kamara's] memoir tells an unforgettable story of courage, resilience and hope. (Bay Area Parent, San Francisco 20091201)
Recommended for older teens, but adults won't be able to put the book down either. (Robin Farrell Edmunds ForeWord 20081102)
[starred review] This book will unsettle readers and then inspire them with the evidence of Mariatu's courage (Publishers Weekly 20081101)
[Best of 2008: Children's Books] A compelling, unmissable book. (January Magazine (Best of 2008: Children's Books) 20100530)
This haunting memoir adds an essential voice to the growing body of literature about Sierra Leone's civil war. (Booklist 2009)
[Mariatu's] narrative is honest, raw, and powerful....The book sheds light on a plight of which many people are still unaware. (Kelly McGamay, Glenbard South High School Library, Glen Ellyn, Illinois Library Journal )
A story that older teens and adults won't be able to put down. (Robin Farrell Edmonds Manhattan Mercury )
Starred Selection 2009 (Canadian Children's Book Centre )
Starred Selection (Canadian Children's Book Centre )
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Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mariatu Kamara - The Bite of the Mango,
By
This review is from: The Bite of the Mango (Hardcover)
I first came across Ms. Kamara's book via the condensed version in the December 2009 Reader's Digest. Make no mistake, this is an extremely disturbing story. Be forewarned that if you read it and become aware of what happened to Ms. Kamara, and to many others in Sierra Leone and elsewhere, you may never again be able to live in ignorance of the human suffering that exists in the world.I won't repeat the story, in part because it is very troubling and in part because you should read it as told by Ms. Kamara herself. She deserves the royalty. The book is for ages 14 and up and is intended, in part, for high school students, although it is also very much for adults. To read the story in her own words also allows the tremendous and unqualified triumph of the human spirit that is Mariatu Kamara to shine through. According to reports I have read, Ms. Kamara is presently studying to be a counselor to people who have suffered as children from the atrocities of war. She is also a Special Representative for UNICEF and speaks to audiences and schools about her experiences. For myself, reading this story brought home the realization that I have, over the years, missed opportunities to help and to give compassion to those who so need it. I wish I knew 30 years ago what I know now after reading the story of this beautiful and remarkable woman. Buy the book and donate it to your child or grandchild's school library. And, don't miss an opportunity to speak out for human rights, justice, and compassion!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bite of The Mango,
This review is from: The Bite of the Mango (Paperback)
This book is a must read. I was inspired by this book. I knew that poor countries had it rough, but I never realized how much we are missing out at knowing the real truth of what is going on in the real world. This book is a true story of what a woman had to face when she was a little girl at the age of twelve years old. Having lost her hands, by rebels cutting them off because of the war that occurred in Sirrea Leone. The rebels taken over all the villages stealing all the villagers food, clothing, burning their homes and etc. I was extremely shocked that about 400 people have lost their arms due to what? All because the rebels wanted the President to know what they are capable of doing. This girl is lucky, especially the ones who have survived this attack to walk away alive. I was happy when she was saved and a family took her in from Canada, where she could go to school and find a good job. As we all know she is a special representative with UNICIEF.I will stop there, because I don't want to give the whole book away. I know what it is like when a person gives a review of a book and gives away the whole book. When that happens, there is no point in reading the book no more. I will leave you with this though if you want to read an amazing book, buy this book. I garuantee you won't regret it! You will not be able to put the book down just what I experienced. This Memoir of what this girl went through is a shocking story that people must know. Some people have an easy life and some people don't. So the next time you think you have a hard life, just think of what this girl had to go through and others that live in third world countries.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read,
By
This review is from: The Bite of the Mango (Paperback)
Even though part of the life of this girl is just really not nice, it is a must read. She doesn't dwell on these bad parts and tells them just as they were and only for the importance of the whole story. Other than that, this book is so motivating, and great to read because of what it means to have a life purpose. You can just sit and be the victim, whether you actually are or not, or you can take action and stand up for what you really want. It makes me realize that I should be happy with what I have, and that I should be way bolder in trying to achieve to find and act upon my life purpose.
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