Teen Nonfiction
Softcover $12.95
Summary: 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.
The Bite of the Mango
The only thing that bothered me at all with the book was the cover. As is mentioned in the summary, Mariatu’s hands were severed. Yet it is hands holding a mango on the cover. I thought this a little odd, maybe it’s just me. I did like that the title of the book is mentioned in the book and it makes sense. There is nothing worse than a book with a bad title, one that doesn’t make sense.
The book doesn’t only address the war that went on in Sierra Leone and the casualties of that war. It also addresses what little has happened to help those still in the country. Mariatu wrote this book to get the word out about what was happening and to clear up some misconceptions that were in some articles about her.
“I mulled over the teacher’s comment as we drove home that evening. She
wasn’t the first one to suggest a book about my life. I couldn’t imagine many
people would want to read such a book, even if I could figure out how to write
it. At least, though, I fell asleep thinking, a book could dispel the myths that
had built up around me.” – pg 196
About Kathleen
