The Bite of the Mango

This is the story of twelve year old Mariatu Kamara. Mariatu grew up in Sierra Leone. She was raised by a village of people, always knew the comfort of friends and family, the value of hard work, and the importance of traditions.

There is upset in Sierra Leone, however, and the rumbling of rebel troops has Mariatu's family hiding in the brush...something that she and her cousins view as a game. When walking to the village one afternoon to deliver palm tree oil, Mariatu and her cousin are caught by some rebel troops. These "soldiers" are young...some the same age as Mariatu herself. They force her to watch horrible atrocities. Then they tell her that she can go.

But first she must pick her punishment. In the end, they cut off both of her hands and tell her that now she will never be able to vote for her President.

This is a truly amazing story. It is horrific to read because it is all true.
It is hard to put down because it is all true.

High school libraries every where should have this book so that students who are interested can read it and know more about it from a primary source. Give this to a mature kid who is ready to explore the world a little bit more fully.

Mariatu, after suffering so many other set-backs, finally made it to Canada. She was able to attend school, get an education, and tell her story to all of the readers out there who are willing to hear it. While her story is incredibly sad, it is also a story of overwhelming hope.

Incredible!!

The Bite of the Mango
by Mariatu Kamara
and Susan McClelland