Sara Flikkeid Flikkeid من عند Woodlawn NSW 2480، أستراليا من عند Woodlawn NSW 2480، أستراليا

Entertaining mystery-easy read- or since it was an audio-easy listening

I enjoyed this book. I never paid much attention to the various struggles going on in Liberia and this provided a graphic picture. It also gave unique insight into the creation of Liberia as an American "colony". The book touches many issues that could generate interesting discussions: * Why would blacks who knew first-hand the problems with slavery and class institute those same structures in their new country? * Why do people think they should go into other people's countries/lands and take them over? What gives them the right? * Why did Africans sell each other into slavery? * Why do many African "liberations" lead to worse opportunities for the local people? * What causes the crazed behavior that takes place during war? * How could people survive for 13/15 years in a war-torn environment and still maintain their dignity? * Why do people in 'privileged' situations not realize how the things they do are offensive to those of 'lower' classes? I have an infant son and I cannot imagine anyone taking him away from me to make him into a child soldier. But I can definitely imagine fighting anyone or enduring anything to protect him. I read reviews of this book that faulted Ms. Cooper for not focusing enough on the "issues" - I don't think her point was to address any of these issues or provide solutions. It's a memoir - she chose not to analyze or rationalize; she just told her story, honestly, and I appreciated that.