its hard to be critical of this story because the author goes from running through the forests of sierra leone slitting people’s throats as a child soldier to graduating college in the united states. but from a literary perspective the book is only so-so. its the humanistic perspective that saves it. from the author: “visualize the banana tree as the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, your family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you,” the corporal screamed. “is that how you stab someone who had killed your family?” he asked. “this is how i would do it.”