by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland
Many of you may heard of Sierra Leone from the famous movie, Blood Diamonds, this book also takes place there. This book was just heartbreaking. It’s a story of courage, hope and inspiration. It is the true story of Mariatu Kamara, a child in a small village in Sierra Leone. I just couldn’t put this book down. Although this book is filled with pain and suffering, it’s a story of how she beats the odds, lives, and becomes a testament to others. She can serve as a great inspiration to everyone to cease the moment, and is living proof that any obstacle can be overcome. SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading here if you are going to read the book.
Mariatu was caught between the conflict in Sierra Leone, and she was attacked, torched and had both her arms cut off. Her village was attacked overnight, and she is left alone with no family. But, waits in the side of the road, with both hands bleeding, and those who cut her hands off didn’t kill her because they wanted her to show her President. After having her hands cut off, and being severely hungry from hiding out from her attackers, she sees a mango on a tree and eats it. The sweet taste of the mango, her first food after her attack, convinces her to go on and live, even despite the fact that clutching the mango with no hands, and bloodied arms was her new reality. With no parents or adult support, at age 12, she realizes that from a past attack she has become pregnant. This is the story of Mariatu.
Tags: Bite of the Mango, Cafe
