Book Summary and Review - Storytelling Song

Rebels come to my small village
They come to burn, kill, and pillage,
They bound my hands so I couldn't move
There was something they wanted to prove,
As they cut off my hands I couldn't feel a thing
They just told me to complain to the king.

I stumbled to an unknown town
I searched the place up and down,
Found a hospital and
Knew anything was possible,
I lost my virginity
Along with my sanity,
Who knew someone could be so cruel
And nine months later I gave birth to Abdul.

I got a chance to live in Canada
For a better life for me
Can't you see it's the right place to be,
I fell in love with my new setting
Without any regretting.

I share my story for all to hear

With all my confidence and no fear,
Now my days are now full of laughter
And a happily ever after!

The Relationship between Author and Text

Mariatu's book is based off of her struggles in Sierra Leone. In The Bite of the Mango she tells how rebels attacked her village, and killed many people. Also how they brutally cut off her hands. It shows her ongoing struggle on living with no hands, and trying to leave Africa and move to the U.S. The book doesn't really show her life after meeting Ishmael, and going to classes in Canada learning english.

Quotation Based Discussion Question

"I started to cry again, and my body convulsed. 'Do you want to join them ?' the rebel watching over me threatened. Part of me did." pg. 32

What do you think was going through Mariatu's mind as she was watching people die?
- Caroline McDonnell 

The Relationship between Author and Text

Mariatu's life experiences and passion for helping other women and children that have lived through the war has influenced herself to write a novel telling her life story.  I believe that she decided to write an autobiography because she wanted people to be aware of what had happened to her, and that it was still going on. In her book she tells all of the bad things that happened to her as well as the good. I believe she did this to show people even though many tragic things happened to her, she was still able to put that in her past and keep moving forward. I think that Mariatu included all of the major facts that happened in her life.

Quotation Based Discussion Question

"My name is Mariatu Kamara. I live in Toronto, Canada and like it here very much."
Page number 188

Is it Toronto, Canada that she likes, or is it just the Sierra Leone people she's living with? Do you think her opinion would change if she went back to living with Bill?

The Relationship between Author and Text - Alison

Mariatu Kamara has made it her life goal to help people in Sierra Leone and share her story with the world, so she wrote an autobiography. When she was in Sierra Leone during the rebel attack, Mariatu explained in extreme detail of what happened to her. As she got older and went to Canada, her story became broader of what she has done. I think she did this because she wanted to tell everyone what happened to her in Africa and what is still happening to others now, and not how much she has accomplished since then. I think this book should be considered an authentic because Mariatu explains what really goes on in Africa (especially Sierra Leone), which teaches everyone else that we should be grateful for what we have and to help others as much as we can.

Quotation-Based Discussion Question

Quotation:
"Then we saw them, coming out of one of the houses - soldiers of some sort, bare-chested, wearing khaki pants, with bullets wrapped aroud their muscled bodies." page 29

Question:
What are the differences between the gangs now and the gangs (rebels) back then?

The Author's Adult Life

In The Bite of the Mango, Mariatu Kamara was the author and the main character in the novel.  Mariatu is now 23 years old and went to the George Brown College in Toronto.  Since the success of the book, she has started The Mariatu Foundation for women and children in Sierra Leone. She now lives in Canada and speaks fluent English.  She is studying to be a counselor for abused women and children.  Mariatu has been fitted for prosthetic hands but she thinks its a lot easier without them.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1223873/Mariatu-Kamaras-inspiring-story-survived-Sierra-Leones-civil-war.html

Awards the Author Has Won

Mariatu has won many awards for all of the deeds she has done since coming to Canada. She won the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) The Bite of the Mango, Gold Award Winner. Also Finalist, Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction. The Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens. Winner, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Young Adult Non-Fiction. Selected as one of The White Ravens outstanding new international books of the year, Munich, Germany Silver Award Winner, Nautilus Book Awards. Young Adult Non-Fiction List, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. Short-listed for the American Library Association non-fiction, young adult book of the year. And Finally, Children’s and Young Adults, Notable Books, International Reading Association Nominated for the American Library Association/ Young Adult Services Association 2009 Best Books for Young Adults, for Bite of the Mango. Mariatu was awarded these for speaking about her struggles and for making her story into a book.

The Bite of the Mango Awards. Web. 19 May 2011.
<http://www.mariatufoundation.com/awards.htm>.

Discussion Question

If you were Mariatu, who had her hands cut off, would you apply for the prosthetic hands?

Public and Critical Reception of The Bite of the Mango

Most people find that The Bite of the Mango is a moving and passionate narrative story about the troubles going on around the world. The majority of readers and critics think the book is well-written and an easy read. It is also compelling to finish once it is started. Even though this book is a touching and inspiring story, many think only mature young adults and up should read it. There are some who think the book is too brutal and sad to read, especially for younger readers. Some parts are disturbing and haunting to readers, but those same parts are real and honest to others. Overall, the mainstream of readers would highly recommend reading this truly inspirational novel.

Citation:

"The Bite of the Mango." Good Reads. Web. 12 May 2011. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3764130-the-bite-of-the-mango

Discussion Question

If you were living in an African camp for 2 years with your family, would you choose to go to the U.S for a better life?

Discussion Questions

How do you feel about children being a part of the rebels?

Key

Maddie Bove - blue

Caroline McDonnell - red

Alison Jones - purple