Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah is a Sierra Leonean-American author, human rights activist, and former child soldier. He was born in 1979 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and survived the civil war in his country. Beah is the author of the bestselling book "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier", which tells the story of his experiences as a child soldier. He has also worked with various organizations to promote human rights and prevent child soldier recruitment. Beah is a graduate of Harvard University and has received numerous awards for his work, including the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.