Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara

Reviewed by Lori
Bite Of The Mango
Title: The Bite of the Mango

Author: Mariatu Kamara

***Canadian***

 Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 34938

Description: A courageous biography by a woman from Sierra Leone who at 12 was tortured and lost her hands to child soldiers, her subsequent life in refugee camps, begging in Freetown and her eventual arrival in Toronto where she began to pull her life back together.

Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It


Why I Read It: This book was recommended to me by several teachers as a novel suitable for curriculum study.

Lori's Notes: This is a difficult read in terms of subject matter, but a compelling story written in easy language.  Mariatu's journey from a tortured 12-year-old girl in Sierra Leone who has her hands chopped off by child soldiers, through her recovery, and eventual move to Canada borders on the unbelievable.  I am amazed at the strength Mariatu shows both in surviving her physical attacks but also with the mental fortitude to survive these atrocities.  I thought the cover of the book was fantastic - the landscape cutting through the wrists as Mariatu's hands were cut off. There were times when I welled up with tears for Mariatu and I literally thought to myself - what more does this poor girl have to endure?  I read this book cover to cover in one sitting.

Recommended Readers: Grade 9 and Up.  Fantastic book for curriculum study and a good compliment to any social justice courses or classroom discussions.

Themes: Non-Fiction, Dealing with Adversity, Torture, Crime, Immigration, Child Soldiers, Rape, Economic and Social Status, Conflict and War, Amputees, Sierra Leone, Biography.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Web Search: Mariatu Kamara
Wikipedia: Military Use of Children
Web Search: Child Soldiers Sierra Leone
Related Reading: A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Soldier
Music: Knocking on Heaven's Door (Child Soldiers/War) performed by Avril Lavigne
Movie: Rebelle/War Witch (2012)
Documentary: Fight Like Soldiers, Die Like Children (2012)

Post Reading Discussion Questions and Activities: 

  • What happens to Mariatu in this novel?
  • How is she able to survive these situations?
  • Discuss the cover and title of this book.  Create a new title or cover design.
  • How does Mariatu eventually reach Canada? What is she doing now?
  • Write a song or poem inspired by this novel.


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