A Story of Transformation: 'The Journey of Turning Scars into Stars - From a Child Soldier to a Humanitarian,' by Ishmeal Charles.

Book Review - 'The Journey of From a Child Soldier to a humanitarian,' Ishmeal Alfred Charles

Reviewed by Josephine Kamara

In 'The Journey of Turning Scars into Stars - From a Child Soldier to a humanitarian,' Ishmeal Alfred Charles offers a touching account of his experience of war, how his childhood was snatched and forcibly recruited as a child soldier and his journey to his life purpose. In this book, he weaved together personal anecdotes, historical reflections, and his philosophical insights about life and humanitarian work. As Charles aptly puts it from one of the rebel commanders, 'Mercy equates to vulnerability,' and this sentiment underscores the harsh ideology that fuelled the wickedness of the rebels during Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war. Through Charles’ lens, we relive these experiences and witness the transformation of scars into stars—a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.

One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its rich portrayal of Sierra Leone's pre- and post-colonial history, the devastating impact of eleven-year civil war and the subsequent challenges of post-war recovery. Charles’ narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving history and telling our own stories. Too often, narratives about African conflicts are shared through a Western-centric lens, foreigners keeping accounts for us and narrating our past. Sierra Leoneans have been telling stories about the war, mostly narrated orally or presented through artistic expression like paintings. However, this memoir, just like Joseph Ben Kaifala’s account on Adamalui: A Survivor’s Journey from Civil Wars in Africa to Life in America and Ishmeal Beah's account on A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, offers a refreshing and authentic perspective that generations after us will use as a reference point to learn about the important events that took place in Sierra Leone. 

While the theme of war and brutality permeates the narrative, I found myself yearning for a deeper exploration of the freedom-fighting ideology these young rebels held that fuelled the conflict. The frustration of young students grappling with entrenched corruption and the subsequent exploitation of mineral resources provided a nuanced backdrop to the conflict - this same freedom-fighting narrative is what led the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) to institute a huge recruitment drive for the military in a bid to end the war. Many young people joined because they wanted to be part of this "New Military Regime" that was going to end the war - at that time, what these young people knew as participation was their involvement in movements that could end the war. These young men who were insufficiently trained became more violent than even the rebels and ended up inflicting some of the greatest atrocities during the war, yet this aspect felt underexplored in this book. Nonetheless, Charles’ first-hand account offers valuable insights of the war through his own lens and its lasting impact on individuals and communities.

I was particularly drawn to the author’s writing style, which skilfully interweaves humour and poetic language. Lines such as 'Stranded in that unforgiving wilderness' and 'The looming specter of death became an uninvited companion' evoke a vivid sense of atmosphere and emotion. I love to play with words so maybe this could be the reason why I appreciate his skilfulness on this area. Additionally, Charles’ reflection on his maternal instinct – referring to these lines, "My maternal instinct strongly conveyed her longing to hear from me, a sentiment any mother will feel when her child is trapped behind enemy lines"

For a male protagonist to describe his 'maternal instinct,' a sentiment typically associated with motherhood, departed from traditional gender norms and adds depth to the portrayal of familial bonds and in my opinion. I am not quite sure if this was the author’s aim, but I feel it challenges societal expectations, prompting me as a reader to reconsider preconceived notions about gender and parenthood or what motherly instinct feels like. There are interesting takes on gender roles especially in the first two chapters, that gave a vivid picture of patriarchal structures and norms - these could have been an interesting theme to explore deeper. 

I am particularly drawn to his humble beginnings, as it feels familiar to me. Charles imbues it with a sense of importance and as a young person myself navigating life's uncertainties, I resonated with the struggles and his unwavering determination to pursue his dreams. The questions he asked himself on the 'Turning Scars into Stars' chapter, and how he mustered all his energy to keep his dreams alive even in dark days, captures the essence of a resilient spirit. I believe his offerings here will resonate with readers of all ages.

With regards to the author’s writing style, I love how he worked out the interesting twist of how fate connected his early work back to Kono, the place where, in his words, he was abducted and recruited as a child soldier and into the mining industry. Fate, they say is not mere coincidence, but the workings of destiny and if that is true these occurrences were divinely orchestrated.

'The Journey of Turning Scars into Stars - From a Child Soldier to a humanitarian,' is indeed compelling testament to the resilience of the human spirit. I deeply appreciate Charles’ philosophy of altruism and his commitment to making the world a better place.

The author’s narrative infuses hope into the hopeless, reminding us that light always awaits at the end of the tunnel and urging readers to confront their own adversities and turn their scars into stars. As we are reminded in these lines:

“Each of us possesses a unique story – one of despair and courage, loss and victory, past and present. By harnessing our stories, we can find solutions to ongoing social issues that threaten our happiness.”

 Josephine Kamara was a 2023 Poda-Poda Fellow. She is a girls’ rights advocate with 10+ years of experience.