Bite of the Mango

“Bite of the Mango” by Mariatu Kamara and journalist Susan McClelland is a powerful book about a young girl called Mariatu (the author), who at 12 years old, got attacked and tortured by armed rebel soldiers. During the senseless violence, both her hands were cut off and the reason being was so she could not “vote”. The poignant story follows her journey of miraculous survival (her first food after the attack being a mango, hence the title) and how she ended up in Toronto. The 212-page book shows you the difficulties in Sierra Leone and how Mariatu wanted more out of her life. She is the voice for her country and now speaks in North America about her experiences and as a victim of the war. She was also named a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts, and was honoured last year with a Voices of Courage award given by the Women’s Refugee Commission.