[Updated] A Long Way Gone Trigger Warning List

Hi everyone! Here is the updated version of the trigger warning list for A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. There's obviously still a chance that I missed some things, and if I did then I apologize. But I do think that I managed to catch most of the triggers that came up. Anyways, here is the list:

[Important: Please note that trigger warnings are not necessarily to make it so that you can just avoid the content. There is a fairly popular mistaken belief that trigger warnings are censorship. That is not true. Trigger warnings exist so that, if you are sensitive to the content, you are made aware of it before it occurs and surprises you. This gives you a chance to prepare yourself mentally before reading it so that it does not affect you as negatively as it might if you didn’t know that it was going to happen. Also, please note that if you rely on triggers for the shock-value or plot twists (aka, “Well I can’t use trigger warnings because they’re spoilers!”), you aren’t a very good writer and you definitely aren’t taking into consideration the potential sensitivity of your audience.]

Triggers, listed in order of the number of occurrences: death, violence, drugs, ableist language, emetophobia, sexual assault, alcohol, and child abuse.

The paragraph numbers and a general summary of each are listed on the following pages. For reference, the italicized numbers in the parenthesis are the page numbers in my book, and the total number of paragraphs in each chapter are listed below:

Chapter 1 - 44

Chapter 2 - 4

Chapter 3 - 14

Chapter 4 - 6

Chapter 5 - 27

Chapter 6 - 36

Chapter 7 - 16

Chapter 8 - 28

Chapter 9 - 56

Chapter 10 - 118

Chapter 11 - 46

Chapter 12 - 43

Chapter 13 - 16

Chapter 14 - 14

Chapter 15 - 46

Chapter 16 - 55

Chapter 17 - 71

Chapter 18 - 77

Chapter 19 - 73

Chapter 20 - 31

Chapter 21 - 59

I probably should have added a separate section for gore, but I didn’t. However, the warnings for death and violence usually include anything gory, even though I didn’t create a separate section.

Death

Death is pretty much a constant in this book. Unsurprising given the subject matter. I added a summary to the parts that I felt needed a more in-depth warning.

• Paragraphs 1 (5) and 32 (14) of chapter 1.
• In paragraph 7 (8) of chapter 1, there is a mention of stoning birds.
• In paragraphs 27 (12), 28, and 29 (13) of chapter 1, there are descriptions of multiple dead bodies, including those of children, and injuries.
• In paragraph 30 (13) of chapter 1, there is a description of a dead baby, who was shot.
• In paragraphs 1 (18), 2, and 3 (19) of chapter 2, there is a vivid description of the aftermath of a gunfight that includes dead and dying people.
• Paragraph 12 (24) of chapter 3.
• In paragraph 13 (25) of chapter 3, there are dead bodies and people being blown apart by grenades.
• In paragraphs 3 (27) and 4 (28) of chapter 4, there are dead bodies.
• Paragraphs 5 (31), 6 (32), and 25 (36) of chapter 5.
• In paragraphs 19 (34) of chapter 5, there is a mention of shooting people.
• In paragraph 1 (37) of chapter 6, there is a mention of killing and maiming people.
• In paragraphs 6 (38) and 8 of chapter 6, there is a mention of drowning children.
• Paragraph 24 (41) of chapter 6.
• In paragraph 2 (44) and 3 (45) of chapter 7, a man is burnt alive and his body is left in the village square and in paragraph 6 (46) his body is eaten by dogs and vultures.
• Paragraph 7 (46) of chapter 7.
• In paragraph 1 (49) of chapter 8, there is a mention of dead bodies and descriptions of how they died.
• Paragraphs 5 (51), 15 (54), and 28 (57) of chapter 8.
• In paragraph 13 (54) of chapter 8, there is a brief mention of the deaths of wild pigs and the hunter who hunted them being torn to pieces.
• Paragraphs 43 (66) and 53 (67) of chapter 9.
• Paragraphs 2 (70), 3, 76 (83), and 80 of chapter 10.
• In paragraph 27 (75) of chapter 10, there is a mention of the death of a sheep and chickens.
• In paragraphs 43 (78) through 52 of chapter 10, there is a mention of wanting kill and eat a dog.
• In paragraph 56 (79) of chapter 10, there is a mention of people drowning.
• In paragraphs 62 (81), 67, and 69 (82) of chapter 10, a bird is eaten after it falls from the sky.
• In paragraphs 97 (85), 98, 101, 102, 106, 107. 108 (86), and 112 through 117 (88) of chapter 10, a boy dies and a funeral is held for him.
• In paragraphs 27 (94), 29, and 30 (95) of chapter 11, people are burnt alive and there is a mention of their bodies.
• In paragraph 28 (94) of chapter 11, there is a description of people who were shot to death.
• Paragraph 35 (96) of chapter 11.
• In paragraph 37 (96) of chapter 11, there is a description of a decapitated head.
• In paragraph 39 (97) of chapter 11, there is a mention of execution.
• In paragraphs 44 (99), 45, and 46 of chapter 11, a man dies from multiple gunshot wounds.
• In paragraphs 1 (100) and 3 of chapter 12, there are dead bodies, including those of children, and there is a description of some of their mortal wounds.
• Paragraphs 17 (104), 23 (106), 25 (107), 30 (108), 39 (111), 40, and 41 (112) of chapter 12.
• In paragraphs 21 (106) and 39 (111) of chapter 12, there is a mention of dying and shooting people in the head.
• In paragraphs 28 (107) and 29 of chapter 12, there are dead bodies, including that of a child.
• In paragraph 29 (108) of chapter 12, there are descriptions of the horrible things that the rebels did, including decapitating people and killing babies.
• In paragraph 42 (113) of chapter 12, someone imagines burning people alive.
• Paragraph 11 (117) of chapter 13.
• In paragraph 12 (117) of chapter 13, people are blown apart by RPGs.
• In paragraphs 12 (118) through 16 (120) of chapter 13, people, including children, are killed in a gunfight and their bodies and injuries are mentioned.
• Paragraphs 3 (122), 11 (123), and 12 (124) of chapter 14.
• In paragraphs 6 (122) through 9 (123) of chapter 14, people are killed, sometimes graphically.
• In paragraph 13 (124) of chapter 14, prisoners have their throats slit as part of a contest.
• Paragraphs 1 (126), 3, 8 (127), 13 (129), 31 (133), 38 (134), 39 (135), and 46 (137) of chapter 15.
• In paragraphs 39 (134) through 44 (136) of chapter 15, there is a fight and people are killed, sometimes graphically.
• Paragraphs 1 (138), 16 (142), 27 (145), and 54 (151) of chapter 16.
• In paragraphs 18 (143), 19, and 20 of chapter 16, there is an attack on a village and a lot of people are killed, some by getting their throats slit.
• In paragraph 48 (149) of chapter 16, there is a mention of the death of a child, including a graphic depiction of his dead body.
• In paragraphs 50 (150) through 54 (151) of chapter 16, there is a fight and many people are killed, sometimes graphically. Some people are forced to dig their own graves and are then buried alive.
• In paragraphs 24 (156) and 25 of chapter 17, there is a gunfight in which many people die.
• Paragraph 28 (157) and 36 (159) of chapter 17.
• In paragraph 37 (159) of chapter 17, people are killed and others are captured, lined up, and shot in the feet and left to suffer for a day before they are shot in the head.
• In paragraph 40 (160) of chapter 17, there is a mention of slitting someone’s throat.
• In paragraph 57 (164) of chapter 17, a dream is described, in which people stab and shoot each other.
• In paragraph 54 (190) of chapter 19, there is a brief mention of typing people to trees and shooting them.
• Paragraph 55 (190) of chapter 19.
• Paragraphs 28 (199) and 31 (200) of chapter 20.
• Paragraphs 4 (202), 7 (203), 10, 11 (204), 14 (205), 17 (206), 19, 20, 28 (109), 32 (210), 34 (211), 35 (212), 53 (217), 56 (218), and 59 of chapter 21.
• In paragraphs 13 (204), 16 (205), and 19 (207) of chapter 21, people are killed by the military after the coup.
• In paragraphs 22 (208), 25, 26 (209), and 29 of chapter 21, a man dies and a funeral is held.

Violence

As this is a book about war, it is unsurprising that there is a great deal of violence in it. The main scenes of violence that I noted are in the following paragraphs:

• In paragraphs 13 (9) to 15 of chapter 1, there are brief mentions of a town being attacked by rebels.
• In paragraph 33 (14) of chapter 1, someone dreams that they are shot.
• In paragraph 2 (21) of chapter 3, there is a brief mention of a massacre in a town.
• In paragraphs 2 (21) and 12 (24) of chapter 3, there is a mention of mutilation; carving initials into someone’s chest and chopping most of their fingers off.
• In paragraphs 8 (23) through 14 (25) of chapter 3, the rebels attack the town.
• In paragraph 3 (27) of chapter 4, there is a description of chopped off body parts.
• In paragraph 9 (32) of chapter 5, there is a mention of stabbing someone in the neck.
• In paragraph 15 (33) of chapter 5, people pretend to shoot someone in the head, but they only shoot next to it.
• In paragraphs 23 (35) and 24 of chapter 5, there is a gunfight and people are heard being tortured.
• In paragraphs 31 (42) and 34 (43) of chapter 6, there is a mention of fighting and stoning other children.
• In paragraphs 9 (60) and 10 of chapter 9, there is a violent reception for the boys at a village that they come across.
• In paragraph 12 (61) of chapter 9, there is a description of foot injuries caused by walking on hot sand without shoes.
• In paragraph 34 (77) of chapter 10, there is a brief fight.
• In paragraphs 26 (93) and 27 of chapter 11, a village is attacked.
• In paragraph 35 (96) of chapter 11, people get in a fight.
• In paragraphs 40 (97), 41, and 42 (98) of chapter 11, people are chased down with guns and someone gets shot.
• In paragraph 3 (101) of chapter 12, there is a short gunfight.
• In paragraph 8 (103) of chapter 12, there is a mention of being shot in the head.
• In paragraphs 19 (105), 21 (106), and 27 (107) of chapter 12, there is a mention of gunfire in the distance.
• In paragraph 41 (112) of chapter 12, people mutilate banana trees to practice stabbing people.
• In paragraph 6 (115) of chapter 13, there is a mention of shooting people.
• In paragraphs 12 (117) through 14 (119) of chapter 13, there is a gunfight and people are severely injured and killed.
• In paragraph 16 (120) of chapter 13, someone repeatedly shoots a gun at nothing after having a nightmare.
• In paragraphs 2 (122), 3, 4, and 6 of chapter 14, there is a mention of attacking and raiding villages.
• In paragraph 26 (133) of chapter 15, there is a short fight.
• In paragraphs 39 (134) through 44 (136) of chapter 15, there is a violent fight between two groups and a lot of people get hurt.
• In paragraphs 2 (138), 3 (139), and 6 (140) of chapter 16, there are mentions of beating people up and there are fights for no reason.
• In paragraphs 8 (140) and 9 of chapter 16, there are descriptions of self-caused injuries.
• In paragraphs 18 (143) through 20 of chapter 16, there is an attack on a village.
• In paragraphs 45 (148) through 47 (149) of chapter 16, there are mentions of stabbing people with pencils and getting violent with themselves and others after having nightmares.
• In paragraphs 50 (150) through 54 (151) of chapter 16, there is a gunfight and people are severely injured and killed.
• In paragraphs 23 (156) through 26 (157) of chapter 17, there is a gunfight and many people are injured and killed.
• In paragraphs 26 (157), 27, 34 (158), and 35 of chapter 17, there are graphic descriptions of a foot injury caused by being shot and the process to remove the bullet.
• In paragraph 57 (164) of chapter 17, there is a description of a dream in which people stab and shoot each other.
• In paragraph 22 (184) of chapter 19, there is a brief mention of attacking a town during a school dance.
• In paragraph 27 (184) of chapter 19, there is a brief mention of a burning village.
• In paragraph 1 (193) of chapter 20, there is a brief mention of shooting people.
• In paragraphs 6 (202) through 9 (203), there is a coup to take over the democratically elected government.
• In paragraphs 10 (203) through 20 (207) of chapter 21, the violent aftermath of the government coup is described. Civilians get shot and killed frequently.

Drugs

Like death and violence, drug use is pretty pervasive throughout the book. I noted the paragraphs where drugs were even just mentioned.

• In paragraph 37 (96) of chapter 11, marijuana is used.
• In paragraphs 5 (101), 10 (103), 30 (108), and 34 (109) of chapter 12, marijuana is used.
• In paragraphs 8 (116) and 16 (120) of chapter 13, “white capsules” (some kind of energy-inducing drug) are used.
• In paragraphs 1 (121) and 3 of chapter 14, the white capsules are mentioned or used.
• In paragraphs 1 (121) and 3 of chapter 14, people snort cocaine, sometimes mixed with gunpowder.
• In paragraphs 6 (122) of chapter 14, marijuana is mentioned.
• In paragraphs 12 (124) and 13 (125) of chapter 14, doing drugs is mentioned.
• In paragraphs 8 (128) of chapter 15, people snort cocaine, sometimes mixed with gunpowder.
• In paragraph 23 (132), 24 (133), 41 (135), and 46 (137) of chapter 15, there is a mention of marijuana, cocaine, and drugs in general.
• In paragraphs 1 (138), 2 (139), 16 (142), 20 (144), 21, 27 (145), and 54 (151) of chapter 16, there are mentions of drugs.
• In paragraphs 53 (151) and 54 of chapter 16, marijuana is used.
• In paragraphs 22 (155), 26 (157), and 36 (159) of chapter 17, the use of drugs is mentioned.
• In paragraphs 34 (158) and 35 (159) of chapter 17, cocaine and cocaine mixed with gunpowder is used.
• In paragraph 35 (159) of chapter 17, marijuana is used.

Ableist Language

• In paragraph 35 (15) of chapter 1, the word madness is used.
• In paragraph 6 (59) of chapter 9, the word madness is used.
• In paragraph 42 (66) of chapter 9, the word stupid is used.
• In paragraph 58 (80) of chapter 10, the word madness is used.
• In paragraph 20 (105) of chapter 12, the word madness is used.
• In paragraph 47 (173) of chapter 18, the word madness is used.
• In paragraph 1 (193) of chapter 20, the word crazy is used.

• In paragraphs 11 (204), 20 (207), 25 (208), and 33 (211) of chapter 21, the word madness is used.

Emetophobia

Emetophobia is the fear of throwing up. People vomit in the following paragraphs:

• Paragraphs 27 (12) and 29 (13) of chapter 1.
• Paragraph 3 (27) of chapter 4.
• Paragraphs 20 (34) of chapter 5.
• Paragraph 76 (83) of chapter 10.
• Paragraphs 13 (141) and 26 (145) of chapter 16.
• Paragraphs 14 (205), 19 (207), and 22 of chapter 21.

Sexual Assault

There are a few instances were sexual assault is mentioned in this novel. I noted it in the following paragraphs:

• In paragraph 58 (80) of chapter 10, there is a mention of women being raped by the rebels.
• In paragraph 29 (108) of chapter 2, there is a mention of forced incest.
• In paragraph 19 (206) of chapter 21, there is a brief mention of rape.

Alcohol

Alcohol is mentioned in paragraph 47 (161) of chapter 17 and paragraph 54 (174) of chapter 18.

Child Abuse

• In paragraph 17 (55) of chapter 8, there is a mention of flogging children as a punishment.

A Note for Teachers or Librarians: If you want to distribute these lists to your students or have them available to patrons, I can format the text into a singular sheet of paper (or as close to a single sheet of paper I can get)--either as a flyer or a tri-fold brochure. Let me know if you want that; My rates are variable and low, as I don't want to create a paywall to accessibility.

Love always,
Sam

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