Product Description
History of Liberia. Liberia, Demographics of Liberia, Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor (Liberia), Americo-Liberian, First Liberian Civil War, Second Liberian Civil War, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, Movement for Democracy in Liberia, Liberian general election, 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Labor conditions at Firestone Plantation in Liberia, United Nations Mission in Liberia, People's Redemption Council, National Patriotic Front of Liberia, Special Court for Sierra Leone, International Contact Group on Liberia ... Read more

Product Description

Liberia has a strong connection to the United States in that it was founded by former slaves in 1822. Although Liberia had existed as an independent African nation and a symbol of hope to the African peoples under the rule of various colonial powers, its recent history has been bedeviled by a prolonged upheaval following a military coup d'etat in 1980. In this context, the narrative highlights the distinctiveness of Liberians in their negotiation of traditional indigenous and modern practices, and the changes wrought by Christianity and Western influences.

Customer Reviews (1)

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Religion and world view 21
3 Literature and media 41
4 Art, architecture, and housing 59
5 Cuisine and traditional dress 79
6 Gender roles, marriage, and family 91
7 Social customs and lifestyle 109
8 Music and dance 127 ... Read more

Product Description
Sarina is American, but she lives in Liberia with her family while her father works for an African lumber company. Liberia is starkly beautiful and full of deliciously unique experiences. But though there are people like Te Te, the family's housekeeper,and Oldman Jacob, the night watchman, who have strange and wonderful stories to tell, what Sarina really yearns for is a friend her own age. Then, like a quenching rain after a drought, comes a boy called Boima, and suddenly life is recharged with all the magic and dreamlike adventure of childhood. Here is an affecting story of friendship and hope, loss and renewal from exceptional first-time novelist Amy Bronwen Zemser.

2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

a good idea gone wrong
I reviewed this book for my gigh school class after hearing all the praise for it. I was fairly shocked by the unrealistic portrayal of diabetics, how the author irresponsibly portrays them as mentally ill. As for the story itself, it is not terrible, but very bland. The writing was another problem, the author felt that she should use a foriegn dialect without insight as to the meaning of what to me were nonsense words.
Overall I would steer clear of this book, especially if your thinking about a lesson with it, I'm not sure these other critics read the same book as I, if they did, I would have to wonder what substance they abused while reading it.

Mango Tree Brilliant
BEYOND THE MANGO TREE is a sparkling debut.Ms. Zemser is a unique and jazzy talent.I'm looking forward to more of her work.

An eminent book!
Beyond the Mango Tree was an exciting four star book.It is about an American girl who moves to Liberia,in Africa because her dad is offered a job here.It was exciting because one night thieves came to her house and the guard was hit on the head and almost died and Sarina, the main character, was left alone.This book is also sad because even when Sarina doesn't do anything wrong her mother ties her to a tree and makes her stand in a dark muddy puddle. I have never read anything like this book before and recommend it to readers of all ages.

Realistically exotic!!
I thought this was a really fantastic book, the language, the plot and the characters were all very. . . alluring. Sarina's friend Boima supplies a series of dramatic stories throughout the book and Sarina's mother'sdiabetec probelems are extremely captivating, a must read for anyone whowould love to have a change from the everyday world.

Couldn't put it down!
This is a wonderful story of friendship which crosses boundaries of class, race and gender.In spite of Sarina's momentary jealousy and suspicion, in the end she learns that love is important and transcends the boundaries hersmall world. ... Read more