About the Book

When eleven-year-old Francis Duworko was abducted as a child soldier, he fought for the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy not from his own ambition or interest, but out of fear of being killed and of the fear of displaying cowardice. In To Live and to Tell, Duworko narrates his war-time experiences, describing how he found the strength to put the bad memories behind him and move forward with the goal to help others.

This memoir shares the story of Duworko's abduction, the two-and-a-half torturous years he spent with the rebels, his escape to Guinea, and his immigration to Canada in 2005. He also describes how he founded three organizations to help youth recover from the trauma of war. He tells how he refuses to impose the weights of his past upon himself and instead seeks to empower others and make a difference.

To Live and to Tell serves not only to recall Duworko's experiences, but also to communicate the message that we should leave the past behind and live for today.