The protagonist is a very important character. His experiences drive the whole story. There are also his friends who play significant roles in his journey, like those who fight alongside him or offer support in difficult times.
One of the main themes is survival. The protagonist has to endure many hardships during the war. Another theme is the loss of innocence. The experiences in the war take away the childlike naivete of the characters.
Definitely a novel. 'A Long Way Gone' has the elements of a novel like a developed plot, fictional characters, and a narrative structure that distinguishes it from a simple book.
The tone in 'A Long Way Gone' is often harrowing. The author uses a very matter - of - fact tone to describe the horrors of war and his experiences as a child soldier. This makes the atrocities seem even more real and impactful, as he doesn't overly dramatize but simply tells what happened.