Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Solemn, Horrific
A Long Way Gone is all about the horrors of war, so it's not exactly light reading with smiles on every page. The entire book has a very dignified and serious tone. This isn't easy stuff we're dealing with, and every single village that's raided and each person who dies gets the sincere description they deserve.
The book also gives us glimpses of many terrifying moments. The horrific part is that they're mixed in with average, run-of-the-mill days. The terrors of war become just another part of daily life. Now that's scary.