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A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story
By Linda Sue Park and Ginger Knowlton
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Start ReadingRatings:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5 (140 ratings)
Length: 110 pages1 hour
- Publisher:
- Clarion Books
- Released:
- Nov 15, 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780547532844
- Format:
- Book
Description
A Long Walk to Water is based on two heartbreaking true stories. Nya, a young girl from South Sudan, fetches water from a pond that is two hours walk from her home; she must make this dangerous trek two times a day. A boy, Salva, has become one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, seeking refuge across the African continent as he flees from a war in which he would be either unwilling soldier or victim.
Throughout the story we follow both Salva and Nya through their independent adventures, coming to understand their difficult lives and the circumstances that brought their country to this desparate chaos.
A story of hope, tragedy, and redemption, A Long Walk to Water is a beautiful and heartbreaking glimpse of the Sudanese people and their struggles.
Throughout the story we follow both Salva and Nya through their independent adventures, coming to understand their difficult lives and the circumstances that brought their country to this desparate chaos.
A story of hope, tragedy, and redemption, A Long Walk to Water is a beautiful and heartbreaking glimpse of the Sudanese people and their struggles.
Book Actions
Start ReadingBook Information
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story
By Linda Sue Park and Ginger Knowlton
Ratings:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5 (140 ratings)
Length: 110 pages1 hour
Description
A Long Walk to Water is based on two heartbreaking true stories. Nya, a young girl from South Sudan, fetches water from a pond that is two hours walk from her home; she must make this dangerous trek two times a day. A boy, Salva, has become one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, seeking refuge across the African continent as he flees from a war in which he would be either unwilling soldier or victim.
Throughout the story we follow both Salva and Nya through their independent adventures, coming to understand their difficult lives and the circumstances that brought their country to this desparate chaos.
A story of hope, tragedy, and redemption, A Long Walk to Water is a beautiful and heartbreaking glimpse of the Sudanese people and their struggles.
Throughout the story we follow both Salva and Nya through their independent adventures, coming to understand their difficult lives and the circumstances that brought their country to this desparate chaos.
A story of hope, tragedy, and redemption, A Long Walk to Water is a beautiful and heartbreaking glimpse of the Sudanese people and their struggles.
- Publisher:
- Clarion Books
- Released:
- Nov 15, 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780547532844
- Format:
- Book
About the author
Linda Sue Park is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning A Single Shard, the best-seller A Long Walk to Water, and the highly-praised novel Prairie Lotus. She has also written several acclaimed picture books and serves on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. She lives in western New York with her family. www.lindasuepark.com, Twitter: @LindaSuePark
Related to A Long Walk to Water
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A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park
Media
Map of Sudan, 1985
Copyright © 2010 by Linda Sue Park
All rights reserved.
Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2010.
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to trade.permissions@hmhco.com or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
hmhbooks.com
Map illustration by Kayley LaFaiver.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS HAS CATALOGED THE PRINT EDITION AS FOLLOWS:
Park, Linda Sue.
A long walk to water : based on a true story / by Linda Sue Park.
p. cm.
Summary: When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan.
1. Dut, Salva, 1974?—Juvenile fiction. [1. Dut, Salva, 1974?—Fiction. 2. Refugees—Fiction. 3. Survival—Fiction. 4. Water—Fiction. 5. Blacks—Sudan—Fiction. 6. Sudan—History—Civil War, 1983-2005—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.P22115Lo 2009
[Fic]—dc22
2009048857
ISBN 978-0-547-25127-1 hardcover
ISBN 978-0-547-57731-9 paperback
eISBN 978-0-547-53284-4
v7.1120
To Ben, again
Chapter One
Southern Sudan, 2008
Going was easy.
Going, the big plastic container held only air. Tall for her eleven years, Nya could switch the handle from one hand to the other, swing the container by her side, or cradle it in both arms. She could even drag it behind her, bumping it against the ground and raising a tiny cloud of dust with each step.
There was little weight, going. There was only heat, the sun already baking the air, even though it was long before noon. It would take her half the morning if she didn’t stop on the way.
Heat. Time. And thorns.
Southern Sudan, 1985
Salva sat cross-legged on the bench. He kept his head turned toward the front, hands folded, back perfectly straight. Everything about him was paying attention to the teacher—everything except his eyes and his mind.
His eyes kept flicking toward the window, through which he could see the road. The road home. Just a little while longer—a few minutes more—and he would be walking on that road.
The teacher droned on with the lesson, about the Arabic language. Salva spoke the language of his Dinka tribe at home. But in school he learned Arabic, the official language of the Sudanese government far away to the north. Eleven years old on his last birthday, Salva was a good student. He already knew the lesson, which was why he was letting his mind wander down the road ahead of his body.
Salva was well aware of how lucky he was to be able to go to school. He could not attend the entire year, because during the dry season his family moved away from their village. But during the rainy season, he could walk to the school, which was only half an hour from his home.
Salva’s father was a successful man. He owned many head of cattle and worked as their village’s judge—an honored, respected position. Salva had three brothers and two sisters. As each boy reached the age of about ten years, he was sent off to school. Salva’s older brothers, Ariik and Ring, had gone to school before him; last year, it had been Salva’s turn. His two sisters, Akit and Agnath, did not go to school. Like the other girls in the village, they stayed home and learned from their mother how to keep house.
Most of the time, Salva was glad to be able to go to school. But some days he wished he were still back at home herding cattle.
He and his brothers, along with the sons of his father’s other wives, would walk with the herds to the water holes, where there was good grazing. Their responsibilities depended on how old they were. Salva’s younger brother, Kuol, was taking care of just one cow; like his brothers before him, he would be in charge of more cows every year. Before Salva had begun going to school, he had helped look after the entire herd, and his younger brother as well.
The boys had to keep an eye on the cows, but the cows did not really need much care. That left plenty of time to play.
Salva and the other boys made cows out of clay. The more cows you made, the richer you were. But they had to be fine, healthy animals. It took time to make a lump of clay look like a good cow. The boys would challenge each other to see who could make the most and best cows.
Other times they would practice with their bows and arrows, shooting at small animals or birds. They weren’t very good at this yet, but once in a while they got lucky.
Those were the best days. When one of them managed to kill a ground squirrel or a rabbit, a guinea hen or a grouse, the boys’ aimless play halted and there was suddenly a lot of work to do.
Some of them gathered wood to build a fire. Others helped clean and dress the animal. Then they roasted it on the fire.
None of this took place quietly. Salva had his own opinion of how the fire should be built and how long the meat needed to cook, and so did each of the others.
The fire needs to be bigger.
It won’t last long enough—we need more wood.
No, it’s big enough already.
Quick, turn it over before it’s ruined!
The juices dripped and sizzled. A delicious smell filled the air.
Finally, they couldn’t wait one second longer. There was only enough for each boy to have a few bites, but, oh, how delicious those bites were!
Salva swallowed and turned his eyes back toward the teacher. He wished he hadn’t recalled those times, because the memories made him hungry. . . . Milk. When he got home, he would have a bowl of fresh milk, which would keep his belly full until suppertime.
He knew just how it would be. His mother would rise from her work grinding meal and walk around to the side of the house that faced the road. She would shade her eyes with one hand, searching for him. From far off he would see her bright orange headscarf, and he would raise his arm in greeting. By the time he reached the house, she would have gone inside to get his bowl of milk ready for him.
CRACK!
The noise had come from outside. Was it a gunshot? Or just a car backfiring?
The teacher stopped talking
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Reviews
Reviews
What people think about A Long Walk to Water
4.5Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
140 ratings / 70 reviews
What did you think?
Rating: out of 5 stars
Critic reviews
"A Long Walk to Water is a tragic story of a young man in Sudan who just wants to live his life, who just wants to be happy, but is forced to flee from a war torn nation so that he isn't forced to fight, or be killed. Reading this story was very hard for me, partly because it is based on a true story, and partly because it makes me realize how easy my life is compared to the rest of the world. Heartbreaking book, but I wouldn't unread it if I could."
Scribd Editors
"Park is able to tie together two stories, seemingly in parallel, they eventually connect at the end in a beautiful way. Given that both characters are from Sudan, you suspect throughout the novel that they will somehow connect, but only when you realize that they are from "enemy" tribes, does it really hit home how far Salva has come in his journey. The fact that this book is based on a true story is saddening beyond measure, but it also inspires hope because we get to see such a strong human being persevere through so much. I try to imagine what it must have been like, a scared boy, a terrified teenager, going to a new and strange land, learning a new language to survive, and eventually reaching a point in his life where he could return home to help his people...how amazing."
Scribd Editors
Reader reviews
addunn3
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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A boy describes his experience walking through central Africa in search of safety.
addunn3
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
A boy describes his experience walking through central Africa in search of safety.
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kamgeb
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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I very fast read. A very basic book about the Lost Boys and the story behind them. None of the characters were developed very well. But it was interesting plot.
kamgeb
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
I very fast read. A very basic book about the Lost Boys and the story behind them. None of the characters were developed very well. But it was interesting plot.
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kimkimpton
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
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This is a great book for middle school- maybe even older elementary students if they are mature. There is no objectionable language and the violence is not at all graphic. Yet, it is a heartwarming true story that comes together nicely in the end. Warning...you will want to donate money to Water for South Sudan when you are done reading this.
kimkimpton
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
This is a great book for middle school- maybe even older elementary students if they are mature. There is no objectionable language and the violence is not at all graphic. Yet, it is a heartwarming true story that comes together nicely in the end. Warning...you will want to donate money to Water for South Sudan when you are done reading this.
Was this review helpful for you?
amrahmn
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
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I really enjoyed the 2 interwoven stories of Nya, a Nuer girl and her daily 8 hour quest for water and that of the "lost boy", Salva as his story of fleeing his Dinka village in South Sudan. Salva's story is more detailed and thus, more compelling. I felt the fear and loss as Salva traveled east to the first refugee camp and then a few years later as he traveled to the second before finally coming to the US. I really enjoyed the linking of the two stories and the fact that Nya and Salva were from different tribes. I would use this book for study of "Lost Boys", refugees, and the importance of clean water everywhere in the world.
amrahmn
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
I really enjoyed the 2 interwoven stories of Nya, a Nuer girl and her daily 8 hour quest for water and that of the "lost boy", Salva as his story of fleeing his Dinka village in South Sudan. Salva's story is more detailed and thus, more compelling. I felt the fear and loss as Salva traveled east to the first refugee camp and then a few years later as he traveled to the second before finally coming to the US. I really enjoyed the linking of the two stories and the fact that Nya and Salva were from different tribes. I would use this book for study of "Lost Boys", refugees, and the importance of clean water everywhere in the world.
Was this review helpful for you?
phh333
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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This story is based on real events that took place in Sudan. It is told in two voices and two different time periods. Salva starts his story in 1985 when the war in Sudan was just reacing his village in Southern Sudan. Nya's story takes place in 2008. Salva's story is the story of one of the "Lost Boys" who escaped the war by traveling miles to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Nya's story is the story of water - how its scarcity ruled the lives of those in her village.
phh333
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
This story is based on real events that took place in Sudan. It is told in two voices and two different time periods. Salva starts his story in 1985 when the war in Sudan was just reacing his village in Southern Sudan. Nya's story takes place in 2008. Salva's story is the story of one of the "Lost Boys" who escaped the war by traveling miles to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Nya's story is the story of water - how its scarcity ruled the lives of those in her village.
Was this review helpful for you?
rwilliamson_53
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
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This motivational piece of historical fiction tells the story of 11 year old Salva, Dut, one of “Sudan’s lost boys”, as he walks to safety fleeing Civil War in 1985 and again in 1991 when refugees were forced back into Sudan. Salva’s story is juxtaposed with the 2008 story of Nya. The Civil War is over but a fictional character Nya lives in an area of Sudan with no running water. She spends hours each day walking through the bush to a watering hole. As a teenager, Salva comes to America where he resumes his education and eventually learns that his father has survived. Visiting his father Salva is struck by the lack of clean water. He ultimately starts a foundation that has provided 104 water wells for South Sudan. One of wells is in Nya’s village thus the adult Salva and 11 year old Nya meet. Clean water will change her life, freed from the need to seek water, the elders in her village plan to build a school. The writing style is spare yet moving. I’m working with a 5th grade teacher to write a lesson plan using Long Walk to Water and the picture book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba as the basis of a 5th grade service project at my school this year. Our plans are still rough but we would like to read these two books, and participate in the water challenge.
rwilliamson_53
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
This motivational piece of historical fiction tells the story of 11 year old Salva, Dut, one of “Sudan’s lost boys”, as he walks to safety fleeing Civil War in 1985 and again in 1991 when refugees were forced back into Sudan. Salva’s story is juxtaposed with the 2008 story of Nya. The Civil War is over but a fictional character Nya lives in an area of Sudan with no running water. She spends hours each day walking through the bush to a watering hole. As a teenager, Salva comes to America where he resumes his education and eventually learns that his father has survived. Visiting his father Salva is struck by the lack of clean water. He ultimately starts a foundation that has provided 104 water wells for South Sudan. One of wells is in Nya’s village thus the adult Salva and 11 year old Nya meet. Clean water will change her life, freed from the need to seek water, the elders in her village plan to build a school. The writing style is spare yet moving. I’m working with a 5th grade teacher to write a lesson plan using Long Walk to Water and the picture book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba as the basis of a 5th grade service project at my school this year. Our plans are still rough but we would like to read these two books, and participate in the water challenge.
Was this review helpful for you?