A Long Walk to Water

By Linda Sue Park

Book Overview

Cherished by millions of readers, this #1 New York Times bestselling novel is a powerful tale of perseverance and hope. Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park interweaves the stories of two Sudanese children who overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others.

A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours' walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay.

Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya's in an astonishing and moving way. Includes an afterword by author Linda Sue Park and the real-life Salva Dut, on whom the novel is based, and who went on to found Water for South Sudan.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547577311
• ISBN13: 9780547577319
• Release Date: October 2011
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

One of the best books I have read.

Two stories that enter twine together. Many true parts to this story, a must read!

A tough but wonderful journey

This book touch me hard at many states, especially when Salva flashbacks during his long walking journey. It's dark, horrid and unimaginable! The more I read the luckier I feel to be born and raised in The United States, a safe place, a wealthy country and the constitutions which protect my right as a citizen. The book is quite short and easy to read. The little girl Nya who lives in Nuer on 2008 meet Salva, the guy was pushed away by war from his family and country. They seemed irrelevant but relevant, it's kinda like the circle of life.