A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story
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.
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Community Reviews
This is a relatively short children's (middle grade level) book that lead me to more thought and discussion than most 300 page novels I've read. "Discussion" included lengthy rants about the ability of people to complain about the most trivial things when this is life for many - homes being burned to the ground, family being separated by war, family members being killed for no real reason, being attacked/eaten by lions or crocodiles, walking for over a year to seek safety, walking MILES AND MILES for muddy, contaminated water.
There were many horrific moments in this book that had my jaw dropping; there were also many moments illustrating hope and perseverance. I cried multiple times and couldn't keep myself from choking up as I talked about this book in front of my ten-year-old. It is important for her to know Salva's story - a boy that was not much older than she is now. It is important for everyone to know his story and to begin understanding the other realities that exist outside of our comfortable bubbles.
It's tough for a children's book to get five stars from me but this is hands down 5 STARS and highly recommended.
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