A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

[bj neary]

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With alternating protagonists twenty years apart, Nya spends her days in the Sudan fetching water many times a day and twenty years earlier Salva is embroiled in the Sudanese Civil War, searching for his family, trying to survive as one of the Lost Boys and walking to Ethiopia and Kenya. Award winning author Linda Sue Park has crafted a fictionalized account of Salva Dut's story and what an admirable job. For upper elementary students, I think this is a must read for all students and the reluctant readers in junior and senior high would enjoy this piece of history that is still fraught with turmoil, genocide and cultural clashes. I think what Salva Dut shows so admirably is that his upbringing helped guide him to be positive and accepting of others. His uncle was able to motivate Salva by giving one thing at a time to strive for; this Salva used when he became a leader of the lost boys and he encouraged the boys for a year and a half to keep walking to make their way to Kenya. Salva continues to want to help others and this is where Nya's story blends with Salva's. A highly recommended read.

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