A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan 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.
Review
"There have been several books about the
lost boys of Sudan for adults, teens, and even for elementary-school readers.
But [this] spare, immediate account, based on a true story, adds a stirring
contemporary dimension. . . . Young readers will be stunned by the triumphant
climax."—
Booklist, starred review
"[This] spare, hard-hitting novel delivers a memorable portrait of two
children in Sudan. . . . Tragic and harrowing."—
Publishers
Weekly, starred review
"Two narratives intersect in a quiet
conclusion that is filled with hope."—
School Library Journal, starred
review"This powerful dual narrative packs suspense and introspection
into Park's characteristic spare description; while there are lots of details
offered to the reader, they come not in long, prosaic lines but in simple,
detached observations. Both Salva's and Nya's stories are told with brutal,
simple honesty, and they deliver remarkable perspective on the Sudanese
conflict. The novel's brevity and factual basis makes the reality of life in
Sudan very accessible, and readers will find both the story and the style
extremely moving."—
The Bulletin"Park simply yet convincingly
depicts the chaos of war and an unforgiving landscape. . . . A heartfelt
account."—
Kirkus Reviews
"Brilliant. . . . A touching narrative about strife and survival on a scale
most American readers will never see."—BookPage
"Riveting."—The Horn Book
"[A] fast, page-turning read. . . . A
great book for high school students and an important novel for young adults who
enjoy learning about other world cultures."—
VOYA
