A Long Walk to Water

By Linda Sue Park

Two Sudanese children face perilous journeys for survival and hope.

7.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.3/5 Goodreads · 107,729 ratings

128 pages· 20,925 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In Sudan, Nya walks hours daily for water in 2008, while Salva, a 'lost boy' in 1985, treks across Africa seeking safety. Their paths, fraught with danger from rebels and wildlife, eventually converge in a surprising, life-changing encounter. How will their stories of endurance and hope intertwine?

From the publisher

The New York Times bestseller 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.

Awards

Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2011)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 128
Words: 20,925
Reading age: 10–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 720L

Themes & topics

Books about survival stories Books about refugees Books about Africa Books about history Books about culture

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Serious Subject Matter

Spoiler: This book includes references to a child being eaten by a lion, multiple people being eaten by crocodiles, and people being shot, one in particular was tied to a tree and shot with his nephew watching.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

7.0

out of 7

7.0

“This book had me in tears. All that Salva went through left me feeling every emotion, from fear, to love, to loss, to heartache and joy and longing to help. This young boy experienced it all -- and more than any child should. There are a few heavy things to get through. Check out the parent's guide to find out more specifics about what is in it. Overall, this book left me feeling inspired to do more for others. It was a very good book.”

Mom of Boys

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one