A Long Walk to Water

By Linda Sue Park

 Based on a true story 

And that is what made this story so powerful; the fact that it was based on a true story. It cut me deep. It touched my heart in a way that a book really hasn’t done.
 But that’s not the story I want to share. It’s been the school holidays, I handed this book to my son (11) who had just finished a favourite book whose sequel we couldn’t get hold of. I said to him to try this one. I told him its outside his usual type of story, but I said that its quite a good thing, to challenge yourself with different genre. I’m not sure what else I said but somehow I managed to talk into reading it.
After the first day I asked how he found it. He said a non-committal “it’s ok”. But he went on an said that he wasn’t sure he wanted to read it. The same conversation happened the next day and I managed to talk him into persevering.
When he’d finished it, when I’d finished The Spire, I picked it up and began reading. It was only then that I realized why he wanted to stop reading. I said I’ve just read the first four chapters. Is that when you said you wanted to stop reading? It was when the lead character’s friend is devoured by a lion. “Yep” he said.
The next day, I get to the point where the lead’s family member is shot by bandits. Was this when you wanted to stop reading? “Yep” he said.
I felt quite bad. For a while. But what I’ve noticed is change in his perspective. His prayers are have taken on a depth, a concern for oppressed children, the less fortunate. I’ve had conversation with him about ‘how the other half live’. We talked about the age of the lead character being about my age and the age of the other lead being a little older than him. I think this book has cut him deep too. Touched his heart, got the better.

 I need to plug the Water for Sudan project that Silva Dut (the lead) began. I want to urge you to read this little book. I’m betting it’ll cut you deep, too.

Synopsis

Two young people, two stories, one country - Sudan
Home for just long enough to eat, Nya would now make her second trip to the pond. To the pond and back - to the pond and back - nearly a full day of walking altogether.
This was Nya's daily routine seven months of the year. Daily. Every single day.
Salva ran until he could not run anymore. Then he walked.
For hours, until the sun was nearly gone from the sky. As Salva walked, the same thoughts kept going through his head in rhythm with his steps. Where are we going? Where is my family? When will I see them again?

Author 

This mesmerising dual narrative by Newbury medalist Linda Sue Parks shows us that in a troubled country, determined survivors may find the future they are hoping for.
She worked as a journalist, a copywriter, and a teacher of English as a second language, she now writes full time.

Books by the author

A variety of picture books
Seesaw Girl (1999)
The Kite Fighters (2000)
A Single Shard (2001)
When My Name Was Keoko (2002)
Project Mulberry (2005)
Archer's Quest (2006)
Keeping Score (2008)
Long Walk to Water (2010)
The 39 Clues: Trust No One (2012)
The 39 Clues: Storm Warning (2013)

Teacher Resources

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park - SuperSummary Study Guide
• A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park l Summary & Study Guide
• University of Queensland Press: Study Guide
• Tindley Collegiate: Study Guide