This book is a Cybils nominee, nominated by Amy at Hope is the Word. (All opinions are my own and are not meant to reflect the opinions of the entire judging panel.)
As it says on the front cover, this short novel is based on a true story. It is the amazing, inspiring tale of one of the "Lost Boys" of the Sudan, Salva Dut, who escaped warfare, trekked through deserts, and survived the chaos of refugee camps to eventually come to America and become the founder of the non-profit, Water for Sudan.
The novel intersperses chapters from the perspective of a young girl called Nya, who lives in South Sudan in 2008, and Salva who flees an attack on his school in 1985.
Nya's story: In order to find clean water, Nya has to walk miles twice a day. In her village, there is no school and children often sicken and die from muddy, disease-bearing water. Eventually, a man from a different tribe comes to her village and brings men and equipment to dig a well. Now, the villagers can also build a school.
That man is Salva Dut. The chapters about his struggles to survive as an 11-year-old in wartorn Southern Sudan are both horrendous and breathtakingly beautiful. Horrendous because of all the losses of life Salva encounters, but uplifting because of his indomitable spirit of survival.
Linda Sue Park writes the story in a spare, almost matter-of-fact way (although she is great at cliffhangers at the end of chapters.) I can see this as a book that could be read in classrooms to open American children's eyes to what is going on in the wider world. Of course, it would also be wonderful to read as a family as a springboard to discuss how to help others.
At several moments during the reading of A Long Walk to Water, I had tears in my eyes.
Thanks for stopping by. You can read other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews on the blogs on my sidebar. (And HUGE congratulations to Shannon Messenger who started all this Middle Grade Monday Mirth and Mayhem for her BOOK DEAL!!!!!!)
This is a moving story, well worth a read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really awesome book. I'll have to chec it out.
ReplyDeleteWow! My heart really revved up reading about this story. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah for Shannon!!
This sounds heavy. But in a good way.
ReplyDeleteYou and I seem to have similar tastes. I raved about this book on my blog almost a year ago. Love the way the two storylines converge. And yes, it brought tears to my eyes too.
ReplyDeleteNice review, Michael.
As you know, Michael, my kids and I do A LOT of reading aloud, so the mention of sharing it together and discussing put this book on my list. I hadn't heard about it, so thank you.
ReplyDeleteI started this one--a couple of times--but haven't been up to the heavy sorrow of it. It's an amazing and powerful story, and I'm SO GLAD you reviewed it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this one, and I love Linda Sue Park's writing. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one, but LSP is an awesome writer and speaker.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation.
Sounds like a great read on so many levels. And a good classroom read. Reminds us of how fortunate we are and inspires us to do good works.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar vein, I read Long Way Gone (story of a boy soldier in Africa) by Ismael Beah not too long ago and that was pretty brutal. My high schoolers read it and loved it, but I think it's a bit mature for middle schoolers.
I'm glad to know about this story. I've seen many documentaries on the subject that have stayed with me. I'm sure my eyes won't be dry as I read this tale.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Michael- I've just placed it on my night stand. Keep those recommendations coming!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff! I so, so agree with you...this was a fabulous read. And what really amazed me was how the time she covered was seemless...the flow of the story was always there, compelling and powerful!
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