Today I am participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day, which celebrates diversity in children’s literature. The event is co-hosted by Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. Around 60 bloggers have signed up to participate. Please visit the site mentioned above to view the many books reviewed.
A Long Walk to Water
Linda Sue Park, Author
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Historical Fiction, Oct. 14, 2011
Suitable for Ages: 10-14
Themes: Refugees, Survival, Sudan, War, Water
Synopsis: A Long Walk to Water is narrated in alternating chapters by two 11-year-old children who live in the Sudan two decades apart. Nya’s story is told in 2008 and Salva’s story is told in 1985. Nya spends nearly eight hours everyday walking to a pond to fetch dirty water in a container for her family. She makes the trip twice daily and it prevents her from ever attending school. Salva is attending school when war breaks out in his village. He and the school children run deep into the forest so they aren’t killed by rebels. He is separated from his family and makes a long journey fraught with danger — rebel armies, lions, crocodiles, and desserts — to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He later leads 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Salva is among 3,800 “lost boys” of Sudan who make it to freedom and a new life in America. His path crosses Nya’s in an amazing way many years later.
Why I like this book: Linda Sue Park gives her readers an extraordinary perspective about the brutal Sudanese conflict. It is a true and gripping story based on the childhood experiences of Salva Dut, an 11-year-old boy from the Sudan, who suffers great hardships when he flees from his home when it is attacked. Not only does he survive such a brutal ordeal, he gives back to his country in a remarkable way years later. Park said A Long Walk to Water made the New York Times Bestseller’s list three years after it was published because “the book spread quickly by word of mouth among teachers and librarians.” It is required reading this year for 7th graders living in New York. Park wrote this book because “I want young readers to know that there are people like Salva in this world, to admire and emulate however they can.” Click here to visit Linda Sue Park’s website. She is also a Newbery Medalist for A Single Shard, and the author of the Xander’s Panda Party, 2013.
Resources: You can learn more about the lifesaving work Salva is doing today in Sudan by visiting his website Water for Sudan. Listen to the interview with Linda Sue Park and Salva.
Children's Books Heal 
Wow, Pat, this book sounds extraordinary. I am a big Linda Sue Park fan already – I will have to read this one!
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It is a powerful story and very well-written!
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This looks like a really important read. I just started “sponsoring” someone in the Sudan via Women for Women International. I’ll definitely read this as part of my education. I had heard of it, but your description has me moving it up the TBR pile. Thanks!
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Nancy, I think you’d enjoye this read since you are sponsoring someone from Sudan. It gives you understanding of the history of the region and the desperate needs.
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I’m definitely putting this one on my summer reading list, Pat!
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It’s a great read Michelle. I listened to Emma Walton Hamilton interview Linda Sue Park in the fall, and I was so captivated by the interview that I immediately looked for this book.
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This book has been on my list for awhile now. I think it’s time to move it to the top. Thank you for a wonderful post and for celebrating Multicultural Children’s Book day with us.
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It is a wonderful story. I love Linda Sue Park’s books. This one is well-researched. I enjoyed celebrating Multicultural Children’s Book Day with all of you!
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Thank you so much for sharing Patricia and I am very glad you are a part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day!
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Thank you Rebecca. It already is successful launch with the many books entered. I had many I could share, but wanted to share a book for teens that shows them what one boy could do.
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Patricia, that sounds amazing! My daughters are still too young for this, but a great book to keep on the horizons for the future. Almost reviewed “The Paper House” by Lois Peterson, a book for ages 8-11 yrs. Great way to introduce kids to the hardships in other countries.
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Thank you Michelle. The book is both heartbreaking but uplifting.
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Hi Patricia, This sounds like a very moving story. I did some work as a health researcher studying the AIDS epidemic in Uganda and learned so much about life in these conflict-ridden countries. It is absolutely heart-breaking. I do think it is important for children (albeit when they are older as you suggest above) to be aware of the brutal conditions children in other parts of the world live in on a daily basis. Great choice and thanks for sharing it in the MCCBD. 🙂
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Renee, it is a moving story. Your work in Uganda sounded very interesting and you must have seen so much. You may want to conside “The Paper House” by Lois Peterson for ages 8-11 yrs. It’s a quick read and introduces kids to the problems of children living in African slums.
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Thank you for sharing this book as part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day! I look forward to adding this title to my teen boys’ reading list.
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Thank you Susan. It is a great teen book that packs a powerful message about resilience and giving back.
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adding this to my TBR pile!
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Glad you enjoyed the review Pam! It is an excellent book!
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I do love this book. I have read it more than once and have given it to several friends’ children as a present. Short but powerful
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Yes, I loved it too. I love Linda Sue Park. Emma interviewed her on the Children’s Book Hub last fall.
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We have it so so easy in the Western world. I look forward to reading this, Pat.
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Thank you Catherine. You are right. And, thanks for tweeting.
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Sounds like an amazing book!! Thank you for sharing!!
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Thank you Carrie for visiting. I’m glad you like my choice.
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This looks like a wonderful story. It reminded me so much of the times I spent in Kenya and Sudan when Sudan was at war during the nineties. The lives of people were so harsh, and getting water or an education was such a struggle for so many. Sudan has lost at least two generations. And we have so many stories of people that we were involved in helping to escape to America or the UK for varying reasons.
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Hoped you’d like my choice as I knew you were there. You should write your stories for teens — you would be so good at it.
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Linda Sue Park’s WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO is still one of my favourite, favourite MG historical novels. It’ll be interesting to get to this one, too. I’ve heard much about this!
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It is an easy read, but very powerful. I haven’t read that one, so i must. Thank you for the suggestion.
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What an incredible story! I know something about those Lost Boys. Kids in our country just don’t realize how much they really have. So much gets taken for granted. Thanks for sharing this story.
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Yes, there has been a lot written about the lost boys. But, this story really shows the resilience of one of those boys, Salva, who becomes a leader and finds a way to go back and make his homeland a better place.
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This looks like a very powerful story- I would love to use this in an advanced ESL class in high school. I bet the kids would really enjoy it too.
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Thank you Becky. It is the perfect book for a class to read and discuss. It’s such an important story about one of the “lost boys” and the problems of Sudan.
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My daughter & I read this book a couple months ago and did an activity for her homeschool. It’s a very powerful story!
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Tina, ‘m so happy you and your daughter read the book together. It’s fun to be able to discuss books like this with someone.
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Loved this book! What a great review — glad you shared it for Multicultural Children’s Book Day!
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Thank you Mary. It is such a powerful book. I’m glad you loved it. Made me want to help his cause.
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This looks amazing, thank you for sharing. I am adding this to my summer list- have been looking for books to read aloud to my 16 y.o. and this looks like it would be a great one to promote discussion!
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Thank you for visiting. I’m so pleased you like the review and want to read it. It will promote a great discussion with your teen.
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I’m so glad I popped by – your reviews are so well written and thought out, and I have already placed a hold on this book from our library – it sounds like a great, and important, read to have with my daughters. Thanks for including the extra resources as well!
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Thank you Mary. I’m so pleased you reserved the book at the library. Great discussion book with teens. As you read, it is required reading in NY state for 7th graders.
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This sounds like an amazing book. I think it is great that the characters are real. Ms. Park is one of my favorite authors! 😀
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Yes, Linda Sue Park is one of my favorite authors. I heard her interviewed by Emma in the fall on the Children’s Book Hub. This is a book you’d like.
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A perfect choice for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I am also a huge fan of Linda Sue Park.
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Thank you Darlene. I loved sharing Linda Sue Park’s book on Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Thanks for tweeting.
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Thanks so much for joining us Patricia! I loved A Long Walk to Water. We were lucky to meet a Lost Boy and used Brothers in Hope advanced picture book for a book club for kids. Both books tell a similar story and pair well together. http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/07/teach-me-tuesday-the-lost-boys-and-girls-of-sudan-book-club-for-kids/
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Mia, I enjoyed participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I’ve met many bloggers, with still more to meet. I look forward to a future relationship with you. Thank you for sharing BROTHERS IN HOPE with me. I just read your post and the books do compliment one another. I’m glad to know your daughter had the opportunity to meet one of the “lost boys.” Their resilience and desire to help their homeland is remarkable. I’m glad to know there is a PB!
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Linda Sue Park spoke about this book at the Denver-SCBWI conference. I loved it. She’s a wonderful writer.
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That’s great! She is an excellent author. I heard her interviewed by Emma Walton Hamilton on the Children’s Book Hub. Delightful lady.
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