A Long Walk to Water follows the stories of two Sudanese kids about 20 years apart. Salva is a Sudanese boy who is displaced by the war and walks across entire countries to refugee camps. Nya is a Sudanese girl who walks miles to collect unsafe drinking water and doesn't have time to attend school because of the long journey.
Recommended age range: 10-12
Strengths:
- Two characters move the plot forward in each chapter. Park's writing technique is well executed and results in the beautiful merging of these storylines by the end.
- Provides a fuller picture for kids to see the impact of war on refugees and how one boy finds a path forward despite the chaos.
- Helps children grasp how a lack of clean drinking water impacts the lives of kids and their families.
Weaknesses:
- Salva grows up and kids lose his childlike perspective (but this is necessary for the full impact of the story).
Additional Notes:
- This book is based on a true story.
- While not graphic, there are some intense moments (but I think done age-appropriately) along the way. These moments don't define the book and are not dwelt on but are present to give the necessary authenticity to the story told on these pages.
Overall rating: 8 (out of 10)