“A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan 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.” – Goodreads
This book could not be more timely given some of the recent news about a large group of migrant folks who have attempted entry into the US. I cannot recommend this book enough – it’s perfect for all ages, even though there are some graphic images and occasional violence. It is also written with super clever breaks in the parallel narratives, compelling the reader to move swiftly through the book to find out what happens. Also, it’s very short, making it an extremely quick but incredibly important and poignant look at what refugees endure when fleeing violence and instability.
Call # S. P219l (at SSHEL)
Review by Vicki