READING RESPONSE: A LONG WALK TO WATER BY LINDA SUE PARK

   Over the summer, I read a book called 'A Long Walk to Water' by Linda Sue Park. The book was told in two perspectives, one of a girl named Nya, and the other of a boy named Salva. The story starts with Salva, an 11 year old boy living in Sudan in 1985. One day when Salva is in school, an explosion from the ongoing war is heard and he runs away, only to be separated from his entire family. Salva continues walking towards a perceived safe camp in Ethiopia, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone, struggling to survive the harsh desert weather and constant hunger for a morsel of food. Eventually Salva and his companions reach the refugee camp, only to be forced out in 1991 and having to cross dangerous rapids full of crocodiles, where thousands are killed. Being one of the lucky people who survived the river, Salva takes it upon himself to lead the 1,200 orphaned boys to another refugee camp in Kenya.

   Nya is a young girl living in Sudan in 2008. Her whole life revolves around water and having to fight the constant battle of survival. Each day Nya must embark on an eight hour walk to the pond to gather water for her and her family. In the Dry season, Nya's family moves to an area with a dry lake bed, in which they must dig through mud and dirt until water trickles in.

  After Salva spent many years in the refugee camp he is chosen to go live in Rochester, NY with his new family. Salva adjusts to a new life and even learns English, and soon he develops the idea of building wells in Sudan for all those who struggle to find drinkable water. When Salva travels back to Sudan, he is reunited with his family, and he begins drilling wells throughout Sudan. Here he meets Nya as he is drilling a well in her town and building a school for both Sudanese boys and girls, allowing Nya to go to school for the first time ever.

  In conclusion, I greatly enjoyed the book and it was very moving how Nya and Salva's stories combined in the end. Linda Sue Park is a highly talented and descriptive author, and I highly recommend this book.