a long walk to water by linda sue park summary

Eventually Salva and the others make it to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, where there were thousands upon thousands of people, most of whom were boys and young men. As devastated and defeated as Salva feels, he manages to forge on, knowing his uncle and dear friend would want him to survive. On the third day of their trek across the desert, a group of armed men steal all of their supplies and brutally kill uncle Jewiir. They come across others who are near death or already dead, and water is extremely limited. After making their own canoes and crossing the Nile River, the group is faced with the grueling task of crossing the Akobo Desert. Fear and grief overcome Salva, but his uncle urges him and tells Salva to continue on and not give up. Tragedy strikes when Marial gets killed and eaten during a lion attack while he is asleep. Salva stays with the group, and they travel together for about a month.

Things seem to be getting better for Salva as they travel towards Ethiopia, but he worries that he may never have a chance to search for his family if he continues traveling so far away. In addition, Salva makes a dear friend in a boy named Marial. Salva meets up with some members of his tribe, the Dinka tribe, and finds his uncle, Jewiir. When he wakes the next day, Salva finds that he has been left behind. After hours of walking, the group that Salva joins settles into a barn for the night. Separated from his family, Salva is afraid and alone, only recognizing some people from his village. Everyone is urged to run, head toward the bush and get as far away from home as possible, and Salva flees the area. The year is 1985 in southern Sudan, and the Sudanese Civil War is all around them. The story begins with eleven year old Salva sitting in school one day when gunshots suddenly ring out.

Short Summary of A Long Walk to Water Salva

How were Salva's village and Nya's village similar? How were they different?.

What was life like for Salva at the two different refugee camps?.

What are some of the important themes in this novel?.

What are some similarities between Nya and Salva? What are some differences between the two individuals?.

What challenges did Nya and Salva face and how did they overcome these challenges?.

A long walk to water by linda sue park summary