donnareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.5
A middle grade book based on the true story of Salva Dut. In 1985 Salva becomes a "lost boy", separated from his family by a rebel attack on his village in Sudan. His harrowing journey to get back home and find any remaining family takes several years of wandering the African continent and eventually as a refugee in the U.S. You can look Salva up on the internet to see the great work he is doing to bring clean water to Sudan.
courtneyfield's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Great book to read to students my 6th graders loved it!
eiretulip's review against another edition
5.0
I read this based on a student’s recommendation and I’m so glad I did. Short, rich, amazing story.
jypsel's review against another edition
5.0
I taught this book to my 6th graders and what a joy it was. But I must admit:
There is something genuinely frustrating about teaching.
I have taught in 4 different countries. I have taught in public schools and charter schools, Christian schools and Jewish schools. I have been teaching for 8 of my 29 years on this planet and no matter where I teach, I always come across the same issue: intolerance.
If someone isn't "just like us," we all decide to have a mental breakdown, declare that person unfit for society and demonize them. If someone doesn't believe "just like us," then they're wrong - or maybe they'll even burn in hell, if that's your style. If someone doesn't behave "just like us," then good grief, they are just a social pariah and it's better to stay away from Mrs. Jones' house, Sarah, because sometimes she talks to herself and she likes to put eggshells around her front yard.
(My roommate puts eggshells around our house. Apparently it wards off evil spirits. I do wonder why my cat is still here, then...)
The reason I love this book, the reason I so entirely enjoyed and adored and consumed this book is because of the tolerance it showed. As you follow Salva and Nya - two different children from two different tribes from two different time periods - you, the reader, begin to understand how thoroughly connected we all are. Salva's story is a true story and when you realize that, it just makes everything more real. Obviously. But I think you get what I mean.
The second Civil War in Sudan was bloody, much like the first one had been. Reading about a child's experience in 1985 having to go through the hardships of war, the hardships of poverty and loss and violence is, in a word, horrid. But having to life that is an unspeakable cruelty. Salva was persecuted for his beliefs. Salva was afraid to reach out for help from tribes that believed differently than him.
Salva had to live in a world of intolerance.
Tribal mentality is a great cause for war. I don't mean literal tribes - religions can be considered their own tribes as well. Salva had to live through such mentalities. Salva had to live through such fear. It's a quick read. It's an "easy" read, but it's also an exceedingly difficult read if you let yourself think about it.
But it's the perfect book to teach. Because, in the end, at the end, when it all ends... tolerance is being built. And there is hope. For me, especially, teaching children who have been more or less secluded in their Orthodox upbringing (not a criticism, simply an observation), being able to introduce Salva's story to them, Sudan in general to them and other beliefs was, honestly, a privilege.
Highly recommended.
There is something genuinely frustrating about teaching.
I have taught in 4 different countries. I have taught in public schools and charter schools, Christian schools and Jewish schools. I have been teaching for 8 of my 29 years on this planet and no matter where I teach, I always come across the same issue: intolerance.
If someone isn't "just like us," we all decide to have a mental breakdown, declare that person unfit for society and demonize them. If someone doesn't believe "just like us," then they're wrong - or maybe they'll even burn in hell, if that's your style. If someone doesn't behave "just like us," then good grief, they are just a social pariah and it's better to stay away from Mrs. Jones' house, Sarah, because sometimes she talks to herself and she likes to put eggshells around her front yard.
(My roommate puts eggshells around our house. Apparently it wards off evil spirits. I do wonder why my cat is still here, then...)
The reason I love this book, the reason I so entirely enjoyed and adored and consumed this book is because of the tolerance it showed. As you follow Salva and Nya - two different children from two different tribes from two different time periods - you, the reader, begin to understand how thoroughly connected we all are. Salva's story is a true story and when you realize that, it just makes everything more real. Obviously. But I think you get what I mean.
The second Civil War in Sudan was bloody, much like the first one had been. Reading about a child's experience in 1985 having to go through the hardships of war, the hardships of poverty and loss and violence is, in a word, horrid. But having to life that is an unspeakable cruelty. Salva was persecuted for his beliefs. Salva was afraid to reach out for help from tribes that believed differently than him.
Salva had to live in a world of intolerance.
Tribal mentality is a great cause for war. I don't mean literal tribes - religions can be considered their own tribes as well. Salva had to live through such mentalities. Salva had to live through such fear. It's a quick read. It's an "easy" read, but it's also an exceedingly difficult read if you let yourself think about it.
But it's the perfect book to teach. Because, in the end, at the end, when it all ends... tolerance is being built. And there is hope. For me, especially, teaching children who have been more or less secluded in their Orthodox upbringing (not a criticism, simply an observation), being able to introduce Salva's story to them, Sudan in general to them and other beliefs was, honestly, a privilege.
Highly recommended.
shannonleelikestoread's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
moniska89's review
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
maizana's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
susannadkm's review against another edition
3.0
Two incidents in this book remind me of “the widow’s mite” from Luke 21 with the contrasting generosity of a poor person and stinginess of the wealthy (“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”).
While fleeing war through the desert in Sudan, a woman (the widow’s analog) shared her precious water with men dying of thirst. Water is everything, and her fellow travelers ridiculed her for wasting it on these people who are too far gone. But the water revived the men and they were able to get up and walk again. Somehow, it seems that acts of humanity are themselves life-giving. Even though she gave away some water, she gained strength from being compassionate. This story also took me back to Elie Wiesel’s Night and other Holocaust memoirs, in which some who irrationally shared food with a family member outlasted the concentration camps but some who kept food to themselves died (like the father and son in the cattle car whom Wiesel witnesses fighting over bread and almost immediately dying).
The second incident is the US (analog of the wealthy others) offering residence to a paltry 3,000 refugees among the “lost boys” back in the 90s. 3,000? The wealthiest nation in the world could only take in 3,000? Shameful.
War is horrible. People should be allowed to flee it and find refuge, not just in refugee camps, but in places where they can go to school, find work, and live full lives.
I wasn’t particularly impressed with the writing, but the story was important. I think the story of Salva’s miraculous escape and his choice to give back will stick with me for a long time.
(I listened to the audiobook; this was a book club pick.)
While fleeing war through the desert in Sudan, a woman (the widow’s analog) shared her precious water with men dying of thirst. Water is everything, and her fellow travelers ridiculed her for wasting it on these people who are too far gone. But the water revived the men and they were able to get up and walk again. Somehow, it seems that acts of humanity are themselves life-giving. Even though she gave away some water, she gained strength from being compassionate. This story also took me back to Elie Wiesel’s Night and other Holocaust memoirs, in which some who irrationally shared food with a family member outlasted the concentration camps but some who kept food to themselves died (like the father and son in the cattle car whom Wiesel witnesses fighting over bread and almost immediately dying).
The second incident is the US (analog of the wealthy others) offering residence to a paltry 3,000 refugees among the “lost boys” back in the 90s. 3,000? The wealthiest nation in the world could only take in 3,000? Shameful.
War is horrible. People should be allowed to flee it and find refuge, not just in refugee camps, but in places where they can go to school, find work, and live full lives.
I wasn’t particularly impressed with the writing, but the story was important. I think the story of Salva’s miraculous escape and his choice to give back will stick with me for a long time.
(I listened to the audiobook; this was a book club pick.)
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
A Long Walk to Water is an inspiring story based on the life of Salva Dut, one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. While the story is powerful, I feel that the text, even thought the book is oriented towards juvenile readers, would have been more powerful if it were more emotive.