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A review by purplegrape
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I was introduced to this book in 5th grade by Mrs. Hoeft. She read it to us out loud. Though I remembered nothing of the plot and characters, the name has never left me and I remembered how it felt to have it read to me---finishing a chapter, not knowing what would happen next, and being asked to journal about the cliff hanger we were left on. If I could find my old notebook from that year, I am so curious what 10? year old me thought to write down.
This novel is an easy read in that it is fast paced and tiny. I didn't read any physical books last month, so this was my reentry into reading (not just listening to audiobooks). I flew through the novel. There were scenes I recognized even after a decade (off of the top of my head, the crocodiles, since I remember being left on edge).
It's a great book for everyone, children and adults alike. Even at twenty it does just as good a job of putting things into perspective as it did when I was ten. Books like this make me want to make a difference in life more than make money, though the feeling doesn't last long enough to be meaningful 😅 but that says more about me than it does the novel.
As someone who forgets everything I read, the fact that this story (the title at the very least) stuck in my mind for years on end must count for something. When choosing books for my read around the world "challenge", this was the first to pop into my head for Africa despite it being years. While I can fully count on myself to forget what happens, I know that this story has etched itself into the fabric of my soul, and revisiting it, regardless of how many years pass, will never fail to take me back to sitting cross legged on the carpet floor of Mrs. Hoeft's classroom, waiting with baited breath to learn what happens to Salva.
I am so happy this novel was written, and even happier that it was read to me. Nothing will recreate my first experience hearing this story, but I am beyond grateful I can create new experiences on my own. Salva, you are incredible, and I would be lucky to have the strength and resilience of even your smallest toe nail. You have made your mark on the world, and I can only try to follow (or should I say walk) in your footsteps.
This novel is an easy read in that it is fast paced and tiny. I didn't read any physical books last month, so this was my reentry into reading (not just listening to audiobooks). I flew through the novel. There were scenes I recognized even after a decade (off of the top of my head, the crocodiles, since I remember being left on edge).
It's a great book for everyone, children and adults alike. Even at twenty it does just as good a job of putting things into perspective as it did when I was ten. Books like this make me want to make a difference in life more than make money, though the feeling doesn't last long enough to be meaningful 😅 but that says more about me than it does the novel.
As someone who forgets everything I read, the fact that this story (the title at the very least) stuck in my mind for years on end must count for something. When choosing books for my read around the world "challenge", this was the first to pop into my head for Africa despite it being years. While I can fully count on myself to forget what happens, I know that this story has etched itself into the fabric of my soul, and revisiting it, regardless of how many years pass, will never fail to take me back to sitting cross legged on the carpet floor of Mrs. Hoeft's classroom, waiting with baited breath to learn what happens to Salva.
I am so happy this novel was written, and even happier that it was read to me. Nothing will recreate my first experience hearing this story, but I am beyond grateful I can create new experiences on my own. Salva, you are incredible, and I would be lucky to have the strength and resilience of even your smallest toe nail. You have made your mark on the world, and I can only try to follow (or should I say walk) in your footsteps.