A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (A Single Shard)
is inspired by the true story of Salva Dut and his harrowing story of survival
during the Sudanese Civil War. As an eleven year Salva is forced to flee his village
when bands of soldiers arrive and kill everyone in their path. Separated from
his family and believing that they are all dead, Salva joins a band of refugees
seeking refuge in Ethopia and then Kenya. Salva spends 11 years in refugee
camps before coming to US. Believing that all his family died in the initial
raid on his village, Salva receives word that his father is being treated in a
hospital in Sudan.
This
begins Salva’s next life journey, his father suffered from water borne illness
because there is no potable water in his father’s village. Salva’s new journey
is to bring potable water to the people of the Sudan.
Salva’s
story is juxtaposed with the fictional tale of Nya, a young girl that must walk
several hours twice a day to fetch clean water for her family. She does this
for seven months out of a year. The other five months she and her family must
temporarily move to find water, water that is not fit drink.
In the classroom:
I would recommend this book to be used with a unit on Sub-Sahara Africa. The main themes of the book, war, conflict, natural resources, human rights issues, cultural identify, etc. could be used in conjunction with current events from the Sub-Sahara region of Africa. Nya and Slava's story would also make for great discussions about universal human rights.
Lexile Level: 720
Grades: 6-8
In the classroom:
I would recommend this book to be used with a unit on Sub-Sahara Africa. The main themes of the book, war, conflict, natural resources, human rights issues, cultural identify, etc. could be used in conjunction with current events from the Sub-Sahara region of Africa. Nya and Slava's story would also make for great discussions about universal human rights.
Lexile Level: 720
Grades: 6-8
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