A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story

Cherished by millions of readers, this #1 New York Times bestselling novel is a powerful tale of perseverance and hope. Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park interweaves the stories of two Sudanese children who overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others.

A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay.

Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way. Includes an afterword by author Linda Sue Park and the real-life Salva Dut, on whom the novel is based, and who went on to found Water for South Sudan.

AWARDS

 Golden Sower Award Masterlist (Nebraska)

 Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Wyoming)

 Iowa Children's Choice Award

 Jane Addams Book Award

 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award

 Nene Award (Hawaii)

 Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)

 Nutmeg Children’s Book Award (Connecticut)

 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (Illinois)

 South Carolina Junior Book Award