A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park Book Analysis

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park,  is a book about a boy named Salva, and his journey through Sudan. Salva is one of the many boys known as the ‘Lost Boys’ who walk through Sudan, to find a safe place. He goes through many refugee camps, to find a safe place, no matter how much work it will take.Throughout this book Salva has faced many challenges. His uncle, Jewir, gets shot in front of him, and he had to live with knowing he couldn’t do anything for his uncle to stop him from being shot. Though he was sad he used that anger, sadness, and grief to fuel himself and help him to keep walking. In the end Salva’s bravery, and empathy have helped him overcome challenges and make the world a better place. 

Salva’s bravery has helped so many people besides himself in life changing ways.Salva’s journey has led him to becoming a better person because of how brave and persistent he was. For example Salva is living in Rochester New York and decides that he would like to go back to Sudan to visit.  On page 99, the author says “He had a vague idea that he would like to return to Sudan someday, to help the people who lived there.” This shows how brave Salva is because he is willing to return to Sudan in the middle of war, without even knowing if his family is alive. Salva is showing us what the journey is like, and if he goes back to Sudan he will be able to share news about the war, but also to share the peoples stories. In a way Salva is a lot like Paul Solpek, traveling to Sudan to share these people's stories, and helping them by building wells, so they have accessible water. Another example is when Salva wakes up to find Marial gone, his uncle comforts him but it isn’t enough, soon after they realize Marial was taken by a lion. On page 41 the author quotes ‘ Salva was able to make his feet move despite the cold terror throughout his whole body.’ This shows how brave Salva is because even though his best friend died, he is still going and instead of crying like It would’ve done he is brave and doesn’t give up. Despite the challenges he has suffered he has made our world a better place, because of his constant bravery, and persistence. In the end I think Salvas bravery has made the world a better place, and helped himself and so many others overcome their challenges.

Salvas empathy really helped him overcome the challenges but also helped him make the world a better place. Salva made the world a better place because he showed his persistence, bravery and most of all empathy  throughout the book. On page 58, Salva’s uncle says 'No Salva, you are too small and not strong enough yet.’ This is significant because Salva is only a kid but is stepping up and trying to save people who he has never even spoken to. Again on page 106 the author writes “Little Kuol… Salva closed his eyes for a few moments, trying to picture his brothers through the haze of grief and relief.” This is another point of Salvas empathy,  because he hasn’t seen his brothers in 25 years, and  for the first time he will see them. He is also showing grief because he realizes he hasn’t gotten the opportunity to see his siblings grow up, and become brave, prescient, hopeful, and empathetic just like himself.  Salva has overcome his challenges because of his empathy, but also made the world a better place because of how he showed others that one person can make a difference. But also helped people who just like himself were trying to accomplish the same thing. Day by day, solving one problem at a time.

In the end, Salva’s bravery, and empathy have helped him overcome challenges and make the world a better place. This matters because it shows how hard it is for people like Salva trying to find a safe place, not just  in Sudan but from all over the world. It shows how much effort and emotional strength it takes to get through all these challenges. After reading this essay I hope you find something to take away and apply to your everyday life. And maybe someday you will change the world just like Salva Dut did.