For supporting information about this book, please go to the website www.waterforsouthsudan.org (below) as well as links provided to develop your understanding of this truly amazing story. Note: bit.ly/ links are not hyper links, you need to copy and paste them into your browser.
https://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/
bit.ly/BookTrailerLongWalkToWater
bit.ly/LindaSueParkInterview
bit.ly/SalvasStory
bit.ly/SalvaDutTedTalk
bit,ly/DrillingWells
A Long Walk to Water
Day 1: Chapter 1 and 2 (p1-13)
Pre-Reading:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
1. Before his village was attacked, Salva was daydreaming about his life at home. What are three things we learned about him in this passage?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are North Sudan and South Sudan fighting?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did only the boys go to school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2:
1. What does Nya’s experience with the thorn tell us about her? What is a personality trait you could use to describe her, based on her reaction?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How does Linda Sue Park describe the airplane Salva sees? What does this tell us about the plane? What literary device is this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How is Salva feeling when he realizes the men with the guns are the rebels? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What does Salva’s choice to step forward on p. 11 tell you about his character? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Reread this sentence about a Rebel soldier:
“A soldier hit him in the face with the butt of a gun.”
If the Rebels are supposed to be the “good guys,” why are they being so harsh?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does Salva keep repeating the words, “where is my family” throughout the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Why does everyone leave Salva behind at the end of the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 2 (Chapter 3 and 4)
Chapter 3:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 3: Chapter 5 and 6 (p. 26-38)
Chapter 5:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 6:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 4: Chapter 7 & 8 (p. 39 - 50)
Chapter 7:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 8:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 5: Chapter 9 & 10 (p. 51-63)
Chapter 9:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 6 Chapter 11 & 12 (p64 -75)
Chapter 11:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 12:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 7 Chapter 13 & 14 (p.76-89)
Chapter 13:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 14:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 8: Chapter 15 & 16 (p.90 - 102)
Chapter 15:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 16:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water by Eric Walters
Day 9: Chapter 17 & 18 (p.103 - 121)
Chapter 17:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 18:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk To Water
Text-Based Discussion Questions
Pre-Reading:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
Chapter 6:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 9:
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
Chapter 13:
Chapter 14:
Chapter 15:
Chapter 16:
Chapter 17:
Chapter 18:
Day 1: Chapter 1 and 2 (p1-13)
Pre-Reading:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
1. Before his village was attacked, Salva was daydreaming about his life at home. What are three things we learned about him in this passage?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are North Sudan and South Sudan fighting?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did only the boys go to school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2:
1. What does Nya’s experience with the thorn tell us about her? What is a personality trait you could use to describe her, based on her reaction?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How does Linda Sue Park describe the airplane Salva sees? What does this tell us about the plane? What literary device is this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How is Salva feeling when he realizes the men with the guns are the rebels? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What does Salva’s choice to step forward on p. 11 tell you about his character? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Reread this sentence about a Rebel soldier:
“A soldier hit him in the face with the butt of a gun.”
If the Rebels are supposed to be the “good guys,” why are they being so harsh?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does Salva keep repeating the words, “where is my family” throughout the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Why does everyone leave Salva behind at the end of the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 2 (Chapter 3 and 4)
Chapter 3:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 3: Chapter 5 and 6
Chapter 5:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 6:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 4 (Chapter 7 & 8)
Chapter 7:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 8:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 5 (Chapter 9 & 10)
Chapter 9:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 6 (Chapter 11 & 12)
Chapter 11:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 12:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 7 (Chapter 13 & 14)
Chapter 13:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 14:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 8 (Chapter 15 & 16)
Chapter 15:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 16:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 9 (Chapter 17 & 18)
Chapter 17:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 18:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 1: Chapter 1 and 2 (p1-13)
Pre-Reading:
- What do you notice about how the text is laid out?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What do you notice about the type? The dates? The titles? Etc.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why do you think the author made these choices?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Look closely at the map at the beginning of the book. What do you notice? What do you wonder?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Salva’s route goes from Loun-Ariik to Kakuma. What environments does he travel through?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
1. Before his village was attacked, Salva was daydreaming about his life at home. What are three things we learned about him in this passage?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are North Sudan and South Sudan fighting?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did only the boys go to school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2:
1. What does Nya’s experience with the thorn tell us about her? What is a personality trait you could use to describe her, based on her reaction?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How does Linda Sue Park describe the airplane Salva sees? What does this tell us about the plane? What literary device is this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How is Salva feeling when he realizes the men with the guns are the rebels? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What does Salva’s choice to step forward on p. 11 tell you about his character? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Reread this sentence about a Rebel soldier:
“A soldier hit him in the face with the butt of a gun.”
If the Rebels are supposed to be the “good guys,” why are they being so harsh?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does Salva keep repeating the words, “where is my family” throughout the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Why does everyone leave Salva behind at the end of the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 2 (Chapter 3 and 4)
Chapter 3:
- What was the long history between the Nuer and the Dinka tribes?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Salva identify the old woman as being from the Dinka tribe?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What does Salva mean when he says “everything was upside down?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What was the old woman's reasoning for not bringing Salva along with her?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Salva feel when he sees the group of people walking towards the house?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4:
- Describe a typical day in Nya’s life.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why did the men consider leaving Salva behind?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- In the end, why did they let him join them?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Describe a typical day in Salva’s new life.
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 3: Chapter 5 and 6 (p. 26-38)
Chapter 5:
- If the lake has more water than the pond, why can’t Nya’s family just stay there year- round?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How is Nya’s water collection different at the lake camp?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Infer what happened with the bees.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How did Salva know that Marial was not from his village?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How much time has now passed since Salva started running?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 6:
- What do we now know about Salva’s and Nya’s tribes? What inferences can we make based on this information?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What family member does Salva finally find?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Re-read this quote.
“But it did not take long for Salva to regret his haste in eating [the topi]. After so many weeks of near starvation, his stomach rebelled mightily.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Who is Marial? What happens to him in the Atuot region? What clues led you to this
inference?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 4: Chapter 7 & 8 (p. 39 - 50)
Chapter 7:
- Describe the effects of water-borne illness.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Was your prediction about Marial’s fate correct? If not, what clues in the text foreshadowed this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Uncle help Salva through this traumatic event?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 8:
- After Akeer was treated at the hospital, the nurse told Nya’s mother how to prevent illness in the future. Why did this worry their mother?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What do mangoes symbolize for Salva? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why do all the fishermen disappear so quickly at sunset?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- As Salva and his group made the final trip from the island to the other side of the Nile,
what do the fishermen advise the group to do? Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 5: Chapter 9 & 10 (p. 51-63)
Chapter 9:
- Describe the visitors to Nya’s village.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How did Salva stubbing his toe almost lead to a very different outcome for him?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Uncle get Salva through the desert?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Summarize the incident involving the “large clump of rocks” that were moving.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10:
- Why is Nya so confused about the visitors?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Who were the men who approached Salva’s group? How does Salva know who they are?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What was the last thing the men did before running away?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why would these men would attack fellow southerners?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 6 Chapter 11 & 12 (p64 -75)
Chapter 11:
- Based on the information so far, make a prediction about what the visitors to Nya’s village might be doing.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What keeps Salva moving forward, even as he grieves Marial’s and Uncle’s deaths?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What are 3 observations Salva makes when he arrives at the Itang refugee camp.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Look back at the map of Salva’s route. Where is Itang? What do we know about his
future in this refugee camp?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- When he arrives at Itang, Salva sees, “orange... an orange headscarf,” and starts
following it. Why? What is he thinking? What led you to this inference?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 12:
- What is the “red giraffe?” Why might Nya describe it this way?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What are the villagers doing, and how do they feel about this work?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What does the “orange scarf” woman force Salva to admit to himself? How does he
continue to go on, despite the “black despair of nothingness” he is feeling?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How long did Salva stay in Itang?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why did he leave?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 7 Chapter 13 & 14 (p.76-89)
Chapter 13:
- How did “the boss” handle the drilling crew when the bag kept springing leaks? What character trait(s) does this show?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Describe the Gilo River crossing from start to finish.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Where is Salva headed next? Look back at the map. What will he face on this part of his
journey?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Salva’s role change when he joins up with his next group?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 14:
- Why isn’t Nya happy when the borehole water starts flowing?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How much time has now passed since Salva fled from his school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What was life like in the Kakuma and Ifo refugee camps? How did they compare?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What does Salva mean when he thinks, “it was hard to keep hope alive when there was so little to feed it?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Where does Salva finally find this hope?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water
Day 8: Chapter 15 & 16 (p.90 - 102)
Chapter 15:
- Why are the villagers celebrating the dirty water spraying from the borehole?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why does Nya still have to walk for water?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why are Salva and the other boys being called “Lost Boys” in America?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- In what ways will going to America be an adjustment for Salva? Use examples from the
text to show both positive and negative changes he will face.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 16:
- What are they building now in Nya’s village? Make a prediction.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why can Salva “hardly believe he was on the same planet” as he was in Ifo? Give
evidence to support your response.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How long has Salva been in Rochester when he receives information about his father? What does he learn about his father?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk to Water by Eric Walters
Day 9: Chapter 17 & 18 (p.103 - 121)
Chapter 17:
- What are they now building in Nya’s village? What does this mean for Nya?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How old is Salva at this point in the story?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Upon returning to Sudan, what does Salva learn about his family?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What text-based inferences can you make about what Salva might be planning to do to
help his people in southern Sudan?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How is Salva’s Uncle still helping him after all these years?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 18:
- In addition to providing clean water and schooling opportunities, how else will the well benefit the community?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why is Nya surprised that a Dinka would be responsible for their well?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What clues did we have along the way that hinted at this ending? Write down at least 2
page numbers where you found them.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What is one possible theme for this story? Support your answer with specific answers
from the text.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Look at the title of this book. How does it fit both Salva and Nya’s journeys?
_____________________________________________________________________________
A Long Walk To Water
Text-Based Discussion Questions
Pre-Reading:
- What do you notice about how the text is laid out?
- What do you notice about the type? The dates? The titles? Etc.
- Why do you think the author made these choices?
- Look closely at the map at the beginning of the book. What do you notice? What do you
wonder? - Salva’s route goes from Loun-Ariik to Kakuma. What environments does he travel
through?
- Before his village was attacked, Salva was daydreaming about his life at home. What are three things we learned about him in this passage?
- Why are North Sudan and South Sudan fighting?
- Why did only the boys go to school?
- What does Nya’s experience with the thorn tell us about her? What is a personality trait you could use to describe her, based on her reaction?
- How does Linda Sue Park describe the airplane Salva sees? What does this tell us about the plane? What literary device is this?
- How is Salva feeling when he realizes the men with the guns are the rebels? Explain.
- What does Salva’s choice to step forward on p. 11 tell you about his character? Explain.
- Reread this sentence about a Rebel soldier:
“A soldier hit him in the face with the butt of a gun.”
If the Rebels are supposed to be the “good guys,” why are they being so harsh?
- Why does Salva keep repeating the words, “where is my family” throughout the chapter?
- Why does everyone leave Salva behind at the end of the chapter?
- What was the long history between the Nuer and the Dinka tribes?
- How does Salva identify the old woman as being from the Dinka tribe?
- What does Salva mean when he says “everything was upside down?”
- What was the old woman's reasoning for not bringing Salva along with her?
- How does Salva feel when he sees the group of people walking towards the house?
Chapter 4:
- Describe a typical day in Nya’s life.
- Why did the men consider leaving Salva behind?
- In the end, why did they let him join them?
- Describe a typical day in Salva’s new life.
Chapter 5:
- If the lake has more water than the pond, why can’t Nya’s family just stay there year- round?
- How is Nya’s water collection different at the lake camp?
- Infer what happened with the bees.
- How did Salva know that Marial was not from his village?
- How much time has now passed since Salva started running?
Chapter 6:
- What do we now know about Salva’s and Nya’s tribes? What inferences can we make based on this information?
- What family member does Salva finally find?
- Re-read this quote.
“But it did not take long for Salva to regret his haste in eating [the topi]. After so
many weeks of near starvation, his stomach rebelled mightily.”
Explain what was happening here.
- Who is Marial? What happens to him in the Atuot region? What clues led you to this
inference?
Chapter 7:
- Describe the effects of water-borne illness.
- Was your prediction about Marial’s fate correct? If not, what clues in the text
foreshadowed this?
- How does Uncle help Salva through this traumatic event?
Chapter 8:
- After Akeer was treated at the hospital, the nurse told Nya’s mother how to prevent illness in the future. Why did this worry their mother?
- What do mangoes symbolize for Salva? Explain.
- Why do all the fishermen disappear so quickly at sunset?
- As Salva and his group made the final trip from the island to the other side of the Nile,
what do the fishermen advise the group to do? Why?
Chapter 9:
- Describe the visitors to Nya’s village.
- How did Salva stubbing his toe almost lead to a very different outcome for him?
- How does Uncle get Salva through the desert?
- Summarize the incident involving the “large clump of rocks” that were moving.
Chapter 10:
- Why is Nya so confused about the visitors?
- Who were the men who approached Salva’s group? How does Salva know who they are?
- What was the last thing the men did before running away?
- Why would these men would attack fellow southerners?
Chapter 11:
- Based on the information so far, make a prediction about what the visitors to Nya’s village might be doing.
- What keeps Salva moving forward, even as he grieves Marial’s and Uncle’s deaths?
- What are 3 observations Salva makes when he arrives at the Itang refugee camp.
- Look back at the map of Salva’s route. Where is Itang? What do we know about his
future in this refugee camp?
- When he arrives at Itang, Salva sees, “orange... an orange headscarf,” and starts
following it. Why? What is he thinking? What led you to this inference?
- What is the “red giraffe?” Why might Nya describe it this way?
- What are the villagers doing, and how do they feel about this work?
- What does the “orange scarf” woman force Salva to admit to himself? How does he
continue to go on, despite the “black despair of nothingness” he is feeling?
- How long did Salva stay in Itang?
- Why did he leave?
Chapter 13:
- How did “the boss” handle the drilling crew when the bag kept springing leaks? What character trait(s) does this show?
- Describe the Gilo River crossing from start to finish.
- Where is Salva headed next? Look back at the map. What will he face on this part of his
journey?
- How does Salva’s role change when he joins up with his next group?
Chapter 14:
- Why isn’t Nya happy when the borehole water starts flowing?
- How much time has now passed since Salva fled from his school?
- What was life like in the Kakuma and Ifo refugee camps? How did they compare?
- What does Salva mean when he thinks, “it was hard to keep hope alive when there was so
little to feed it?”
- Where does Salva finally find this hope?
Chapter 15:
- Why are the villagers celebrating the dirty water spraying from the borehole?
- Why does Nya still have to walk for water?
- Why are Salva and the other boys being called “Lost Boys” in America?
- In what ways will going to America be an adjustment for Salva? Use examples from the
text to show both positive and negative changes he will face.
Chapter 16:
- What are they building now in Nya’s village? Make a prediction.
- Why can Salva “hardly believe he was on the same planet” as he was in Ifo? Give
evidence to support your response. - How long has Salva been in Rochester when he receives information about his father? What does he learn about his father?
Chapter 17:
- What are they now building in Nya’s village? What does this mean for Nya?
- How old is Salva at this point in the story?
- Upon returning to Sudan, what does Salva learn about his family?
- What text-based inferences can you make about what Salva might be planning to do to
help his people in southern Sudan?
- How is Salva’s Uncle still helping him after all these years?
Chapter 18:
- In addition to providing clean water and schooling opportunities, how else will the well benefit the community?
- Why is Nya surprised that a Dinka would be responsible for their well?
- What clues did we have along the way that hinted at this ending? Write down at least 2
page numbers where you found them.
- What is one possible theme for this story? Support your answer with specific answers
from the text.
- Look at the title of this book. How does it fit both Salva and Nya’s journeys?
Day 1: Chapter 1 and 2 (p1-13)
Pre-Reading:
- What do you notice about how the text is laid out?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What do you notice about the type? The dates? The titles? Etc.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why do you think the author made these choices?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Look closely at the map at the beginning of the book. What do you notice? What do you wonder?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Salva’s route goes from Loun-Ariik to Kakuma. What environments does he travel through?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1
1. Before his village was attacked, Salva was daydreaming about his life at home. What are three things we learned about him in this passage?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are North Sudan and South Sudan fighting?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did only the boys go to school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2:
1. What does Nya’s experience with the thorn tell us about her? What is a personality trait you could use to describe her, based on her reaction?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How does Linda Sue Park describe the airplane Salva sees? What does this tell us about the plane? What literary device is this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How is Salva feeling when he realizes the men with the guns are the rebels? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What does Salva’s choice to step forward on p. 11 tell you about his character? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Reread this sentence about a Rebel soldier:
“A soldier hit him in the face with the butt of a gun.”
If the Rebels are supposed to be the “good guys,” why are they being so harsh?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does Salva keep repeating the words, “where is my family” throughout the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Why does everyone leave Salva behind at the end of the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 2 (Chapter 3 and 4)
Chapter 3:
- What was the long history between the Nuer and the Dinka tribes?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Salva identify the old woman as being from the Dinka tribe?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What does Salva mean when he says “everything was upside down?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What was the old woman's reasoning for not bringing Salva along with her?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How does Salva feel when he sees the group of people walking towards the house?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4:
- Describe a typical day in Nya’s life.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Why did the men consider leaving Salva behind?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- In the end, why did they let him join them?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Describe a typical day in Salva’s new life.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Day 3: Chapter 5 and 6
Chapter 5:
- If the lake has more water than the pond, why can’t Nya’s family just stay there year- round?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How is Nya’s water collection different at the lake camp?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Infer what happened with the bees.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How did Salva know that Marial was not from his village?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- How much time has now passed since Salva started running?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 6:
- What do we now know about Salva’s and Nya’s tribes? What inferences can we make based on this information?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- What family member does Salva finally find?
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Re-read this quote.
“But it did not take long for Salva to regret his haste in eating [the topi]. After so many weeks of near starvation, his stomach rebelled mightily.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
- Who is Marial? What happens to him in the Atuot region? What clues led you to this
inference?
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Day 4 (Chapter 7 & 8)
Chapter 7:
- Describe the effects of water-borne illness.
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- Was your prediction about Marial’s fate correct? If not, what clues in the text foreshadowed this?
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- How does Uncle help Salva through this traumatic event?
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Chapter 8:
- After Akeer was treated at the hospital, the nurse told Nya’s mother how to prevent illness in the future. Why did this worry their mother?
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- What do mangoes symbolize for Salva? Explain.
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- Why do all the fishermen disappear so quickly at sunset?
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- As Salva and his group made the final trip from the island to the other side of the Nile,
what do the fishermen advise the group to do? Why?
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Day 5 (Chapter 9 & 10)
Chapter 9:
- Describe the visitors to Nya’s village.
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- How did Salva stubbing his toe almost lead to a very different outcome for him?
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- How does Uncle get Salva through the desert?
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- Summarize the incident involving the “large clump of rocks” that were moving.
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Chapter 10:
- Why is Nya so confused about the visitors?
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- Who were the men who approached Salva’s group? How does Salva know who they are?
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- What was the last thing the men did before running away?
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- Why would these men would attack fellow southerners?
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Day 6 (Chapter 11 & 12)
Chapter 11:
- Based on the information so far, make a prediction about what the visitors to Nya’s village might be doing.
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- What keeps Salva moving forward, even as he grieves Marial’s and Uncle’s deaths?
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- What are 3 observations Salva makes when he arrives at the Itang refugee camp.
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- Look back at the map of Salva’s route. Where is Itang? What do we know about his
future in this refugee camp?
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- When he arrives at Itang, Salva sees, “orange... an orange headscarf,” and starts
following it. Why? What is he thinking? What led you to this inference?
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Chapter 12:
- What is the “red giraffe?” Why might Nya describe it this way?
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- What are the villagers doing, and how do they feel about this work?
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- What does the “orange scarf” woman force Salva to admit to himself? How does he
continue to go on, despite the “black despair of nothingness” he is feeling?
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- How long did Salva stay in Itang?
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- Why did he leave?
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Day 7 (Chapter 13 & 14)
Chapter 13:
- How did “the boss” handle the drilling crew when the bag kept springing leaks? What character trait(s) does this show?
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- Describe the Gilo River crossing from start to finish.
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- Where is Salva headed next? Look back at the map. What will he face on this part of his
journey?
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- How does Salva’s role change when he joins up with his next group?
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Chapter 14:
- Why isn’t Nya happy when the borehole water starts flowing?
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- How much time has now passed since Salva fled from his school?
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- What was life like in the Kakuma and Ifo refugee camps? How did they compare?
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- What does Salva mean when he thinks, “it was hard to keep hope alive when there was so little to feed it?”
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- Where does Salva finally find this hope?
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Day 8 (Chapter 15 & 16)
Chapter 15:
- Why are the villagers celebrating the dirty water spraying from the borehole?
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- Why does Nya still have to walk for water?
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- Why are Salva and the other boys being called “Lost Boys” in America?
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- In what ways will going to America be an adjustment for Salva? Use examples from the
text to show both positive and negative changes he will face.
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Chapter 16:
- What are they building now in Nya’s village? Make a prediction.
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- Why can Salva “hardly believe he was on the same planet” as he was in Ifo? Give
evidence to support your response.
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- How long has Salva been in Rochester when he receives information about his father? What does he learn about his father?
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Day 9 (Chapter 17 & 18)
Chapter 17:
- What are they now building in Nya’s village? What does this mean for Nya?
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- How old is Salva at this point in the story?
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- Upon returning to Sudan, what does Salva learn about his family?
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- What text-based inferences can you make about what Salva might be planning to do to
help his people in southern Sudan?
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- How is Salva’s Uncle still helping him after all these years?
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Chapter 18:
- In addition to providing clean water and schooling opportunities, how else will the well benefit the community?
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- Why is Nya surprised that a Dinka would be responsible for their well?
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- What clues did we have along the way that hinted at this ending? Write down at least 2
page numbers where you found them.
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- What is one possible theme for this story? Support your answer with specific answers
from the text.
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- Look at the title of this book. How does it fit both Salva and Nya’s journeys?
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