A Long Walk to Water( Linda Sue Park)

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 18 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. In Chapter 1, how do Nya’s walk and Salva’s day at school both show that life can change quickly?
2. Chapter 2 shows Nya dealing with a thorn and Salva being left behind. What do these problems tell you about the challenges each character faces?
3. Why do you think the old woman helps Salva but also knows he cannot stay with her? What does this show about life during the war?
4. Salva begins traveling with other Dinka people. How does being with a group help him, and what problems can still happen?
5. When Nya’s family worries about Akeer being sick, what can you infer about the importance of clean water?
6. Salva’s Uncle Jewiir becomes an important person in the group. What character traits does Uncle show, and how does he help Salva?
7. The travelers cross difficult land with little food and water. What words would you use to describe their journey, and why?
8. How does the experience of crossing the Nile and reaching the island change Salva’s feelings or hopes?
9. In this chapter, Nya’s family must make choices because of illness and water. What do you think the author wants readers to understand about daily life for Nya?
10. The group faces the Akobo desert. What prediction can you make about how Salva will keep going, and what clues support your prediction?
11. Uncle tells Salva to take the journey one step at a time. How can this advice be a theme for the whole book?
12. After a terrible loss, Salva has to decide how to act. What does his response show about his strength?
13. Salva spends years in refugee camps. What does the word refugee mean in this story, and how does it affect Salva’s life?
14. As Salva leads many boys toward safety, how is he different from the scared boy at the beginning of the book?
15. Nya sees strangers and machines arrive near her village. What do you think they are doing, and why might it matter to her community?
16. Salva learns he may go to America. What mixed feelings might he have about leaving Africa and starting a new life?
17. Why is it important that Salva wants to help people in Sudan after he has made a new life in America?
18. At the end of the book, Nya and Salva’s stories connect. What message do you think the author is sending about hope and helping others?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Salva’s Uncle Jewiir becomes an important person in the group. What character traits does Uncle show, and how does he help Salva?

I think Uncle Jewiir shows bravery, kindness, and leadership. He helps Salva feel safer because he talks to him and watches out for him. Uncle also gives Salva hope when the journey is scary. If I were Salva, I would feel stronger just knowing Uncle was nearby.

Uncle tells Salva to take the journey one step at a time. How can this advice be a theme for the whole book?

I think this advice is a theme because both Salva and Nya have to keep going even when life is hard. Salva cannot think about the whole long journey at once, or he might give up. Nya also has to walk for water every day, step by step. The book shows that small steps can help people survive big problems.

At the end of the book, Nya and Salva’s stories connect. What message do you think the author is sending about hope and helping others?

I think the author’s message is that one person can make a big difference. Salva went through many terrible things, but he did not stop caring about others. When he helps bring clean water to Nya’s village, it changes many lives. This makes me think hope can grow even after very hard times.