Book Analysis: A Long Walk To Water
Title Linda Sue Park’s inspiring novella A Long Walk to Water recounts the treacherous journey of young Sudanese boy forced to flee his war-ravaged home in search of safety and refuge. Salva Dut, a positive and energetic boy, transforms from fearful and inexperienced adolescent to strong and willful adult as he overcomes countless obstacles during his grave expedition to find sanctuary during the First Sudanese Civil War. Despite his perilous predicament, Salva’s steadfast perseverance enables him to surmount innumerable hardships during his ominous plight. Through his strenuous journey to safety, Salva learns to endure the numerous and arduous challenges he faces. Filled with deep despair and pain after injuring his foot crossing the Akobo
Desert, Salva finds strength in his uncle’s firm and supportive voice, pressing him to “keep his wounded feet moving forward, one painful step at a time” (Park 54). Had the young boy not discovered the need to persevere through extreme the pain of his injury, he would not survived through the fierce unforgiving desert. Furthermore when struggling to lead a group of orphaned young boys to a refugee camp in Kenya, Salva remembers his uncle’s words of persistence, urging him to move “One step at a time… one day at a time… just this day to get through…” (Park 82). Without this echoing inspiration to surmount his fight, Salva may not have been able to guide and deliver so many “Lost Boys” safely to the camp. To that end, once settled in his new home, Salva dreams of bringing water to Sudan but struggles to raise attention and solicit the funds needed for his vision; however, after steadily losing hope, he recalls his uncle’s powerful words reminding him to face “One problem at a time – just figure out this one problem” (Park 110). Once again finding motivation in his uncle’s words, Salva fulfills his dream to bring clean water to the Sudanese. Undoubtedly, throughout Park’s novel, the protagonist learns to recognize the need to persevere, not only to survive, but also to achieve his desires.
Desert, Salva finds strength in his uncle’s firm and supportive voice, pressing him to “keep his wounded feet moving forward, one painful step at a time” (Park 54). Had the young boy not discovered the need to persevere through extreme the pain of his injury, he would not survived through the fierce unforgiving desert. Furthermore when struggling to lead a group of orphaned young boys to a refugee camp in Kenya, Salva remembers his uncle’s words of persistence, urging him to move “One step at a time… one day at a time… just this day to get through…” (Park 82). Without this echoing inspiration to surmount his fight, Salva may not have been able to guide and deliver so many “Lost Boys” safely to the camp. To that end, once settled in his new home, Salva dreams of bringing water to Sudan but struggles to raise attention and solicit the funds needed for his vision; however, after steadily losing hope, he recalls his uncle’s powerful words reminding him to face “One problem at a time – just figure out this one problem” (Park 110). Once again finding motivation in his uncle’s words, Salva fulfills his dream to bring clean water to the Sudanese. Undoubtedly, throughout Park’s novel, the protagonist learns to recognize the need to persevere, not only to survive, but also to achieve his desires.