Linda Sue Park's latest novel, A Long Walk to Water, is based on the true story of Salva Dut, one of Sudans "lost boys." Two stories are interwoven in two different time periods, 1985 and 2008. Salva's story of war, exile and separation from his family begins in 1985 at the age of 11. The story of Nya, a young villager who walks eight hours a day to provide water for her family, begins in 2008. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, A Long Walk to Water brings to light the current struggles of children in wartorn, developing countries - children the same age as the intended reader. But the story also provides hope and a sense that one individual really can make a difference.
Salva Dut was featured on PBS' Need to Know on Friday, January 7. Go to http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/ to watch his segment. It begins about 24 minutes into the program.
To follow Linda Sue Park's blog, go to http://lsparkreader.livejournal.com/
