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A Long Walk to Water
Non-member price: $34.86
Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Finalist, Children's Titles for Ages 8-12, 2014
In 1985 southern Sudan is ravaged by war. Rebels and government forces battle for control, with ordinary people…people like the boy, Salva Dut…caught in the middle. When Salva's village is attacked, he must embark on a harrowing journey that will propel him through horror and heartbreak, across a harsh desert, and into a strange new life.
Years later, in contemporary South Sudan, a girl named Nya must walk eight hours a day to fetch water. The walk is grueling, but there is unexpected hope. How these two stories intersect is told in this fascinating dual narrative, performed by David Baker and Cynthia Bishop, with the assistance of dialect coach James Achueil…who actually made the same journey across Africa when he was one of the "Lost Boys of the Sudan."
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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4 Stars1
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3 Stars1
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Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars6
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4 Stars1
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-01-2019
This is truly a "don't judge a book by its cover" situation! !
My teacher assigned this book to us because we are learning about Africa. Of course, the thought that goes through everyone's mind is ughh! Another boring book! I started reading and couldn't stop! Such a great book that is very informational! I put South Sudan and all of Africa in my prayers! This book was a great if way of shining a light on one of the many problems of the world!💗👍
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sara Adkins
- 17-07-2015
Excellent!
Every middle to high school student should read this. Numerous teachable moments. Great opportunities for meaningful discussions.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- happycrazymommy
- 29-06-2015
Makes one appreciate all we have in America
Nice short story that I plan to share with a kid's book club this summer. In light of how many times I hear the words "I'm bored", "There is nothing good to do", "Can we go get something new? Our toys aren't fun anymore", my hopes are high that this story will shed a new light on all of the blessings we have. Maybe it can spark some appreciation for all the conveniences of life in the USA and empathy for others around the globe who don't even have ready access to life-sustaining clean water. This story has made me stop and be thankful for my life and, at least for now (sorry Amazon), quit wishing for things I don't have nor need.
The perseverance that young Salva exhibits will have more of am impact on my kids because it is a true story. We all fall victim to the "I can't because . . . " statements from time to time. It is so easy to become lazy due to the fact most of the things we don't feel like doing aren't life threatening, immediately at least. Death by crocodile, dehydration and starvation are great motivators. Even after the immediate threat to Salva's life due to his 'rescue' he kept pushing himself well beyond his comfort zone in order to help his fellow countrymen survive. What a way to role model a purpose filled life to today's youth. It would be great if there were children wanting to be Salva rather than LeBron or Beyonce.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann M. Carbonell
- 24-06-2017
Great Exposure to Life in Sudan in the late 20 th Century
The book was about adventure and hope and a great example of a young persons perseverance during a
war of genocide.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sher from Provo
- 02-06-2016
Clean Water Please
It is so easy to take the smallest things for granted when we are used to having them all the time. Take water for example. I love my metal bottles full of cold ice water, and I drink from them all day long. I like my hot shower every morning and I like to brush my teeth and wash my face at night in warm, clean water. I have learned to be thankful for clean water, and to think that it comes into my house, hot or cold, duly filtered of all impurities, virtually at my bidding, is nothing short of a miracle. To have to drink unclean water at this point in my life would be an incredible hardship. To have to walk a three hour round trip twice a day every day to get that dirty water is simply unthinkable. That is the plight of many people in this world. This story is important in so many ways. It is a short book and I recommend it to everyone.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- khvizdak
- 19-07-2018
Excellent story
By the end of the story I was cheering for the characters. The story was very moving and gave a glimpse into the lives of the people that lived through the war torn time in Sudan.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mathmom
- 16-06-2018
The lost boys
I learned so much about the Lost Boys of the South Sudan, and it fueled my desire to learn more. What an amazing full circle story.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steph Cherry
- 04-09-2017
Great True Story.
I read this to preview it for my daughter. It was a fantastic story. You will love the people. You will be challenged. There are the deaths of two people that I prepared my girl for. It's a well told story.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Davidson
- 09-08-2017
7 and 10 year olds love it
Great book based on a true story. There are stories of people getting killed, dying, and hardships of traveling by foot through deserts or the bush. However, the author does a great job making them "kid-friendly".
3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- nikki
- 22-08-2017
Understandable choice for middle grades
A true "war"/victims of war story that isn't graphic. The narrating is excellent. Salva is relatable, even if you are a teen who isn't from South Sudan.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-07-2018
Nice book
it was verry interseting and exciting. you did not fall asleep while listening. and I liked the music parts.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- KV
- 10-04-2018
Great story, very irritating reading and direction
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Better direction and production of the reading.
What did you like best about this story?
Accessible, well described, touching and brought to life a whole period of recent history which I remember and am happy to now be able to share with young readers too.It told a harsh and brutal story in a reasoned and thoughtful way for readers of young ages - without changing the reality - an important lesson for young people about the real world.
What didn’t you like about David Baker and Cynthia Bishop ’s performance?
Better directorial choices for the reading. For the most part, the reading was great - well performed for the adult roles.
The children's parts however, were read with exactly the same mock shock and awe tone, regardless of content, and always within an echo chamber effect. I tried to convince myself that it was done to make it clear for children - but I teach 6 year olds who would have found this approach insulting. I had to keep pausing my listening to stop the irritation the reading inspired.
It is a great story which I only persevered with because I am hoping to meet the author soon... shame on you directors, you shouldn't insult your listeners like this, no matter what age.
I have recommended the book with a caveat that it shouldn't be listened to in this format.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Long Walk to Water?
No issues with the editing
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mrs
- 20-02-2018
very informative
this is a great adaptation of a true story and I loved to her the man himself talk about his experience.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CaroDerm
- 26-09-2016
Incredible story of survival
Would you consider the audio edition of A Long Walk to Water to be better than the print version?
The voices are very good and it is read beautifully. It is a powerful story and the voices bring it to life.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Long Walk to Water?
The happy ending!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes. My 12 year old son and I listened to it and we were gripped by the story.
Any additional comments?
This is an amazing story, but very sad. It makes you really appreciate what we have. It is about the power of the human spirit. Highly recommended.
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