Please read the first 10 chapters of A Long Walk to Water.

While you read each chapter, think

about the following questions. Answer all questions on a separate piece of paper, and include
textual evidence when necessary. I hope you are inspired by the resilient characters you will
meet in this real-life narrative!

Chapter 1

1. Describe Salva as a student, his school and what he learns. Can you make any connections?

2. Describe Salva’s family and home life. Is it anything like your own?

3. What are the issues for which the rebels are fighting the government? What does it mean for Sudan
to become Muslim?

4. What is the significance of the dates before each chapter and the different colors of text?

Chapter 2

1. What happens to Nya in this chapter? What does this event show about her character?

2. What is happening around Salva as he runs from school?

3. What questions occupy Salva’s thoughts? What do these questions show the reader?

Chapter 3

1. Using information form the text, what is the history between the Nuer and the Dinka tribes?

2. On page 17 Salva says “everything was upside down.” What does he mean by this?

Chapter 4

1. How does Nya spend her days? How does her life compare to your life?

2. What does it mean that they are “walking to nowhere”?

3. What did Salva and Buksa find? What does this show about the Jur-chol people?

Chapter 5

1. How do the seasons affect Nya’s life? Why doesn’t Nya’s family live closer to water?

2. What do Salva and Marial have in common? What does this friendship mean to Salva?
Chapter 6

1. Nya and her mother think differently about the camp. Fill in the chart below for each person.

How Nya feels about camp How Nya’s mother feels about camp

2. Finally, something good happens for Salva. How does it make a difference for him and he group?

3.What can you infer (guess) happened to Marial?

Chapter 7

1. What is wrong with Akeer? What choice is the family facing?

2. How does Salva’s uncle sooth him after his loss? Who is most soothing to you in difficult times?

Chapter 8

1. What is frustrating about Akeer’s condition? What solution is there?

2. On page 48, Salva remembers life in his village of Loun-Ariik. Why does the author choose to include
this? Why is this memory important to the reader?

3. Of all the elements Salva has had to survive, what do you think would be the worst? Why?

Chapter 9

1. Visitors have come to Nya’s village. What do you predict is their reason for coming?

2. What is Uncle’s strategy for motivating Salva? How might we apply this strategy in our own lives?

Chapter 10

1. What does Salva’s group find when they reach other people in the desert? What is the choice faced
here? What would you do in this situation?

2. On page 59, Salva wonders if he would have shared his water had he been older. Based on what you
know about Salva, what do you think he would do?

3. What constitutes a family? Can a family be created and replaced?

4. How has Salva changed since the beginning of the book? How will he cope (deal) with the loss of his?
uncle?