Using the true story of one of Sudan's Lost Boys, Salva Dut, Newbery Award winning author Linda Sue Park has written a riveting account of Salva's journey from war torn Sudan to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, to Kenya, America, and back to Sudan. In alternating chapters with his story is that of a young Sudanese village girl named, Nya. The story begins when 11 year old Salva has to run from his school when gunfire announces the arrival of the fighting. Unable to return to his family and not knowing their fate, he joins a group of refugees walking east to Ethiopia. After braving lions, starvation, dehydration, a river crossing, and the desert he arrives in a refugee camp where he lives several years. Forced out at gunpoint, he then travels to Kenya and then is transported to the U.S. as part of a program to rescue Sudanese orphans. Nya's story is that of a young girl forced to walk many miles twice a day to get water for her family. The muddy water they drink nearly causes the death of her younger sister. Eventually her life is changed by the work of an organization begun by Salva Dut. This is a short book and a quick read but it is well worth it. Park is one of my favorite children's authors and she once again has produced a winner.
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