Info for Students and Teachers
FAQs for students, teachers, and readers of A LONG WALK TO WATER, by Linda Sue Park (Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010)
1. How can I get in touch with Salva Dut?
Salva regrets that he cannot answer individual e-mails or letters. There is a lot of information about him and the organization on this website. He hopes you will enjoy visiting the site to learn about his life and the work of Water for South Sudan.
You may be interested in ordering a DVD featuring Salva making presentations of his story to children and adults, as well as many of the videos on this website. See excerpts of Salva’s presentations to young children and adults here.
2. How can I get in touch with Linda Sue Park, the author of A LONG WALK TO WATER?
You can write to the following address:
Linda Sue Park
c/o Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 1003
Please note: Linda Sue does her best to answer all the letters she receives, but sometimes she is traveling and does not always receive her mail promptly. Please be patient! It can take up to two months to receive a reply from her.
3. Can Salva Dut or Linda Sue Park come visit our school?
Salva spends most of the year in South Sudan. He is only in the U.S. for about one month each summer, when schools are not in session.
Linda Sue does a few school visits every year, and books those visits at least a year in advance. To find about more about her school visits, write to visitslspark at yahoo.com
4. We would like to donate money to Water for South Sudan, or help the organization in another way. How can we do that?
It’s great that you want to help! Click here to find out how.
See what others have done: Supporters' Success Stories
See the Fundraiser Support Materials available to you.
5. Is Nya a real person? Can I write to her?
Nya is not a real person. She is a fictional representation of many children who live in South Sudan. If she were a real person, she would be very happy to know that you have read about her and are interested in her story!
6. How old is Salva now? When is his birthday?
Salva was born on December 1, 1974.
7. Can you recommend other books about the Lost Boys?
- WATER FOR SOUTH SUDAN, by Robin Hill and Charles Hall, illustrated by Sherry Stasse Wright. Salva Dut's story written for younger readers, grades three to six. More information here.
- THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY, by Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, Alephonsian Deng, and Judy Bernstein. Adult memoir by three ‘Lost Boys’. Advanced middle-school readers and up.
- WHAT IS THE WHAT, by Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng. Adult novel re-creating the story of a ‘Lost Boy’ refugee who settled in Atlanta. High school and up.
- BROTHERS IN HOPE, by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Picture book, ages 9-12.
- GOD GREW TIRED OF US: A MEMOIR, by John Bul Dau and Michael S. Sweeney. This is a stark, first-person account of trauma and survival. Dau tells it quietly, in fast, simple prose true to the young teen's viewpoint. There is also a Sundance award winning film by the same tile featuring John Bul Dau.