Kate Serrano ’s Reviews > A Long Walk to Water > Status Update

After finishing the book ALWTW I think one of the largest character traits in Salva and Nya is adaptability. This is key to their survival, for Salva this was shown when he had to run from his school to the bush. After this, he had to just had to go with the flow and struggle for food and water while going tot he refugee camps. Nya will also have to adapt to her new life with water, that will be much better.

One emerging character of Salva's is leadership. A great example of this is on pg 81, "He gave everyone a job..." this shows is helping as a leader. He is able to take the responsibility of leading a group and making hard decisions. He is giving everyone a job and a way to support the rest of the group, and when they are not motivated he will make them. Just like his uncle had Salva is helping to save his group.

Sudan's cultural expectations of women are lesser than their expectations of men. This is shown when Nya’s mother is telling Nya that she “needs” teach her sister to fetch water. It is expected of young girls to walk eight hours each day to fetch her family water. She is the one to provide for her family rather than a boy. Aker like a prisoner in chains is unable to break free of her culture's expectations of her.

While reading the book "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Parker one of the arising themes if persistence. This is shown in Nya's story when she is walking to get her family water. She has to walk a grueling 8 hours to fetch water. Dealing with the heat and the rough terrain, only to carry back heavy jugs of water. Yet she persists through this because her family is dependent on that water.